Assessment Center

Overview

Guided Self Placement (GSP) is a questionnaire that helps you identify your correct English or math class placement. The questionnaire will guide you through a series of questions and activities where you will reflect on your prior experience with reading, writing, and/or math. The GSP is free, completed completely online, and will help you make an informed decision about your placement and which courses you will be successful and challenged in.

There are three possible GSP exams. Each GSP can only be completed once by a student. Students will receive a recommended placement which the student can either accept or adjust through the Assessment Center.

• English GSP: Use for placement in English up to ENGL& 101 (English Composition I). English GSP can be taken by any student, however, International Students should check with International Student Services before moving forward with the English GSP. 
• Math GSP: Used for placement up to Clippers Math. The Math GSP is meant for adult students who need a general college math course and will not need Pre-Calculus or beyond for their degree or transfer pursuits.
• SEM MATH GSP: Used for placement up through AMATH 141 (Accelerated Precalculus I). The SEM Math GSP is meant for adult students who will need Pre-Calculus and beyond for their degree and transfer pursuits.

High School Students: Math and SEM Math GSP do not place high enough to qualify Running Start or College in the High School students to take math courses at SPSCC that are tuition paid by the programs. High School students need to take the Math College Placement Test (WAMAP) for math placement if you do not have other math-based documentation for review.

Completing GSP

Note: Before taking the GSP, you must activate your ClipperID, which takes approximately 48 hours after applying to SPSCC.

1. Once you're ready, go to the GSP Surveys page and log in using your ClipperID and password. Complete the GSP Surveys online using a computer.
2. Placement will be displayed immediately after finishing the questionnaire and will be available online for class registration by the end of the next business day.
3. If you accept the recommended GSP placement, you do not need to do anything further after completing the GSP. If you wish to adjust your placement, you need to email assessment@spscc.edu from your SPSCC email address with your name, student ID number, and your preferred placement level.

If you do not have any other math documents for placement, are a dual credit high school student, or are looking to take standalone college math courses without pre-college instruction support, you are welcome to take the appropriate Math WAMAP Exam.

There is no fee to take the WAMAP exams. Re-testing is available once for each of the exam levels. Test results are available immediately upon completion of the assessment and will be available for class registration the following business day. Please allow 24+ hours after completing the placement exam to register.

We recommend that you create a WAMAP account to access the study guides prior to your testing date.

Please read through the detailed information below to assist you in choosing the appropriate exam or study guide to complete. If you still have questions, please contact us at assessment@spscc.edu.

• MATH& 107/146: This exam is appropriate for students wanting to place into a standalone college-level math course for the non-STEM-based pathways. The exam is 14 questions long. Upon completion, you will place at MATH 092, MATH 107, or MATH 146. Placement from this exam will NOT allow progression into Pre-Calculus and Calculus courses. Please take the MATH& 141 or above exams for STEM-based pathways.
• MATH& 141: This exam is appropriate for students wanting to place into the first-level Pre-Calculus course at SPSCC and are in a STEM-based pathway. The exam is 18 questions long. Upon completion, you will place at AMATH 097, AMATH 141, or MATH& 141. High school students who have completed Algebra II with strong comprehension and feel confident in their ability to start into pre-calculus at the college level could consider taking this exam.
• MATH& 142: This exam is appropriate for students who have some pre-calculus experience and want to place into the second-level Pre-Calculus course at SPSCC and are in a STEM-based pathway. The exam is 16 questions long. Upon completion you will either place into MATH&142 or no placement will be given. High school students who have completed pre-calculus at the high school with strong comprehension could consider taking this exam.
• MATH& 151: This exam is appropriate for students who have extensive pre-calculus experience and want to place into the first-level Calculus course at SPSCC. Upon completion, you will either place into MATH& 151 or no placement will be given. High school students who have completed pre-calculus with excelled comprehension or have completed Calculus at the high school should consider taking this exam.

Remote Testing Services

We are offering remote WAMAP testing using Zoom from the safety of your home. To register for your proctored exam, you must have applied to SPSCC and activated your SPSCC email account. You can then proceed to RegisterBlast to register for your exam.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with using Zoom functions on your computer prior to your scheduled testing time.

It is best to take the College Placement test from a Windows or Mac computer or laptop. You may not use a tablet, iPad, or use Zoom on your cell phone for your testing session.

If you have questions for the Assessment Center, please email us at assessment@spscc.edu.

In-Person Testing Services

We are currently offering in-person testing by appointment only. You can register for an in-person WAMAP exam through RegisterBlast.

Some things to know before you come to campus:

1. Bring an approved photo ID. Testing candidates must have valid photo identification: Driver’s License, Passport, State ID, Military ID, High School ASB Card, Veteran ID, Tribal ID, or Court ID. Your ID must be current (within 1 year from issuance or expiration date).
2. Arrive early. Testing is held in the Assessment Center in Building 22, Suite 201, on the second floor at the opposite end from the library. Child care is not available and children are not allowed in the test sessions. If a tester is more than 15 minutes late, the testing center will determine whether the test will be given. This decision is based on the availability of a computer and the length of the test. If we are unable to accommodate a late tester, the test will not be taken, and the test must be rescheduled.
3. Request accommodations. Testing accommodations are for students with a documented disability. If you have questions about the accommodation process or need to schedule accommodations, contact the Assessment Center before registering online for the test, email assessment@spscc.edu or call 360-596-5376.
4. Allow 24 hours to cancel. If you will be unable to make your testing day/time, please allow 24 hours' notice so that we may open up your seat to another tester. You can contact the Assessment Center by email assessment@spscc.edu or call 360-596-5376.

Overview

The High School Equivalency Test (GED®) is earned by successfully passing the following timed examinations:

1. Reasoning Through Language Arts - 155 minutes
2. Mathematical Reasoning - 120 minutes
3. Science - 95 minutes
4. Social Studies - 75 minutes

GED® scores are reported in two ways: standard scores and percentile ranks.

Passing scores for the GED® are established by the State of Washington. Currently, a standard of 145 is a minimum requirement on each test; this is a 580 total on all four exams. There are different types of questions on the exams, which include multiple choice, short answers, fill-in-the-blank, and essay questions.

Preparing for the Test

Study materials are available for purchase through MyGED®. The official practice test is also available for a $6 per test fee.

Study materials are also available with a Timberland Regional Library (TRL) library card via the TRL Learning Express Library (search High School Equivalency Center and GED).

High School Equivalency Test (GED®) preparation classes are available through SPSCC Transition Studies. To enroll in these classes, call 360-596-5317.

Completing the Test

1. Register at GED.com. Go to GED®.com to register, pay, practice, and schedule the test. Create a profile by entering your email address and a password. Register by selecting 'South Puget Sound Community College–Mottman Campus'. If you are scheduling all four tests together, schedule breaks between each test (10-minute breaks are allowed within the testing area).
2. Pay in advance. Test fees are $36.00 for each test and $144.00 total for all four GED® tests. This fee must be pre-paid on GED®.com. 
3. Bring an approved photo ID. GED® candidates must have valid photo identification: Driver’s License, Passport, State ID, Military ID, Veterans ID, Tribal ID, or Court ID. Your ID must be current and include a Washington State address and signature.
4. Complete an Approval to Test form. If you are under the age of 19, complete an Approval to Test Form, available at any local high school, and signed by a school official in your district and a parent/guardian. If you are homeschooled, you need a Notarized Statement Letter, available in the testing center. You will be blocked from registering on GED®.com until the Assessment Center receives this form. We accept faxed or scanned forms that are signed on official letterhead by the designated high school staff.
5. Arrive early. Testing is held in the Assessment Center in Building 22, Suite 201, on the second floor at the opposite end from the library. Child care is not available and children are not allowed in the test sessions. If a tester is more than 15 minutes late, the testing center will determine whether the test will be given. This decision is based on the availability of a computer and the length of the test. If we are unable to accommodate a late tester, the test will not be taken, the payment will be forfeited, and the test must be rescheduled with GED®.
6. Request accommodations. GED® testing accommodations are for students with a documented disability. Requests are handled during the registration process through GED®.com. If you have questions about the accommodation process, contact the Assessment Center before registering online for the test, email assessment@spscc.edu or call 360-596-5376.
7. Allow 24 hours to cancel. If scheduling online, allow 24 hours for cancellation. If a test is not canceled 24 hours prior to your test date, or if you fail to attend a scheduled exam, there is no refund and your payment will be forfeited. If you need to reschedule your test, log in to GED®.com or call 1-877-392-6433.
8. Check your scores. Once you complete the test, you may go to your MYGED® to see your scores. Please allow at least 3 hours for your scores to appear. If they have not posted after 48 hours, please contact Pearson VUE at 1-877-392-6433.

Test Results & Transcripts

Results are emailed to the test taker as early as 30 minutes after the test is completed, and up to 48 hours after. Upon successful completion of all four subject areas, a link to the Official Transcript is emailed to the student. Copies of Transcripts can be obtained by:

• GED® earned prior to 2002: Visit GED® Test Verify for a free transcript.
• GED® earned 2002-present: Request your transcript at GED®.com for a fee.

Register for the GED®

The College Level Exam Program allows students to show proficiency in certain subjects. Check with your institution to see what exams they will accept and the minimum score you must achieve. If you are an SPSCC student, refer to the SPSCC CLEP acceptance policy.

Candidates must first register and pay for their CLEP exams at CLEP.org. Then, go to RegisterBlast and complete the steps to make an appointment at our Center.

• Bring your printed CLEP Registration Ticket.
• Bring a valid government-issued ID.
• Power down all cell phones (phones are not allowed with testers during exams and storage is available).
• Email assessment@spscc.edu with any questions or concerns.

ASE/Prometric Testing: Candidates register and pay for exams at Prometric before making an appointment for proctoring at our Center. To schedule a test time for taking your exam at SPSCC, go to my.ase.com to pay and register for your exam. ASE/Prometric exams are only offered at our Olympia Campus, Building 22, Suite 201. There are no walk-in times for ASE Certification exams.

• Bring a valid government-issued ID.
• Bring your ASE/Prometric number with you.
• Power down cell phones (phones are not allowed with testers during exams and storage is available).
• Email assessment@spscc.edu with any questions or concerns.

Students wishing to enroll in one of the Transition Studies programs at SPSCC must complete a reading and math CASAS assessment to determine their placement level. CASAS must be completed prior to registering for an ABE English, ABE Math, ESL, or I-BEST course. CASAS assessments are only offered at our Olympia Campus. Before taking a CASAS exam you should attend the appropriate Transition Studies Getting Started Session to ensure you know which assessments you need to complete.

Please email transitionstudies@spscc.edu or assessment@spscc.edu with any questions or concerns.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture Certification is a computer-based testing program through Metro Institute. Please follow the steps below to schedule this exam. If you have any questions regarding registering or about the exams, please call 877-533-2900 or email support@metroinstitute.com.

• Visit www.metrosignup.com and create an account.
• With your new Metro account, you will submit an application to be approved by WSDA to test for yourself or employee. Make sure to select the correct license type and pay for the license application fee, if you have not already paid.
• Upon WSDA approval you will receive an email with a link back to www.metrosignup.com to schedule your exams at the most convenient testing center. Select the South Puget Sound Community College option to test in our center.
• The testing fee is $58.00 per exam. Metro processes payments with PayPal and all major credit cards are accepted.

Don't forget: You must bring your Government issued unexpired photo ID to the testing site. You will not be allowed to test without your photo ID.

Overview

The ACCUPLACER assesses your skills in reading and math. These exams are no longer used for initial placement at SPSCC and have been replaced with the GSP and WAMAP exams. The ACCUPLACER math exams can be used as a placement opportunity if a student has exhausted the WAMAP exams. The ACCUPLACER exams can be requested for outside proctored testing services.

There is a $35 fee to take the ACCUPLACER. Re-testing options are available, please ask the Assessment Center staff for more information after completing the exam for the first time. Test results are available immediately upon completion of the assessment.

The assessment is not timed and typically takes an hour and a half if you are taking both English and math. Calculators are not permitted, but loose pages of scratch paper are allowed. Scratch paper must be destroyed before leaving your testing session.

Remote Testing Services

We are offering remote ACCUPLACER testing using Zoom. To pay the $35 fee and to schedule your placement testing appointment, please go to RegisterBlast.

We recommend that you look over ACCUPLACER study guides and familiarize yourself with using Zoom functions on your computer prior to your scheduled testing time.

It is best to take the ACCUPLACER from a Windows or Mac computer or laptop. You may not use a tablet, iPad, or use Zoom on your cell phone for your testing session. Chromebooks have an error that occurs if the student accidentally clicks out of the test. This is something we can work with; however, we would like students to know in advance to help eliminate unnecessary stress.

If you have questions for the Assessment Center, please email us at assessment@spscc.edu.

In-Person Testing Services

We are currently limiting in-person testing services. If you are unable to complete the ACCUPLACER remotely, please reach out to us at assessment@spscc.edu.

Additional Resources

The Assessment Center offers online scheduling and payment of proctored exams, for students attending another college who need to have a test proctored.

Students are responsible for ensuring that their participating college or university accepts the SPSCC Assessment Center as a proctor and is able to send the exam to us in time for your scheduled appointment. This includes any proctor verification forms your institution may require.

If the exam is a paper and pencil exam, allow up to 10 days for shipping, unless your institution provides expedited shipping.

Candidates register and pay for exams at RegisterBlast.

• Bring a valid government-issued ID.
• Power down cell phones (phones are not allowed with testers during exams and storage is available).
• Email assessment@spscc.edu with any questions or concerns.

Students who are receiving accommodations via Access Services can coordinate with their instructor to complete their extended time or other accommodated exams in the Assessment Center. Exams must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Students are responsible to schedule enough time for their instructor to provide testing materials to the Assessment Center before the testing date.

• Email assessment@spscc.edu with your name, class, instructor, and the date and time you would like to schedule. Please include your instructor CCed on the email.
• We will respond to your email quickly during hours of operation.
• After we confirm your appointment, please coordinate with your instructor to ensure that they send your exam materials before your appointment.