Los Angeles Vally College

Assessment Center

Phone: (818) 947-2587

Fax:      (818) 778-5519

Location: CSIT 2 Trailer (next to Financial Aid)

Summer Office Hours for Monday, August 16, 2010:

 9:00am-4:00pm

Last Person Admitted at 2:00pm

We return to our Regular Office Hours on Tuesday,August 17, 2010:

Regular Office Hours:

 
What is Assessment at Valley? 
Assessment at Los Angeles Valley College  is a matriculation component designed to make students successful by ensuring they have the appropriate skills to succeed in English and math courses. We offer assessments in English and Math as well as tests in Chemistry, Ability to Benefit and Math Competency.
 
Los Angeles Valley College uses ACCUPLACER to place students in English, ESL and math courses. 
  

ENGLISH ASSESSMENT:

Students must take the English Assessment prior to enrolling in English classes. The exception is the student who has a satisfactory grade in English composition documented by transcripts from an accredited college.

The Assessment Center offers two types of computerized English assessments:

• English as a Native Language (ENL)
• English as a Second Language (ESL)

NOTE: For test samples and study guides please go to:

ENGLISH AS A NATIVE LANGUAGE (ENL):

ENL assessment is taken on a computer and is untimed. Most students take approximately one hour to complete it. The assessment is in two parts--Reading Comprehension and Sentence Skills. Students may only assess once every three (3) years. However, the test may not be repeated once students enroll into the English course sequences. 

You may place in any of the following English courses:

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL):

ESL assessment is designed for students for whom English is their second language and want to learn how to speak/read/write in English. The ESL assessment is taken on a computer and is untimed. Most students take approximately one hour to complete it. The assessment is in 3 parts-- Reading Skills, Sentence Meaning and Language Usage. Students may only assess once every three (3) years. However, the test may not be repeated once students enroll into the ESL course sequences.

You may place in any of the following ESL courses:

MATHEMATICS ASSESSMENT:
The Mathematics Assessment is required of any student who wishes to enroll into any Valley College Math course. High school Math courses may not be used for placement into Math classes at Valley College.  

The Mathematics Placement Test is taken on a computer and is untimed. It takes approximately one hour to complete. Math testing may include up to three separate tests: Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, and College-Level Math.  Calculators are NOT allowed.

The math assessment is adaptive. Students can place in one of three math levels:

NOTE: For test samples and study guides please go to:

• English/Math Test Samples
• ACCUPLACER English/ESL/Math samples

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Computerized Adaptive testing?

In computerized adaptive testing the computer selects the test questions administered to the student. The computer adapts each test to the examinee. The computer keeps track of a student’s performance on each test item and uses this information to select the next item to be administered or whether the student will move on to the next level of the test or not.

How can I view my placement results online?

Students may view their placement results online in the student information system at:

 https://eweb1.laccd.edu/WebStudent/signon.asp

If I don't like my results can I retest?

Students taking the assessment may only assess once every three (3) years. This also applies to students who have assessed at any LACCD campus. Please note that no retests are permitted.

How can I send my placement/test results to another college or university?

The Assessment Center issues Los Angeles Valley College placement scores only. Students must complete a Placement Result Request and Release Form ( print it, fill it out ,sign it, and send it), email it to sancher@lavc.edu, or fax it to 818-778-5519 or 818-947-2501. 

All requests must include:

• The name or names under which you took the placement test;
• Your student ID number or social security number;
• Your Date of birth;
• Where the testing scores should be sent and/or contact information; and
• Student signature.

Telephone requests are not accepted. All students must provide a photo ID to pick up test scores. Test scores cannot be picked up by another person unless the student has provided written permission.

The Assessment Center also offers the following exams:

CHEMISTRY READINESS TEST:

California Chemistry Readiness Diagnostic Test

The California Chemistry Readiness Diagnostic Test (Chemistry Readiness Exam) is a Chemistry 101 placement exam. The Assessment Center offers these exams by appointment only. Students must score a 23 or better to pass. Students who score below a 23 must enroll in the required pre-requisite courses. Students who pass the exam must meet the math pre-requisites prior to enrolling in Chemistry 101. The Chemistry Placement Test may not be repeated. 

• California Chemistry Diagnostic Test Sample.pdf
• Chemistry Readiness Exam Summer 2010 Schedule

MATH COMPETENCY: 

Please note:  CALCULATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THIS TEST.

ACCUPLACER MATH TEST

As of fall 2009 all NEW students may meet their Math Competency for the Associates Degree by placing in College-Level Math (Math 225 and above).   This is the same test as the one used for placement.  If this is the appropriate test for you to take, and you have taken it previously as a placement test and placed in college level math courses you may use those results for completion of the Math Competency requirement.  The Math Competency Test may only be taken once. 

LACCD Math Competency Exam

The Los Angeles Community College District Math Competency Exam is for CONTINUING students who have been attending Valley College since prior to summer 2009. This exam is designed to meet the Math 115 graduation requirement for the Associates Degree. The Assessment Center offers this exam by appointment only. The Math Competency Exam may not be used to fulfill math prerequisites. Students who wish to enroll in higher-level math courses must take the math assessment. Students must score a 15 or better to pass. Students, who score below a 15, must enroll in Math 115. You may only test once. No retests are permitted.

• Math Competency Test Sample.pdf
• Math Competency Exam Summer 2010 Schedule

ATB (Ability-To-Benefit) TESTS: ( 2 types of tests)

In order to receive financial aid, students must be "academically qualified" for study at the post-secondary level.  Students who possess a high school diploma or a GED certificate are considered to have met this qualification.  However, students who did not graduate from high school or who do not have a GED must pass an Ability-To-Benefit Test prior to receiving financial aid. Student must be 18 years of age or older to test.

ACCUPLACER:    [for native speakers of English]:

ACCUPLACER is the same test that is used for English and Math Placement at Valley College.  However, when taken as an ATB Test, certain tests must be administered and completed on the same day.  If you have already taken it for placement purposes, please check with the Testing Staff to see if your previous test scores will satisfy ATB requirements.  For ATB purposes, ACCUPLACER may be taken once, and if not passed, may be repeated up to three more times.  The third and fourth attempts have special requirements—see The Assessment Center for information about repeating ACCUPLACER for ATB purposes. 

NOTE: For test samples and study guides please go to:

CELSA (Combined English Language Skills Assessment):    [for non-native speakers of English]:

CELSA may be taken once, and if not passed, may be repeated up to three more times. The third and fourth attempts have special requirements--see The Assessment Center for information about repeating CELSA for ATB purposes.  (Available at the Assessment Center By Appointment Only.) Students must have taken an ESL assessment and be enrolled in ESL courses prior to taking the CELSA Exam.

NOTE: For test samples please go to:

Please note:  All guidelines for repeating ATB Tests have been established by the U.S. Department of Education, not Los Angeles Valley College.