Question 1Multiple choice
The price of a lamp rose from $60 to $75. What was the percent increase?
What is on the ACCUPLACER
The ACCUPLACER is a set of placement tests from College Board. Colleges use your scores to place you into English and math courses. Your college chooses which of the five tests you take.
| Tests | Arithmetic, QAS, AAF, Reading, Writing |
|---|---|
| Questions | 20 on each test, 25 on Writing |
| Format | Multiple choice, four options, adaptive |
| Time limit | None in most cases; your school confirms |
| Score on each test | 200 to 300 |
The five Next-Generation tests
- Arithmetic (20 questions): whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, and comparing and ordering values.
- Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics, or QAS (20 questions): ratios and rates, exponents, expressions, linear equations and graphs, probability, statistics and basic geometry.
- Advanced Algebra and Functions, or AAF (20 questions): factoring, quadratics, functions, radical and rational equations, polynomials, exponentials and logarithms, geometry and trigonometry.
- Reading (20 questions): one literary passage with questions, one pair of passages to compare, and 12 short passages with one question each.
- Writing (25 questions): five passages, each with questions that ask you to revise and edit it.
How the tests work
Every question is multiple choice. The tests are computer adaptive: your answer to each question sets the difficulty of the next one, so two students rarely see the same set.
There is no time limit in most cases, and your school will confirm. Some math questions show an on-screen calculator; you may not bring your own.
Check which tests your college asks for
Colleges choose the tests, often by the courses you plan to take, so you may sit all five or only one. Some move you on from QAS to AAF when you score high enough: Palm Beach State College does at a QAS score of 276. Ask your college before you study.
Try 3 questions
Question 2Multiple choice
The graph shows the cost C, in dollars, of renting a kayak for h hours. What does the slope of the line represent?
Before the interview
Before a job interview, spend an hour learning about the employer. Read the company’s website, especially any pages about its history and its customers, and look for recent news about it. Then write down two or three questions of your own, such as how the team measures success or what a typical week in the job looks like. Interviewers notice when a candidate has done this homework, and a thoughtful question at the end of an interview can leave a stronger impression than a polished answer at the start.
Question 3Multiple choice
The main purpose of the passage is to
Next step
Questions people ask
How many questions are on the ACCUPLACER?
Arithmetic, QAS, AAF and Reading have 20 questions each, and Writing has 25. You take only the tests your college asks for.
Is the ACCUPLACER timed?
In most cases, no. College Board says the tests have no time limit, and the school or test center will confirm.
Can I use a calculator on the ACCUPLACER?
Some math questions show an on-screen calculator. You cannot bring a handheld calculator unless it is an approved accommodation.
How much does the ACCUPLACER cost?
College Board does not publish a student price. Your college sets any fee, so ask it. Minnesota State colleges, for example, may not charge for the tests, though they may charge for a retest.