COMPASS Format
The COMPASS test measures the student’s skills that are required for success in the college level. They test the student in areas of Writing, Reading Comprehension and Math.
Reading Comprehension Section:
Two basic types of questions are asked in this section, they are multiple-choice and text highlighting type. Up to four passages may be given and answers have to chosen from the set of multiple choice given. The passages are taken from topics like humanities, prose fiction, natural sciences, and/or social sciences. A few items may be given to check on the prior knowledge of the student. This is to check the student’s common knowledge of the student about the topic given. This section does not check the English language skills as such. But it measures the student’s reading skills.
Writing Skills Test
This section assesses the editing ability that is used for examining passages for any mistakes. A choice of possible correct answers is given in the multiple choice questions, the students have to select from the list of choices given. The last few questions measure the rhetorical and organizational skills of the student. The COMPASS test determines placements in English Composition Course I or any developmental English course.
Mathematics Test
Three sections of math are tested in this section. They are
- Pre-algebra/numerical skills
- Algebra
- College Algebra
COMPASS Test Registration
Each institution hosting the COMPASS test has its own rules and regulations. There is a slight or greater change in fee structure, registration methods, and admission procedures.