Our Services

Ability to Benefit (ATB):

Students who do not possess a high school diploma or GED and want to apply for and be considered for the federal financial aid programs must demonstrate their ‘ability to benefit’ from a college education.  The federal financial programs are funded by taxpayer dollars and colleges are required to document students have the ability to study and learn at the college level.  A high school diploma or a GED can be used to document the ‘ability to benefit’ from college.  ‘Ability to benefit’ can also be established by obtaining appropriate scores on the English, reading and math placement tests.  Please contact a member of the Testing Center staff or a member of the Financial Aid staff prior to taking the placement tests.  There are specific guidelines that must be followed.

ACCUPLACER:

ACCUPLACER is a computerized assessment test used for placement into English, or reading and math courses. This test is available at the request of an advisor and is normally used for admissions into special programs. This version of placement testing is not timed.

ALEKS:

ALEKS is:

• Computer based math placement testing
• Maricopa Math Instructional Council Approved.
• http://www.mesacc.edu/dept/d25/placement/
• Must be taken in the Testing Center (Southern/ Dobson or Red)
• ALEKS placement testing is not timed, but averages 1.5 hours
• Open response (not multiple-choice).  Students solve problems
• Adaptive testing which adjust as the students answer questions
• Produces a customized report so students know their strong and weak areas—artificial intelligence model
• Able to provide remediation (learning modules) for a fee
• Official ALEKS website is  http://www.aleks.com
• Students should prepare prior to taking any test—you’ll do better

ASSET / Course Placement:

Placement testing (ASSET) for English, and Reading, is required for all new students and for students who need to meet a prerequisite for a class. New to college students, or students with no college level credit in these subject areas, test at scheduled times. In addition to English, Reading, students also need to the ALEKS math placement

CELSA - English as a Second Language:

This test (CELSA) is paper and pencil and is used for course placement into the English as a Second Language program for both English and Reading. This test takes 45 minutes to complete and consists of 75 multiple choice questions. The test is written only and does not include a listening or spoken portion. The scores and recommended course placement are given to the student immediately upon test completion.

CLEP - College Level Examination Program:

The CLEP program allows individuals to earn college credit and also demonstrate their academic proficiency. To receive credit, students must achieve the minimum scaled score recommended by the American Council of Education (ACE).

Contact the Testing Center for additional information at 480.461.7480 or visit the special CLEP pages here.

COMPASS - Computer Adaptive Placement Testing:

Computerized assessment or placement testing (COMPASS) in English, or Reading, is available as a retest option for course placement. This version of placement testing is not timed.

Faculty Make-up Exams:

Services are available for students who need to make-up instructor's exam due to illness or personal conflicts. Faculty members complete an "add this form on-here Instruction for Exam Administration" form available in either the Testing Center or their department office.

Tests are administered according to the faculty instructions.

Due to space and staff limitations, it is not possible to accommodate entire classes for testing or large groups of students who need to retest. Completed faculty exams are picked up from the Testing Center by the instructor for grading.

GED - General Equivalency Diploma:   Offered in Spanish & English

The GED is a high school equivalency exam available for people who did not graduate from high school. Visit the Testing Center at the Southern & Dobson campus, Monday through Thursday between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm to pre-register to take the GED exam.

La prueba de GED es disponible en español. Los requisitos son diferentes de la versión en ingles. Para asistencia bilingüe instrucciones especiales favor de llamar al (480) 461-7480.  2:00pm - 6:00pm M-TH

The cost of the GED test is $75 for the initial series. Students must be 18 years of age or older and provide two forms of government issued identification. The two IDs must include a recent photo and date of birth. Examples of official ID include valid driver's license, state issued ID, military ID, tribal ID, original social security card or certified copy of a birth certificate.

Additional documentation is necessary for students who are 16 or 17 years old. Contact the Testing Center for additional information at 480-461-7480 or visit the special GED page here.

The Nurse Entrance Test (NET):

The Nursing program and testing information is located on the Nursing Department website: Nursing Entrance Exam.

The NET Test is offered at the Red Mountain Library located at Power Road & McKellips Road in East Mesa. ( See an area map here. ) Please call the RM Library for specific testing hours : 480-654-7744. A testing fee must be paid to the Cashier's office first. A copy of the paid receipt and a photo ID must be presented at the test location to be able to take the NET test.

Proctored Testing for other Colleges and Certification Testing:

Proctoring of correspondence, distance learning and certification exams are available at our Southern and Dobson location only. The proctoring fee is $15.00 per hour. This testing is done by special arrangement. Please call the Testing Center at 480-461-7480 for specific information.