Accuplacer is College Board’s suite of online tests in reading, writing, and math used for placing college students in coursework that is appropriate for their preparation level. In 2016, Accuplacer was redesigned to align with the content assessed by the SAT exams as well as with the skills important for college readiness.
The Accuplacer suite includes:
1. The Reading test focusing on four domains: information and ideas, rhetoric, synthesis, and vocabulary;
2. The Writing test focusing on two domains: expression of ideas and standard English conventions;
3. The Math test that is aligned with state college and career readiness standards;
4. The WritePlacer and WitePlacer ESL tests evaluating students’ essay writing;
5. The Accuplacer ESL test that helps place ESL and EFL students in appropriate language courses.
All Accuplacer tests except for the WritePlacer are multiple choice.
Content
Administration Information
Access and Use
The cost of Accuplacer varies depending on the institution administering the test. As of March 2023, fees range from $15 to $50.
College Board’s Accuplacer team: accuplacer@collegeboard.org
Bergman, P., Kopko, E., & Rodríguez, J. (2023). A seven-college experiment using algorithms to track students: Impacts and implications for equity and fairness. NBER working paper. https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w28948/w28948.pdf
Calcagno, J. C., & Long, B. T. (2008). The impact of postsecondary remediation using a regression discontinuity approach: Addressing endogenous sorting and noncompliance. NBER working paper. https://www.nber.org/papers/w14194
Kindle, J. L. (2012). Beyond the dream: Improving college-readiness of underprepared community college students (Doctoral dissertation, National-Louis University). https://www.proquest.com/docview/1288855292?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true
Scott-Clayton, J., Crosta, P. M., & Belfield, C. R. (2014). Improving the targeting of treatment: Evidence from college remediation. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 36(3), 371-393. https://doi.org/10.3102/0162373713517935
Psychometrics
College Board. (2019). Multiple factors in college placement decisions. College Board. https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/accuplacer/pdf/multiple-factors-in-college-placement-decisions.pdf
College Board. (2017). Next generation Accuplacer: Test specifications, version 2.0. College Board. https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/accuplacer/pdf/next-generation-test-specifications-manual.pdf