Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Aims Community College for allowing us to use
their ACCUPLACER Study Guides as well as Aims Community College
English Faculty for creating the Sentence Skills Study Guide.
Table of Contents
Assessment Rules and Regulations ... . 1-2
Arithmetic ..... .. 3-11
Elementary Algebra .. 12-26
Math Sequence back page
Merced Campus
Lesher Student Services Center, Room #102
Los Banos Campus
Building A, Room A119
The goal of the ACCUPLACER assessment test is to provide you and Merced
College with useful information about your academic skills in English and math. Your
assessment results, along with your educational background and interests will be
used by counselors to determine your course options.
ACCUPLACER is an adaptive test. Questions are selected for you on the basis of
your answers to previous questions. This means the right questions are selected for
you based on your ability level. Each test is untimed so that you can give each
question as much thought as you need.
You can change your answer to a particular question before moving on to the next
question, but you cannot skip a question, or come back to it later to change your
answer.
Upon completion of your test, a score report will be generated and your results will be
printed and given to you.
Take this test seriously. Remember, your scores plus other educational experiences
or performance will determine the course level at which you begin your higher
education at Merced College. Retakes are not permitted unless approved by a
counselor.
NOTE: If English is NOT your primary language and you normally speak in your
primary language and one of your goals at Merced College is to learn English, call
(209) 384-6323 for more information about testing.
> Turn all electronic devices completely OFF (not on silent or vibration mode, i.e.,
cell phones) and place them off the desk.
If we see or hear your cell phone, you will be removed from testing, no
questions asked.
> Family, friends, children and other companions are not allowed.
> Personal calculators, dictionaries, translators, or other electronic devices cannot be
used during assessment.
> Raise your hand or motion to the assessment technician to signal the need to ask a
question.
> Talking to your seatmate or other students taking the test is not permitted.
> Food and/or drinks are not permitted in the testing area.
Important to Know
Assessment or placement testing is on a first-come, first-served basis during
scheduled testing times. Refer to the assessment calendar for dates and times.
Allow at least 2 or more hours to complete your assessment. Your results for
English and Math will determine how you will register yourself. Counselors are
available if you need assistance.
ACCUPLACER sample questions
Arithmetic
Fractions
Terms
Numerator:
which tells how many parts you have (the number on top)
Denominator:
which tells how many parts in the whole (the number on the bottom)
Example:
Ex: Proper fraction: the top number is less than the bottom number.
Ex: Improper fraction: the top number is equal to or is larger than the
bottom number.
to an improper fraction.
Dividing Fractions
DECIMALS
Place the decimal point directly above its position in the problem. Then
divide the same way as divide whole numbers.
Practice:
PERCENTS
10
11
Elementary Algebra
The following sample questions are similar to the format and content of
questions on the Accuplacer Elementary Algebra test. Reviewing these
samples will give you a good idea of how the test works and just what
mathematical topics you may wish to review before taking the test itself.
Our purposes in providing you with this information are to aid your
memory and to help you do your best.
I. Order
of
oper-
ations
II.
Sci12
III. Substitution
V. Formulas
13
VII. Inequalities
Solve and graph on the number line.
IX. Factoring
14
X. Quadratic Equations
15
XII. Graphing
Graph each equation on the coordinate axis.
16
XIV. Radicals
Simplify the following using the rules of radicals (rationalize
denominators). All variables represent positive numbers.
Answers
I. Order of Operations
17
III. Substitution
18
V. Formula
19
From the diagram, we get the equation: .4x + .16 (20 . x) = 20(.22)
x = 5 and the answer is 5 liters at 40% and 15 liters at 16%.
4. Let x = the number of burgers and 14 . x = the number of fries. To get
the total amount of money spent, multiply the number of items by the
cost of the item. 2.05 x = the total dollars spent on burgers and .85
(14 . x) = the total dollars spent on fries. The equation is: 2.05x + .85
(14 . x) = 19.10. Solving the equation, x = 6. Hence, she bought 6
burgers and 8 fries.
VII. Inequalities
Solve inequalities the same as equations with one exception. When both
sides are multiplied or divided by a negative number, remember to switch
the direction of the inequality.
20
IX. Factoring
Steps to factoring:
1. Always factor out the Greatest Common Factor (If possible).
2. Factor the first and third term.
3. Figure out the middle term.
21
X. Quadratic Equations
22
23
XII. Graphing
24
25
XIV. Radicals
26