COMPASS Assessment

Please read the following carefully. You will find sample items below.

To assist you in reaching your goals, LCCC offers an assessment program that will help identify your strengths and areas of needed enhancement before beginning your college level course work. Our state-of-the-art Compass Lab provides the opportunity to complete the assessment in a way that is most convenient for you.

The Compass Lab is housed on the second floor of the College Center Building, room CC 201. With a picture I.D., you can take the assessment on a walk-in basis. The assessment takes approximately 3 hours. If it is difficult for you to schedule a 3-hour block of time, you can take the assessment in portions over several days.

Calculators built into the Testing Center computers are capable of doing all the mathematical functions necessary for your test. Therefore, personal calculators are not permitted in the Testing and Assessment Center.

Click here for Testing Center hours.

Common Questions:

What is the Compass Placement Assessment? Why is it important?
Compass is a computerized placement assessment in writing, reading, and math that helps Counselors and Advisors place you in the proper courses as you begin your studies at Lorain County Community College. The Compass assessment is designed to improve your chances of success here at LCCC. If you are placed in a course that is too easy for you, you may get bored and lose interest. On the other hand, if you are placed in a course that is too difficult, you may become overwhelmed and lose confidence in your abilities.

Should I review first?
Yes, reviewing may help you to bypass some courses and place into a higher starting level. This is especially true with Math. Reviewing the sample items will help you to have a more successful assessment experience.

When am I required to complete the Compass assessment?
The Compass Placement Assessment must be completed prior to enrolling in:

1. Any math course
2. First course in English sequence
3. More than six credit hours per academic term or
4. Any courses that would result in the accumulation of 13 or more credit hours.

Are there any exceptions?
Exceptions to the assessment might include:

1. A student who has completed an Associate Degree or higher at an accredited institution.
2. A transient student in good standing who has a transient permission letter
3. A student with ACT subtotal and composite scores of 22 or higher earned prior to August 1995 or ACT subtotal and composite scores of 24 or higher earned September 1995 or later (documentation is required)
4. A student with a SAT combined score of 1100 or higher earned prior to August 1995 or a SAT score of 1110 or higher earned September 1995 or later (documentation is required)
5. A Senior Citizen
6. A student registering for audit
7. A Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education cross-registration student.

If I have a learning disability or if English is my second language, are special assessment arrangements available?
Yes. If you have a disability, call Theo Scott in the Office of Special Needs at ext. 4058 and request special assessment arrangements.

If English is not the language in which you learned to read and write, you will need to complete the English as a Second Language Placement Assessment. Please call Dr. Annouska Remmert at ext. 7042. If you speak Spanish please call Ms. Sharon Van Houte at ext. 7092.

Do I need computer skills?
No. You do not need computer skills. You will find that the Compass system is very user-friendly. If you need any assistance, the Compass staff is here to help. Remember the assessment is not timed.

Compass Sample Items:

Mathematics Skills Section

Depending on your high school math background, you will start the mathematics portion of the COMPASS test at either Prealgebra, Algebra, College Algebra or Trigonometry.

This section of the assessment includes questions in five content areas:

I. Numerical Skills/Prealgebra
II. Algebra
III. College Algebra
IV. Geometry
V. Trigonometry

You may not be presented with questions from all of these areas. The test adapts to your performance. It will present you with higher level questions if you're doing well or will move you down to lower level questions if your answers have not been correct.

1. Numerical Skills/Prealgebra primary content areas:

Basic operations with integers, fractions and decimals
Exponents
Ratios and proportions
Percentages
Averages

	(Computing an Arithmetic Average)
1.	What is the average (arithmetic mean) of 8, 7,7, 5, 3, 2, and 2?	A.3 4/7 B. 4 5/6 C. 4 6/7 D. 5 E. 6 4/5
2.	(Basic Operations with Decimals)
	Ben is making wooden toys for the next arts and crafts sale. Each toy costs Ben $1.80 to make. If he sells the toys for $3.00 each, how many will he have to sell to make a profit of exactly $36.00 ?	A. 12 B. 20 C 30 D. 60 E. 108
3.	(Basic Operations with Fractions)
	How many yards of material from a 24-yard length of cloth remain after 3 pieces, each 3 1/2 yards long, and 5 pieces, each 2 1/4 yards long, are removed?	A. 2 1/4 B. 4 1/4 C. 4 5/6 D. 10 1/4 E. 10 5/6
4.	(Percentages)
	Phillip charged $400 worth of goods on his credit card. On his first bill, he was not charged any interest, and he made a payment of $20. He then charged another $18 worth of goods. On his second bill a month later, he was charged 2% interest on his entire unpaid balance. How much interest was Phillip charged on his second bill?	A. $8.76 B. $7.96 C. $7.60 D. $7.24 E. $6.63

Algebra primary content areas:

Substituting values in algebraic equations
Setting up equations for given situations
Basic operations with polynomials
Factoring polynomials
Linear equations in one and two variables
Rational expressions
Exponents

	(Elementary Algebra: Linear Equations in One Variable)
1.	A student has earned scores of 87,81, and 88 on the first 3 of 4 tests. If the student wants an average (arithmetic mean) of exactly 87, what score must she earn on the fourth test?	A. 85 B. 86 C. 87 D. 92 E. 93
	(Elementary Algebra: Basic Operations with Polynomials)
2.	Which of the following expressions represents the product of 3 less than twice x and 2 more than the quantity 3 times x ?	A. -6x² + 25x + 6 B. 6x² + 5x + 6 C. 6x² - 5x + 6 D. 6x² - 5x - 6 E. 6x² - 13x - 6
	(Elementary Algebra: Substituting Values in Algebraic Expressions)
3.	If x = -1 and y = 2. what is the value of the expression 2x³ - 3xy?	A. 8 B. 4 C. -1 D. -4 E. -8
	(Intermediate Algebra: Rational Expressions)
4.	For all r ¹ ± 2 r² - 5r +6 r² - 4	A. r 3 / r + 2 B. r - 2 / r + 2 C. r - 2 / r + 3 D. r + 3 / r - 2 E. r + 3 / r + 2
	(Coordinate Geometry: Linear- Equations in 2 Variables)
5.	What is the equation of the line that contains the points with (x,y) coordinates (-3,7) and (5,-l) ?	A. y = 3x - 2 B. y = x + 10 C. y = -1/3x + 8 D. y = -3/4x + 11/4 E. y = -x + 4
	College Algebra Placement Test Content Areas Functions Exponents Complex numbers Arithmetic and geometric sequences and series Factorials Matrices (basic operations, equations, and determinants) Systems of linear equations in three or more variables Logic and proof techniques Roots of polynomials
	(Complex Numbers)
1.	for i = Ö-1, if 3i(2 + 5i) = x + 6i, then x = ?	A. -15 B. 5 C. 5i D. 15i E. 27i
	(Functions)
2.	if f(4) = 0 and f(6), which of the following could represent f(x) ?	A. 2/3x - 4 B. x + 2 C. x - 4 D. 3/2x + 6 E. 3x - 12
	Geometry Placement Test Content Areas Triangles (perimeter, area, Pythagorean Theorem, etc.) Circles (perimeter, area, arcs, etc.) Angles (supplementary, complementary, adjacent, vertical, etc.) Rectangles (perimeter, area, etc.) Three-dimensional concepts Hybrid (composite) shapes Trapezoids Parallelograms Logic and proof techniques	Percentage of Items in Pool 58 15 13 4 4 4 2

	(Angles)
1.	___ ___ ___ In the figure below, AB, CD, and EFare parallel, and PQ intersects all 3 lines at points R, S, and T, respectively. If the measure of ÐQTF is 33%. what is the measure of ÐPRB ?	A. 33 B. 57 C. 66 D. 123 E. 147
	(Triangles)
2.	__ __ In DMPB below, LA \| MB. If PL/LM = 5/3 then PB/PA =?	A. 5/8 B. 2/3 C. 8/5 D. 5/3 E. 8/3
	Trigonometry Placement Test
	Content Areas Trigonometric functions and identities Right-triangle trigonometry Trigonometric equations & inequalities Graphs of trigonometric functions Special angles (multiples of 30 and 45 degrees) Polar coordinates
	(Trigonometric Functions and Identities)
1.	Which of the following is equivalent to 1 - cos² 0 / cos² 0 ?	A. sec² 0 B. (csc² 0) - 1 C. tan² 0 D. sin² 0 E. - 1 / sin² 0
	(Right-Triangle Trigonometry)
2.	From a point on the ground the angle of elevation to a ledge on a building is 27 º. and the distance to the base of the building is 45 meters. How many meters high is the ledge?	A. 45 / sin 27 º B. 45 / tan 27 º C. 45 sin 27 º D. 45 cos 27 º E. 45 tan 27 º
	Reading Placement Test Sample Passage 1-Humanities
	When I'm in New York but feeling lonely for Wyoming I look for the Western movie ads in the subway. But the men I see in those posters with their stern, humorless looks remind me of no one I know in the East. In our earnestness to romanticize the cowboy we've ironically disesteemed his true character. If he's "strong and silent" it's because, there's probably no one to talk to. If he "rides away into the sunset" it's because he's been on horseback since four in the morning moving cattle and he's trying, fifteen hours later, to get home to his family. If he's "a rugged individualist" he's also part of a team: ranch work is teamwork and even the glorified open-range cowboys of the 1880s rode up and down the Chisholm Trail in the company of twenty or thirty other riders. It's not toughness but "toughing it out" that counts. In other words, this macho. cultural artifact the cowboy has become is simply a man who possesses resilience, patience, and an instinct for survival. "Cowboys are just like a pile of rocks-everything happens to them. They get climbed on. kicked. rained and snowed on, scuffed up by the wind. Their job is 'just to take it'." one old-timer told me. Adapted from Gretel Ehriich. The Solace of Open Spaces. 1985 by Gretel Ehriich
	Referring
1.	According to the passage, cowboys are probably "strong and silent" because:	A. their work leaves them no time for conversation. B. they have been cautioned not to complain. C. they are stern and humorless. D. there is no one nearby to listen to them. E. their work makes them too tired to talk.
	Reasoning
2.	For which of the following statements does the passage give apparently contradictory evidence?	A. The cowboy's work takes endurance. B. Cowboys work alone. C. Cowboys are adequately paid. D. The cowboy's image has become romanticized in American culture. E. Cowboys think of themselves as humorless.
	Prior-Knowledge
3.	A subway can best be described as:	A. a bus route through town. B. an underground train. C. a pedestrian right-of-way. D. an exit ramp. E. a bicycle path.
	Sample Passage 2-Practical Reading
	Regular tune-ups of your heating system will cut heating costs and will most likely increase the lifetime and safety of the system. When a service technician performs a tune-up. he or she should test the efficiency of your heating system. The technician should measure the efficiency of your system both before and after servicing it and provide you with a copy of the results. Combustion efficiency is determined indirectly, based on some of the following tests: 1) temperature of the flue (or chimney): 2) percent carbon dioxide or percent oxygen in the atmosphere; 3) presence of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere; and 4) draft. Incomplete combustion of fuel is the main contributor to low efficiency. If the technician cannot raise the combustion efficiency up to ai least 75% after tuning your healing system, you should consider installing a new system or at least modifying your present system to increase its efficiency. Adapted from Alex Wilson and John Morrill. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings. 1993 by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
	Reasoning
1.	The passage suggests that, if carbon monoxide is present in the atmosphere, it is likely that the:	A. heating system is losing efficiency due to incomplete combustion. B. heating system only needs minor repans and will most likely function for a number of years. C. temperature of the flue will be lower than expected. D. heating system cannot be repaired and must be replaced. E. costs for running the heating system will decrease.
	Referring
2.	According to the passage, when performing a tune-up of a heating system, the service technician should:	A. ensure that the combustion efficiency is at least 25%. B. modify the heating system before initially measuring efficiency. C. measure combustion efficiency both before and after servicing the system. D. provide his or her supervisor with a written report of the system's efficiency. E. ignore the age of the heating system.
	Prior-Knowledge
3.	Combustion can best be described as a process of:	A. fueling. B. charging. C. spinning. D. burning. E. cooling.
	Writing Skills Section
	You will be presented with an essay similar to the one below and asked to look for errors in grammar, punctuation, usage, and style. If you find what you believe to be an error, choose the more appropriate option for revising that area of the test. Note that the first option of each example is always identical to the original wording in the text, and thus represents NO CHANGE. (THE ESSAY SEGMENTS IN BOLD WERE ELECTED FOR REVISION.)
	An increasing number of lakes and rivers in the Northern United States invaded are being by a mussel no larger that a fingernail. The zebra mussel probably steamed aboard a transatlantic ship sometime in the mid-1980s from the Caspian Sea into U.S. waters. Despite its growth was explosive, partly because the species was preyed upon by very few native predators in its new environment. As a consequence, the zebra mussels did find a plentiful food supply. They eat huge amounts of phytoplankton, whick time free-floating sea organisms that dwell in water. Scientists are concerned when the mussels may compete aggressively with other species that depend in the same food supply. Othes concerned by the invading species are industry, public utilities, and boat owners. Zebra mussels cluster in huge colonies, being anchored themselves to any hard surface. These colonies can clog your water intake pipes of electric and water treatment plants. Fishery specialists are currently casting about and baiting their hooks to gun down control methods that will cause the lowest amount of damage to water supplies and other aquatic species. Two of the other alternatives exploring are interrupting the species reproductive cycle and finding a bacterium harmful only to zebra mussels.
	Example I (grammar and usage)
	A. An increasing number of lakes and rivers B. An increasingly number of lakes and rivers C. A number increasing of lakes and rivers D. A number increasingly of lakes and rivers E. An increasing of lakes and rivers
	Example 2 (style)
	A. was preyed upon by very few native predators in its new environment B. found very few predators in its new environment. C. found very few native predators and was seldom eaten in.its new environment D.was preyed on by very few native predator species in its new environment. E. was seldom eaten or preyed on by native predator species in its new environment
	Example 3 (sentence structure)
	A. Scientists are concerned when the mussels B. Scientists are concerned that if die mussels C. Scientists are concerned where in the mussels D. Scientists are concerned that the mussels E. Scientists are concerned as if the mussels
	Example 4 The writer wishes to add a sentence at the end of Paragraph 1 that will serve as a transition between Paragraphs 1 and 2 and will establish the main focus of the essay. Which of the following sentences most effectively fulfills that purpose?
	A. The zebra mussel will provide a difficult challenge for public utility managers. B. The zebra mussel is only the latest in a series of newly introduced species to thrive in the U.S. C. No one knows how far south and west the zebra mussel is likely to spread, but scientists think they may be on the trail of important clues D. Although small in size, the zebra mussel may become a huge problem for pleasure boat owners in North American waterways E. Despite its size, however, the zebra mussel may have a dramatic effect on North American waterways
	Answers to Sample Items
	Numerical Skills/Prealgebra Placement Test 1. C 2. C 3. A 4. B
	Algebra Placement Test 1. D 2. D 3. B 4. A 5. E
	College Algebra Placement Test 1.A 2.E
	Geometry Placement Test 1. E 2. C
	Trigonometry Placement Test 1. C 2. E
	Reading Placement Test: Sample Passage 1- Humanities 1.D 2.B 3.B
	Reading Placement Test: Sample Passage 1- Pratical Reading 1. A 2. C 3. D
	Writing Skill Placement Test 1.A 2.B 3.D 4.E
	These sample items are designed by ACT to illustrate the form of the items in the COMPASS battery. They have not been pretested and have not been subjected to the content and fairness reviews required for all operational items.

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COMPASS Assessment

Compass Sample Items:

Answers to Sample Items

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