Placement Test (COMPASS)

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Go to the College’s Home Page: www.gsc.edu

  1. Click on the “Quick Links” option located on the left hand side of the page

  1. Select the first option: Admissions Info which takes you to the Admissions Page

  1. Click on “Check Application Status” located on the left hand side of the page

  1. Enter your social security number and your date of birth

  1. On the Check Application Status page is a Placement Test button

  1. Click this button to preview the available testing dates and times

  1. Testing is done on almost a weekly basis so if the dates listed are not good for you, please check back at a later date to preview additional dates and times   

For more information and to view sample COMPASS questions, click here.

Directions to Campus

Check-in will begin approximately ten minutes before the test time - please don't be late.  Students must bring to the test:  Photo ID, pencil, and a blue or black pen.  Cell phones and calculators are NOT allowed in the testing lab.  Please do not bring these items with you, there is a calculator built into the test for you to use.  This test is computerized and not timed.  There is no cost for this test. 

Compass Test

Students may be required to take the COMPASS Exam prior to registration in order to determine specific requirements for remediation in Reading, English, and Mathematics.  Students must make up their CPC deficiencies according to established guidelines and may satisfy CPC deficiencies as follows:

Area of Deficiency and  Prescribed Remediation

English

The student must pass COMPASS placement tests in Reading and English or complete Learning Support Reading and English.  The score for Reading must be 80 or higher.  The score for English must be 60 or higher and the student must pass the English Department writing sample.

Mathematics

The student must pass the COMPASS placement test in Mathematics or complete Learning Support Mathematics. The Mathematics score must be 40 or higher.

All CPC deficiencies must be made up before the student has earned 20 semester hours of college-level credit.  College courses taken to satisfy CPC deficiencies cannot be used to fulfill Core Curriculum or degree requirements, but they are calculated in the cumulative grade point average.  Transfer students who satisfy CPC requirements at another institution of the University System of Georgia will be acknowledged as having met those requirements. 

COMPASS Test Retesting Information

Based on a recent Board of Regents’ policy change, students are now allowed to retake any portion of the COMPASS Placement Test in which their score was below the cut-off score resulting in the requirement to enroll in a Learning Support English, Math, or Reading course.

The ONE EXCEPTION involves the English portion of the test.  If you earned a score of “60” or higher on that portion and were required to take ENGL 0099, you MAY NOT retake the English portion because you are required to take ENGL 0099 based on your writing sample - not your English Placement Test score.  However, you will have an opportunity on the first day of your ENGL 0099 class to complete another writing sample.  If this writing sample passes the English Department review, you will exempt the ENGL 0099 class.

There is a fifty dollar ($50) retest fee which applies to one, two, or all three portions of the test.  The retest fee must be paid as you check in to take your test and may be paid by check, money order or cash.  All retest portions MUST be taken on the same day.

If you are only a few points away from the cut-off score (they are listed below) or if you receive some additional remediation, you have a chance to increase your score.  However, if you are many points away from the cut-off score, you may not score at or above the cut-off score.  If you do retest, the college will apply the higher of your two scores to your testing record.

Cut-off Scores are:     READING    80                       

                                      ENGLISH    60

                                      MATH         40

RETESTING MUST BE COMPLETED prior to your scheduled SOAR session.  Once you complete your SOAR session and register for classes, you will be INELIGIBLE to retest. Please call your appropriate campus to register for a testing time.

TRANSFER STUDENTS that are eligible for retesting MUST retest prior to registering for classes.  Once you register for classes, you will be INELIGIBLE to retest.

Please call or email your campus Testing Center if you need additional information regarding retesting or to schedule the next retest.  Our contact information follows:

GAINESVILLE CAMPUS:       Phone     678-717-3863

David Johnston, Director of Testing     Email  djohnston@gsc.edu

OCONEE CAMPUS:               Phone     706-310-6308

Erin Williams, Coordinator of Testing     Email  ewilliams@gsc.edu