Placement Testing

Contact information

Marple Campus

Assessment Services

Academic Building,

Room 4260

Hours:
Mon-Thu, 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Fri, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.*
Sat, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.*
Sun, Closed

*Closed Friday and Saturday during summer sessions

Phone: 610-359-5322
Fax: 610-359-5085
Email

The Testing Centers at the Marple Campus and at Branch Locations are open for in-person and remote testing by scheduled appointments only. Testing is made available by appointment on the following days and times:

Please note that students can waive the placement test with the appropriate SAT or ACT scores or other measures (see below for eligible scores).

*The College is closed for all in-person testing on Fridays and Saturdays in the summer.

Overview

New students who are not eligible to waive the placement test are required to test for English composition, reading and mathematics. Test results indicate your current skills in these academic areas and will help you and your counselor plan your academic schedule, including any remedial courses that may be necessary.

The placement test consists of two parts:

English or ESL

Math

If your primary spoken language is other than English, you may be asked to take the ESL portion, which includes ESL Grammar, ESL Listening, ESL Writing (that is, ESL Writeplacer), and ESL Reading Skills sections.

If you are a native English speaker, you will be asked to take the English portion, which includes English writing (that is, Writeplacer) and English Reading Comprehension (Next-Generation Reading) sections.

Finally, the Math portion of the placement test consists of three sections:

Next-Generation Arithmetic

Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning Algebra, and Statistics

Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions.

Depending on your performance, you may be asked to take one or two sections of the Math test.

All parts and sections of the placement test are computer-based, and while the tests and sections are un-timed, you should plan on spending at least two hours taking the tests.

You are encouraged to prepare for the placement test. To do so, visit accuplacer.collegeboard.org. You will find sample questions on the website and the option to purchase a study app for your computer to assist with additional review.

Before students can schedule placement tests, a Delaware County Community College application must be submitted. Students receive an admissions package shortly after applications are received that include important information about accessing the student communications portal delaGATE, and registering for placement tests.

For questions about placement testing, contact Assessment Services either at 610-359-5322 or 610-325-2776.

To review the College’s placement retesting and placement test score expiration date policies, please click on the two links below:
– English, Mathematics, and Reading Retesting Policy
– Placement Test Scores Expiration

Placement Test for English as a Second Language

If you have indicated that you need instruction in English as a second language, an ESL placement test is recommended to accurately assess and determine the class placement that is most appropriate for you. To register for an ESL test, contact Assessment Services at 610-359-5322.

TOEFL or IBT scores may be used to waive the ESL placement test and give eligibility to take the native English and reading placement test. Scores must be current within five years of the start of classes. Students must receive the following minimum scores:

TOEFL – IBT – 80
TOEFL – paper test – 550
IELTS – 6.5

To review for the placement test visit accuplacer.collegeboard.org.

Placement Test Waivers and Exemptions

The following scores and school transcript information may be used to exempt students from taking one of our placement tests and used for college-level placement in English and/or math. Students should have their score reports and/or school transcripts sent to the Assessment Services Office (assess@dccc.edu).

Minimum SAT score of 500 in EBRW and/or score of 530 in Math, taken within the last 5 years. To send official SAT scores, please use the College’s school code 2125.
Minimum ACT score of 18 in Reading and/or score of 20 in Math, taken within the last 5 years. To send official ACT scores, please use the College’s school code 3542.
Minimum PSAT score of 500 in English and/or score of 530 in Math, taken within the last 5 years.
Minimum Keystone score (or equivalent) of “Proficient” or Advanced” in Literature and/or in Algebra 1, taken within the last 5 years.
A college transcript indicating students have earned a U.S. college degree or have passed college-level English or math at an accredited U.S. college or university.
For English placement, a score of 3 on the AP English Lit/Com Exam, taken with the last 5 years.
For English placement, a high school transcript with a GPA of 3.25 or greater for 3 years from an American high school with grades in all English classes “B” or higher.
For math placement, a high school transcript with GPA or 3.00 or greater for 3 years from an American high school with grades in Algebra II and all other math classes of “B” or higher.

Please note that all test scores and high school transcripts should be within 5 years of the student starting classes.

Testing Center

The Testing Center at the Marple Campus is open for in-person and remote testing by scheduled appointments only. We host a variety of testing needs, both in person and virtually. Below is a quick list, and for more detailed information, visit our Testing Center page.

In-person Placement testing at Marple
In-person Placement testing at Branch Locations
Remote Placement testing
In-person Course Exams
In-person Pearson VUE
In-person PRAXIS
In-person CLEP
In-person TEAS
To schedule a testing session, either onsite or remote, students can contact the testing center at testingcenter@dccc.edu or call 610-325-2776.

Testing Center