Student Services
Testing Center
(931) 393-1762
Crouch Center Lab 1043
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
COMPASS Test
COMPASS TEST REGISTRATION
The COMPASS test assesses students' readiness for college level work. The COMPASS is a computer testing system which assesses students to determine their academic readiness in reading, writing, and mathematics. Interactive response software is specially designed to determine academic readiness and to record student results in institutional records for appropriate placement.
The reading skills portion of the COMPASS is designed to measure the student's reading comprehension. This component assesses the student's ability to recognize appropriate vocabulary, to isolate main ideas, locate explicit textual information, and draw inferences. This test also provides a reader profile to assist instructional programming. The writing skills component assesses the student's knowledge of mechanics, language, and rhetorical skills. The mathematics portion measures the student's ability to solve problems in pre-algebra/numeric skills, elementary algebra, and intermediate algebra.
The COMPASS is not a pass/fail test. Test results do not determine whether or not a student is admitted to the college. Instead, test results determine which courses are best suited to the student's level of readiness. Each test component has a separate score which determines student placement.
Students may not retake the test or any portion of the test if they have enrolled in basic or developmental courses to remove prerequisite requirements. Students who transfer to other Tennessee Board of Regents institutions may have their test results forwarded. Additionally, test results are included in student transcript information sent to other TBR institutions.
The COMPASS is given regularly on Motlow's campuses in Moore County, Fayetteville, McMinnville, and Smyrna.
Special test accommodations are available for students who require other than standard conditions for taking the test. There is no fee for the COMPASS. The Testing Center should be contacted for information about the test and test dates at (931) 393-1763 or (800) 454-4877 ext 1763.
COMPASS TEST SAMPLE QUESTIONS FROM ACT.ORG
Student Type and Assessment Criteria
NEW STUDENTS
All new applicants who are 20 years of age or younger, MUST take the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) before they can be admitted to Motlow College; ACT or SAT scores are valid for three years. Students who have VALID ACT scores are placed into or, exempted from Learning Support courses according to their ACT sub-scores in English, mathematics and reading. Students whose ACT sub-scores in mathematics and reading are 19 or greater can enroll in college level courses. Students whose ACT sub-score in English is 18 or greater can enroll in college level courses. Students whose ACT sub-scores are 18 or lower in math or reading are PLACED into Learning Support courses. Students whose English sub-score is 17 or lower are placed into Learning Support courses according to the chart below:
ACT SUB-SCORES AREA |
ACT SUBSCORE |
PLACEMENT |
Writing |
1-12 |
See Learning Support Director |
Math |
1-12 |
See Learning Support Director |
Reading |
1-12 |
See Learning Support Director |
DUAL/JOINT ENROLLMENT STUDENTS
The entry requirement for Dual and Joint Enrollment students remains a composite ACT score of 19 or higher. The sub-scores for English, Math and Reading should be 19 or higher for entry into collegiate level courses.Students who are 21 years of age or older must take all three portions (reading, writing, and math) of the COMPASS test unless they have valid ACT scores on file. Those who present valid ACT scores will be PLACED according to the same provisions as students who are under 21 years of age.
COMPASS TEST REGISTRATION
COMPASS Challenge
The COMPASS test is provided free of charge to students for whom COMPASS test scores provide initial placement. Students who take the COMPASS test and feel their test results have placed them incorrectly may challenge their initial placement score and retake the test or portions of the test. The college charges a $10 test challenge fee for each portion of the test or $20 to challenge the entire test. Challenge fees should be paid when the challenge test is taken. The highest score on all VALID assessments is used to determine final placement into college-level or Learning Support courses. Students may not challenge the test or any portion of the test once they have enrolled in a Learning Support course or earned a letter grade in the course.For Additional questions, please contact the following:
Moore County (Main Campus): (931) 393-1762 or e-mail Marie Mosley
Fayetteville Center: (931) 438-0028 or e-mail Debra Smith or Veronica King
McMinnville Center: (931) 668-7010 or e-mail Sally Pack or Monica Burgess
Smyrna Center: ( 615) 220-7800 or e-mail Gary Winton or Karen Hudson