Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you have been admitted to Middlesex County College you will need to take the College Placement Test. The test is designed to provide information about your skills in the English language and in mathematics. The results will be used, along with other information, to place you in the courses appropriate to your level of preparation. In some cases this may include non-credit, developmental courses.

The Middlesex County College Placement Test consists of a 60-minute essay and a series of multiple choice tests presented on a personal computer. The multiple choice tests measure your skills in reading comprehension and elementary algebra. You will also be tested on your computation or intermediate algebra/college level math skills, depending on your progress on the elementary algebra portion of the test. Except for the essay, the computerized test is untimed although most college students complete it within two to three hours.

Middlesex County College requires that the following students take the test before they may register for classes:

• New full-time students.
• New part-time students entering degree programs.
• Part-time, non-matriculated students who have completed eleven credits at the college.
• Full-time and part-time transfer students who have not attained sophomore status at an accredited U.S. college or university nor received transfer credit for one semester of college-level composition and one semester of college-level mathematics.
• The College may require additional categories of students to be tested.

Middlesex County College may exempt the following students from the College Placement Test (Beginning the Summer 2018 and Fall 2018 Semesters):

• Students who already hold an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university.
• SAT scores (taken after 3/1/2016) - Students who score 450 or higher on the SAT ERW section, or 500 (for Algebra I)/530 (for Algebra II) or higher on the SAT Math section may be exempt from one or more categories.
• ACT scores - Students who score 18 or higher on the ACT English test, 22 or higher on the ACT Reading test, or 22 (for Algebra I)/28 (for Algebra II) or higher on the ACT Math test may be exempt from one or more categories.
• PARCC scores - Students who score a 4-5 on the Algebra I, Algebra II, or Grade 11 ELA/L tests may be exempt from one or more categories.
• Students who are enrolled in the English as a Second Language Program (ESL) must take the ESL Placement Test instead of the College Placement Test.
• Non-native speakers who did not complete four years of high school English at an accredited U.S. high school must take the ESL Placement Test instead of the College Placement Test.
• Students who have reached sophomore status at an accredited U.S. college or university and have completed one semester of English Composition and one semester of college-level math with a grade of “C” or higher may be exempt from certain categories.

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College Placement Test Study Guides:

• Study Guides can be found at the bottom of the How to prepare for College Placement Test page

ESL Placement Test Study Files:

• Study Files can be found at the bottom of the How to prepare for ESL Testing page

1. Your social security number or Middlesex County College ID number.
2. Valid photo-identification (e.g., passport, drivers license, high school ID card).
3. Several No. 2 lead pencils with erasers.
4. Cell phones, calculators, PDA’s, IPods, etc. are not permitted in the testing room.

Below is a document listing the current Reading, Writing, and Math placement rules (using Next-Generation ACCUPLACER scores) for the college. It also provides information about placements based on SAT scores, ACT scores, PARCC scores, challenge options/rules, and rules concerning SSD 101.

• MCC Placement Rules (as of 3/26/18)