{"id":5383,"date":"2016-02-12t14:30:54","date_gmt":"2016-02-12t22:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/?p=5383"},"modified":"2018-09-01t16:59:35","modified_gmt":"2018-09-01t23:59:35","slug":"what-is-the-act-compass-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/act\/what-is-the-act-compass-test\/","title":{"rendered":"act compass: how to prepare"},"content":{"rendered":"
due to a decline in popularity, act phased out its compass exam at the end of 2016. that being said, act compass will remain an important exam for colleges and universities for the next twelve months and may be replaced by a similar exam in the future.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
the most well-known act test is (of course) the act, which is commonly used as an admission test for four-year universities. however, the act also administers a placement exam for students who have already been admitted to colleges and universities. this exam is called the act compass and for years it has been used to test the level of community college students, and sometimes university students as well.<\/p>\n
how the act compass is used<\/h2>\n
if you need to prepare for the act compass, it\u2019s important to understand that the compass is not an admissions exam<\/em> like the act. by this i mean that the compass does not determine whether or not you get into a school. instead, the compass exam is a placement exam<\/em>.<\/p>\n
being a placement exam, your act compass scores determine whether you will be able to take regular course-credit classes in all subjects right away, or will need to take some remedial courses<\/em>. remedial courses help you improve academic skills that you\u2019re weak in. since remedial courses are taught below the college level, they do not count as course credit toward your major or toward graduation.<\/p>\n
community colleges typically do not require actual admissions exams, they will accept any applicant who is interested in attending. since they accept students regardless of academic ability, community colleges need to determine the level of each student in order to place students in their appropriate classes. these two-year degree institutions generally require the compass for all students after they\u2019ve applied and been accepted. to see an example of how act compass scores correspond to placement in certain types of classes, check out des moines community college\u2019s compass score\/course placement table here<\/a>.<\/p>\n