Brookdale Community College is conducting placement assessments in person on a walk-in basis in the testing center on the Lincroft campus or by appointment at a Higher Education Center.  If you have any questions, please email testing at placement@brookdalecc.edu.  Students are assessed in Foundational Studies Skills:  Reading, Writing, and Mathematics.  If you have not be admitted to Brookdale, please contact the Office of Admissions at 732-224-1857, otherwise please see below for further information.


 

Placement/Foundational Skills Testing


What are the Brookdale Placement Assessments?

Brookdale uses three different assessment tools to measure your level of skill and accomplishment in reading, writing, and mathematics.  This information is then used to determine the most appropriate course placement. These assessments are computer based and located in Canvas.  Each test is untimed so that you can give each question as much thought as you wish.

  • Reading: Brookdale’s Reading Placement Assessment measures your level of skill and accomplishment in reading. Using a computer, you will read several texts then respond to multiple-choice questions using what you have read. There are 25 questions in the Reading Placement Test. Please keep in mind that you can return to re-read the passage at any time.
  • Mathematics:  Brookdale Community College requires an ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics courses. ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map your strengths and weaknesses. The Placement Assessment is up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete. After the Placement Assessment, an individualized Prep and Learning Module is available for you to refresh your knowledge on forgotten topics. You then have the opportunity to reassess and improve your placement. For more information about the ALEKS Math Placement Test, please click here.

ALEKS consists of two parts:

  1. An Initial Placement Assessment
  2. The Prep and Learning Module, an individualized, self-paced online review
  • English: Brookdale’s English Placement Questionnaire guides you to make the best choice regarding which writing course will be best for your success.  You will answer a series of questions about your previous experiences with reading and writing, as well as report recent high school grades and standardized test scores you may have taken.

The best way to prepare for the English Placement Questionnaire is to have access to your most recent high school transcript and, if possible, score reports for any recent standardized test (such as SAT, PSAT, ACT, GED, or NJSLA).  Don’t worry if you don’t have these records or have been out of school for a few years. You should still complete the questionnaire without them; test results and high school grades are only one of many factors in determining your placement.

Where do I take my test?

All placement tests are administered on Canvas at the Brookdale testing center inside the Bankier Library in Lincroft on a walk-in basis.  Hours of operations can be found here.

Additionally, you may schedule an appointment at a Higher Education Center to take the placement assessments.  More information can be found here.

How Can I Practice for the Placement Assessments?

READING: Research shows students who practice taking computerized tests and brush up on their reading comprehension skills PRIOR to taking a reading placement test tend to have scores that more accurately reflect their abilities. Below are some online resources that provide general reading comprehension practice or reading instruction that will help you prepare: Reading Test Practice

Mathematics:  Brookdale Community College requires an ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics courses. ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map your strengths and weaknesses. The Placement Assessment is up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete. After the Placement Assessment, an individualized Prep and Learning Module is available for you to refresh your knowledge on forgotten topics. You then have the opportunity to reassess and improve your placement. For more information about the ALEKS Math Placement Test, please click here.

Who must take Brookdale Placement Assessments?

Most new degree students must take Brookdale’s Foundational Studies Placement Assessments, which measure reading, writing, and mathematics skills. These assessments are designed to ensure that students are ready for college-ready work. Waivers of assessments are available to students under the following provisions: 


Please Note: Your SAT, ACT, or Accuplacer scores must have been taken within the last three years to be considered for a waiver.  

Full Test Waiver (you will not have to take the test).

You have completed at least 24 college level credits with a grade of “C” or better from an accredited college. These 24 credits must include English Composition and a mathematics course higher than Elementary Algebra.

You have taken the Accuplacer Classic or Next Generation test at another New Jersey college.

You have at least a four-year degree from an accredited college


Partial Test Waiver (you only need to take part of the test).

  1. You have taken the SAT and have scored as follows (as of 03/01/2016)

a) Math– a score of 530 or Higher will waive the ALEKS PPL assessment

b) Evidence Based Reading and Writing (ERW)– a score of 480 or higher  will waive both the English Questionnaire and Reading tests

2. If you have taken the ACT and you have scored as follows:

a) ACT Reading: A score of 23 or higher will waive you from the Reading Section of the test.

b) NEW ACT Writing (As of the Sept 2016 Adminstration): A score of 8 will waive you from the Writing section of the Test

c)  Old ACT Writing: A score of 23 or higher will waive you from the Writing section of the test.

d) ACT Math: A score of 21 or higher will waive you from  the ALEKS tests

3. GED waiver (Computer Based GED as of March 2019): Students who receive a score of 165 or higher in the Language Arts section of the GED would be waived from the Read/Sent Skills section of ALEKS PPL assessment and those who receive a score of 165 or higher in the GED Math section would be waived from the Math sections of the ALEKS PPL assessment

4. You have credits from another college that do not meet the full guidelines of the full test waiver category above. You MAY qualify for a partial waiver. An individual assessment must be made.

5. Non-native speakers of English may be eligible for a test waiver. Visit the Admissions Office for a waiver.

6. Persons 65 years of age and older may be eligible for a test waiver. Visit the Admissions Office for a waiver.

Those wishing to waive on the basis of previous credits must provide an unofficial or official transcript or a college diploma.

What if I need accommodations?

If you have a disability or temporary disabling condition that will prevent you from taking the tests under standard conditions, please make arrangements with the the Disability Services Office to receive appropriate accommodations.  They can be reached at 732-224-2730 or TTY at 732-842-4211 or you can go to the Disability Services website for additional information.

Once you have received your approved accommodations, contact Testing Services at 732-224-1864 or testaccommodations@brookdalecc.edu to make arrangements to take your Foundational Studies assessment.

I've completed the assessments, now what?

Your next step will be to meet with an Academic Advisor.

I'm still in high school, how do I complete placement testing?

Testing can be completed in person at the Brookdale Testing Center located inside the Bankier Library in Lincroft or by appointment at a Higher Education Center. Testing for high school students can be completed in person.

Admissions representatives from Brookdale will be in Monmouth County high schools and if you would like to test at your high school with a Brookdale admission representative, students should check with their guidance counselor for more information.

If you are a sophomore or junior in high school looking to enroll through one of our high school-based programs, please contact Donna Cuddy at dcuddy@brookdalecc.edu for assistance with placement assessment requirements for these programs.

What if English is my second language?

 If English is not your first language, you may want to learn more about the ESL program here.

I took Accuplacer/ALEKS at another college.

If you’ve previously taken the Accuplacer, whether the Classic or Next Generation assessment at another college and would like the scores transferred to Brookdale, please have your previous school send the following information: (your scores must be withing the last three years of today’s date)

  • Your Name
  • Your Address
  • The Scores
  • The date the test was taken

Brookdale requires scores (unless you have been waived for all of part of the tests) for the following Accuplacer sections:

Accuplacer Classic:

  • Reading
  • Sentence Skills
  • Arithmetic
  • Algebra
  • Accuplacer Next Generation: 
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Arithmetic
  • Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics (QAS)
  • ALEKS PPL Math assessment

Scores must be sent directly from your school to:

By mail:
Brookdale Community College
Attn: Testing Services
765 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, NJ 07738

Email scan to testing@brookdalecc.edu

What do my scores mean?

Writing:  Your questionnaire determines placement:

ENGL 095 = need some support and practice

ENGL 099 and 121 combo = earn credit as well as gain skills with support

ENGL 121 = ready for college-level composition


Reading: Your score determines placement:

0-47 = need READ 091

48-67= need READ 095

68+ = No reading needed


Math: Your score determines placement:

ALEKS score of 30+ waives Foundational courses

0-13 and need READ 091 = MATH 011

0-13 no READ = MATH 015

14-29 = MATH 021 (non-STEM) or MATH  025 (STEM)

30- 100 = MATH 131, 136, 145 (non-STEM)

35-45 = MATH 151 (STEM)

46-60=MATH 152 or 156

61-100= MATH 176

76-100=MATH 171 (Calculus)

How can I retest?

For Math, you can retest in ALEKS once more to improve your score. Study online in ALEKS using the Prep and Learning Module. After at least 48 hours from when you initially tested and with the completion of at least 3 hours of Prep work, you can retest as a walk-in basis on our Lincroft Campus or by appointment at our Regional Locations.

For Reading, there will be three retest days scheduled in the summer. To schedule, contact readingretest@brookdalecc.edu.

For English/Writing, you will be provided placement guidance based on the responses you gave in the questionnaire. You then select your own placement. Therefore, there is no retest. If you have a question about this process, please contact English Foundational Studies Coordinator Heather Revesz at hrevesz@brookdalecc.edu.

Reading and Writing will be assessed on the first day and you may be moved based on the first-day assessment.

Reading placement retests are offered on Tuesdays in the Reading Center or by appointment. Email readingretest@brookdalecc.edu to schedule a retest appointment.

Please email us at placement@brookdalecc.edu or phone us at 732-224-2660 if you have any further questions.

National College Testing Association