Assessment and Placement

The Cowley College Mandatory Assessment and Placement Policy states that students who are seeking a degree or certificate or are registering for 12 or more credit hours are required to complete placement tests in reading, English writing and mathematics prior to registering for the first time. Students registering for fewer than 12 credit hours are required to complete placement tests prior to registering for English composition or math courses or after attempting 12 credit hours.

Cowley College uses COMPASS, a computerized adaptive testing program, to place students into appropriate courses. Since the test is adaptive, the number of questions will vary depending on skill level. The test is not timed, but generally takes 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours to complete all three parts (about 35-40 minutes per subject). COMPASS reports results immediately so students can enroll right after completing the placement exam. STUDENTS MUST ARRIVE AT LEAST TWO HOURS PRIOR TO CLOSING TO ALLOW TIME TO TAKE ALL PARTS OF THE ASSESSMENT TEST AND ENROLL.

Some students may have all or part of the assessment testing waived by providing documentation of appropriate ACT scores or prerequisite courses completed from another institution. For more information on ACT cut scores or other assessment information, see the Mandatory Assessment and Placement Policy.

Cowley College offers courses to students with a variety of skill levels. The Cowley Course Placement Guidelines Table lists the mathematics, reading and English courses students will take based on their assessment scores.

Students generally score higher on the placement test if they review a study guide before testing. Students have the opportunity to retest one time for a small fee if they feel their initial assessment results do not adequately reflect their ability. Contact Shayla McDonald, Director of Admissions for more information on the assessment process.

High school students taking Cowley classes must also take the placement test prior to enrollment in any college course. Concurrent high school students should read the CAPSS guidelines for additional requirements.