Metro Campus Placement Testing

IMPORTANT: Please read all information below carefully and take the placement assessments described very seriously. Assessment scores and the essay response will help determine which courses students will take. Be sure to arrange a time and place for taking the tests that will allow you to focus and do your very best. 

Writing and Reading

Most students take a college writing class. Some take a reading course as well. To determine which classes are right for you, three assessments are evaluated. 

Please know that we work very hard to make sure you are in the right class, so that you can be comfortable and successful! See details below.

  1. Accuplacer Next Generation Reading assessment: This is an untimed exercise that includes about 20 multiple-choice questions and evaluates reading comprehension. This is an adaptive test, meaning that the computer automatically determines the next questions based on responses to prior questions. Therefore, once an answer has been selected and confirmed, the question is complete and cannot be revisited.
  2. Accuplacer WritePlacer essay assessment: This is an untimed exercise. Students are provided with a prompt and are asked to write an essay of about 500-800 words.
  3. First-day Diagnostic: On the first day of College Writing and College Reading courses, students will be given diagnostic assessments. This final step will confirm the accuracy of course placements.

Math

Student placement in math courses is determined by completing Accuplacer assessments. We administer two Accuplacer math assessments: Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) and Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF). The assessments are each 20 multiple-choice questions and are untimed. Students will begin with QAS and will proceed to AAF depending on the QAS score.

The assessments are adaptive, which means that the computer automatically determines the next questions based on responses to prior questions. Therefore, once an answer has been selected and confirmed, the question is complete and cannot be revisited.

FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I take the placement assessments?

  • On-campus

Students who have submitted their deposit to attend FDU will receive information regarding scheduling their placement assessments via their FDU student email. Please visit www.fdu.edu/metroASC to schedule an on-campus date. To register and log in, students will need their FDU student email and the Duo authentication app. For more information about accessing FDU student email (also known as your FDU Net ID) and/or using the Duo authentication app, please contact the University Technical Assistance Center at fdutac@fdu.edu or 973-443-8822 and have the FDU student ID from your acceptance letter available. You can also schedule by phone at 201-692-2076.

  • Online

Students may also opt to test remotely using Accuplacer’s approved vendor, Meazure Learning’s ProctorU platform (ProctorU). For remote testing, students need a quiet, private room, a desktop or laptop computer (Chromebooks, iPads/tablets, and mobile devices are not supported) with internet access, a microphone, and a webcam. Students who choose to test remotely will be responsible for ProctorU’s proctoring fee as follows (please note the additional cost for scheduling occurring fewer than 72 hours in advance of the testing time):

  • $28 if scheduled more than 72 hours in advance;
  • $28 + $5 fee if scheduled within 72 hours of testing time; and
  • $28 + $8 fee if scheduled within 24 hours of testing time.

How do I pay ProctorU’s remote proctoring fee?

The $28 baseline fee will be charged to your tuition bill. Any charges above $28 for assessments scheduled within 72 hours will be paid using a debit or credit card at the time you schedule your assessment. To receive the voucher required for the ProctorU service, please email metrotesting@fdu.edu with the subject “Request for Remote Testing Voucher.” Please include your full name and FDU Student ID# in the email.

I have SAT/ACT scores. Do I need to complete any placement assessments?

All students must complete the Accuplacer placement assessments.

I am a transfer student. Do I need to complete any placement assessments?

Transfer students may have to complete placement assessments. The appropriate academic advisor for a student’s major will complete a transfer student credit evaluation and notify the Metropolitan Campus Academic Support Center if placement assessments are needed. Then, if placement assessments are needed, transfer students will receive information via their FDU student email.

I have college and/or AP credits? Do I need to complete any placement assessments?

Students with college or AP credits should contact their academic advisor to determine whether they need to complete a placement assessment and share any relevant information with the Metropolitan Campus Academic Support Center.

What should I study to prepare for the Accuplacer placement assessments?

Students can find practice questions for the Accuplacer assessments as follows:

WritePlacer at https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/accuplacer/pdf/accuplacer-writeplacer-sample-essays.pdf

Next Generation Reading at https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/accuplacer/pdf/next-generation-sample-questions-reading.pdf

Next Generation QAS at https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/accuplacer/pdf/next-generation-sample-questions-quantitative-reasoning.pdf

Next Generation AAF at https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/accuplacer/pdf/next-generation-sample-questions-advanced-algebra-and-functions.pdf

Accuplacer offers an online study app. You are encouraged to create a free account and practice before your test date.

Students can find even more information about the Accuplacer assessments online, with FAQs and interactive online learning tools at https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/student.

Is there a deadline to take the Accuplacer placement assessments?

All Accuplacer assessments for incoming students should be completed by June 28, 2023 for the fall 2023 semester.

Is it possible to retake the placement assessments?

Students may take one math placement assessment and retest at least two weeks after their initial assessment date. For fall 2023, the retest period will begin after July 24th. Students may not take retests once classes have started. Students who choose to use ProctorU’s remote testing option will be responsible for ProctorU’s proctoring fee.

Please note that students who place into calculus courses and do not have a history of precalculus or calculus on their high school or prior transcripts may need to complete a math placement assessment retest on campus prior to the start of classes.

There are no retests for Accuplacer’s WritePlacer essay or Next Generation Reading assessment. On the first day of College Writing and College Reading courses, students will be given diagnostic assessments to confirm the accuracy of their course placements.

Is there a fee for taking the placement assessments?

There is no fee to take the placement assessments on-campus. Students who choose to use ProctorU’s remote testing option will be responsible for ProctorU’s proctoring fee as follows: $28 if scheduled more than 72 hours in advance; $33 if scheduled within 72 hours of testing date; $36 if scheduled within 24 hours of testing date. Please note, the $28 fee will be charged to your tuition bill. Any charges above $28 for assessments scheduled within 72 hours will be paid using a debit or credit card at the time you schedule your assessment.

What if I require testing accommodations due to a disability?

Students with documented disabilities who require testing accommodations must contact Disability Support Services at 201-692-2078 at least two weeks prior to their scheduled assessment.

Students who are accepted into the Regional Center for Learning Disabilities program and who will be receiving academic adjustments/accommodations from that office must contact the Regional Center office (201-692-2716) and ask them to send a list of approved accommodations to metrotesting@fdu.edu.

I have additional questions. What office should I contact?

For questions about the Accuplacer placement assessments, please contact the Metropolitan Campus Academic Support Center at 201-692-2076 or metrotesting@fdu.edu.