For New Students, Effective Spring 2012

Placement testing is required before beginning classes to help place students into appropriate courses needed to ensure student success.  Required tests are based on your status at the time you first enroll at the college. A valid picture ID is required for testing.

 If you are a high school graduate or have a GED and have never enrolled in college classes:

• Take the COMPASS placement test for English-includes reading and writing 
• Take the Virginia Placement Test (VPT) for mathematics. You may be exempt from the VPT if you scored 520 on the SAT-Mathematics.  An official copy of SAT scores should be sent to the RCC Admissions & Records Office.
• The charge for testing is $5.00 (total charge).   Both tests are online but the formats are different.  
• Schedule an appointment for testing by calling 
• Glenns  804-758-6730 
• Warsaw  804-333-6730 
• King George Center at 540-775-0087  

• Tests are un-timed – allow approximately one hour per test.  
• It is strongly recommended that you take a break between tests, so plan on spending approximately 3 hours at the college on the day that you test.  
• Following the tests, you may meet with a counselor to discuss placement recommendations and plan your schedule of classes.   Take your printed placement test score report to the meeting with the counselor.
• Counselors are available Monday-Wednesday and Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm; Thursdays 8:00 am-7:00 pm. 

If you are not a high school graduate and do not have a GED:

• Take the COMPASS placement test that covers reading, writing, and mathematics.  
• You may also be required to take the Virginia Placement Test for mathematics.  
• The charge for testing is $5.00 (total charge).  
• Both tests are online but the formats are different.  
• Schedule an appointment for testing by calling 
• Glenns  804-758-6730 
• Warsaw  804-333-6730 
• King George Center at 540-775-0087  
• It is strongly recommended to schedule these tests on different days, or at least after taking a break.   
• Following the tests, you may meet with a counselor to discuss placement recommendations and plan your schedule of classes.   Take your printed placement test score report to the meeting with the counselor.
• Counselors are available Monday-Wednesday and on Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm, and on Thursdays 8:00 am-7:00 pm.  

If you have prior college experience and have completed a college level English and/or Mathematics course with a grade of C or better you may be exempt from testing. 

Students may present an unofficial college transcript for consideration.  Any courses taken at other colleges to be considered toward a program at RCC must be evaluated using an official transcript.  

VCCS Policy on Re-testing

Test scores are valid for two (2) years after the date of the test.  Students who take the placement test and who do not enroll in developmental math are allowed to take one (1) retest within twelve (12) months.  Students who attempt developmental mathematics will be ineligible for a retest. Exceptions to this policy may be made on a case-by-case basis.