Virginia Placement Test Instructions

The following are guidelines and tips for students who currently have a high school diploma or GED, are planning to graduate from high school in June or students who are home-schooled.

English as a Second Language | Retesting Policy | Virginia Placement Testing
VPT Test Resources | Compass Testing | Helpful Sites

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. Student ID Number is required for testing. Students with disabilities may request accommodations for testing; documentation of disability is required. There is a $5 fee to take the placement test.

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

  • Take the Virginia Placement Test (VPT) for mathematics and English
  • The math test contains a variety of questions types such as free response, matching, multiple choice, true/false, etc; there is an online calculator.
  • The English test consists of an essay (60%) and thirty multiple choice questions (40%). Students must write the essay online
  • There is one $5 fee for taking the test. Both tests are online but the formats are different.
  • Tests are untimed – allow approximately two hours per test.
  • It is strongly recommended that you take a break between tests, so plan on spending at least 3-4 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 at the Glenns and Warsaw Campuses Mon – Wed and Fri 8 am – 4:30 pm; Thu 8 am – 7 pm.

Schedule an appointment for testing by calling

  • For Glenns Campus-call 804-758-6730, Warsaw Campus-call 804-333-6730
  • For King George testing (only), call 540-775-0087

English as a Second Language
Students for whom English is a second language are encouraged to take the TOEFL test. The college requires a score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT test for admission to an academic program. An official score report from the Educational Testing Service is required. Get more information on the TOEFL test. RCC does not offer an English as a Second Language Program.

If you have taken the ACT or SAT within the past two (2) years OR 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.

SAT or ACT scores must be submitted directly to the college from the testing agency. Students may present an unofficial college transcript for consideration. Any courses taken at other colleges to be considered for a program at RCC must be evaluated using an official transcript.

VCCS Policy on Re-testing
Test scores are valid for five (5) years after the date of the test. Students who take the placement test and who do not enroll in developmental math or English are allowed to take one (1) retest within twelve (12) months. Students who attempt developmental mathematics or English will be ineligible for a retest. Exceptions to this policy may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Virginia Placement Test (VPT) for Math and English

Step 1. Go to https://college.measuredsuccess.com

Step 2. At the login, click Student Self-Registration and enter the following:

  • Institution: Select VCCS Practice Test Institution from the drop down box
  • Site: VCCS Practice Test from the drop down box
  • Site Password: Virginiapt

Step 3. Complete the Student Registration Form.
Note the following fields:

Student ID Field:

  • For students who have completed an RCC application, use the letters RCC and your seven digit EMPLID (student id number). Example: RCC#######. NOTE: If your EMPLID starts with a zero, omit it. For example, if your EMPLID is 0326844, enter RCC326844 instead of RCC0326844.
  • For an individual taking the practice test who does not have an EMPLID (student id number), the college abbreviation could be followed by most any combination of numbers and letters.
    Example: RCC2468agb

Email Address Field: Since your VCCS student email address will be used for the “real” test, the VCCS email address should NOT be entered when registering for the practice test. An alternate email should be used so that the student can receive an auto-generated email containing the logon and password info to resume the practice test if it is isn’t completed in one sitting.

Step 4. Click submit

Step 5. Next you will see the End User Subscription Agreement. Read and then click Accept.

Step 6. You will then be taken to the Dashboard listing and linking the tests.

  • A. VPT –English Practice Exam (addresses the content of English Units 1-6 and 8) NOTE: The VPT-English Practice does not contain an essay, but please keep in mind you will be required to write an essay when taking the actual VPT-English Test. The essay is very important, should address the prompt, and should be 300-500 words in length.
  • B. VPT-Math Practice Units 1-5
  • C. VPT-Math Practice Units 6-9
  • D. VPT-Math Practice Calculus No Trig
  • E. VPT-Math Practice Calculus with Trig

Step 7. Click on a link to choose the practice test. Read the directions and then click on Begin Test. Use the Next button to move forward throughout the test. Note: you may click Save and Finish Later at any time.

Step 8. When you are done with a test, click the final submit button. You will be taken back to the Dashboard. To view your results, click on the test link. This will take you to the Score Report page.

Score Report: The correct answers to practice test questions print on the score report for the practice test in addition to the student’s responses. The student can then review the information that was missed.

Resources to help Prepare for the VPT Test

Compass Placement Testing – For students who do not have a high school diploma or GED:
This does not apply to high school seniors, home schooled students, or high school students who wish to enroll concurrently in RCC courses.

For Ability to Benefit Testing
COMPASS is administered for Ability to Benefit Testing only. 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. Student ID Number is required for testing. Students with disabilities may request accommodations for testing; documentation of disability is required.

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 and English.
  • There is one $5 fee for taking the test. Both tests are online but the formats are different.
  • 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 at the Glenns and Warsaw Campuses Mon-Wed and Fri 8 am – 4:30 pm; Thu 8 am – 7 pm

Schedule an appointment for testing by calling

  • For Glenns – 804-758-6730, Warsaw – 804-333-6730
  • For King George testing (only) call 540-775-0087

To access the online, no-cost, test samples and help, visit: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation.html

 

Websites for Online Academic Help

  • Help with Algebra
  • Help with Math – Purple Math
  • Additional Help with Math – Math.com
  • Ask Dr. Math
  • Free Online English Rules – Grammarbook.com
  • Purdue’s OWL Writing Lab