Frequently Asked Questions
South Seattle College provides proctoring services for make-up and accommodated exams. Visit our Proctoring page for information on proctoring services. You can also email proctoring.south@seattlecolleges.edu.
- Class placement determines the level of your first classes in English and math. After establishing placement, you can enroll in and pass classes to advance toward completion/graduation
- Once you start classes, no further placement testing is needed or advisable. Placement testing is NOT a replacement for passing a class.
You may not need to take the English or math placement tests if you have completed any of the Additional Placement Options. If you do not have any of the Additional Placement options for English and/or math, you will need to take a placement test.
The English and Math Directed Self Placement tools do not have fee costs.
The ALEKS Math Placement test has a fee of $22 plus fees and taxes that you will pay through the ALEKS website. One payment allows you 3 attempts at the exam with a 24-hour waiting period between each attempt.
The English Directed Self Placement, Math Directed Self Placement and ALEKS Placement Tests are done entirely online, and you can do them at your own convenience at any time on a device that has internet access (Phone, Tablet, or Computer). We recommend you take them prior to enrolling in courses to ensure you are placed at the appropriate academic level. There are also three Placement Testing Stations located in the Library for students to use who may not have a Seattle Colleges EAD login or space to use the placement tools.
Test anxiety is not uncommon and can be debilitating. It is defined as an excessive concern over your ability to perform well in a test. Now, you need the good news. You CAN change your behavior. Below are a few tips I pass along to my students long before they sit for their first quiz. I hope this information will be of help to you.
To increase your confidence you must experience success.
To experience success, get tips on how to study and find out what concepts will be tested.
Your goal is to know what concepts will be on the test and over-learn the material. That is, know it so well that you “over-ride” your anxiety and perform well. Think of the Olympic diver who daily practices the high dive. When the time comes to perform a dive, her muscles have “memory”. She may be a little anxious but she remembers many consistently beautiful dives. She visualizes the details of a great dive. She walks out on the board; she performs well. Begin two weeks before the test, daily practice your material. You will be building your long-term memory. It is the memory “muscle” you need for the test.
Do not wait until the night before the test to study. Your short-term memory is often not strong enough to carry you through the test. Your goal is to respond in the test with the same memory strength you experience when you tie your shoes.
Support your brain! When you experience a negative thought, don’t let it have the last word! Immediately respond with, “I know what to study; I study with focus each night.” Does that sound too easy? Does it sound as though you are lying to yourself? Not at all. You are telling your brain what to think. You did the same thing when you embedded all your negative thoughts. This time you are replacing what is not working.
Support your body. Even light exercise reduces stress, increases the oxygen, and changes the body chemistry to allow you to relax and think. Check with your doctor on what exercise is appropriate.
Not all tests have the same instructions. Read the instructions carefully.
Breathe when you begin to get anxious. Take a slow, deep breath. Start at the bottom of your lungs and slowly fill your lungs. Hold for a count of four. Slowly release all the air through your mouth. Rest. Breathe normally for a few breaths then repeat deep breathing for three or four times. By slowing your breath, you have told your body to relax. You give your body the chance to think again.
It is a myth that the best students always finish quickly. Stay laser focused on your goal.
If you’re not certain of an answer, make an intelligent guess. Don’t change your first answers unless you are positive you have made an error.
Changing a habit takes practice. Remember, it took daily practice to learn the habits that are not working for you. Your school counselor can give you extra support.
References:
1. Goleman, Daniel. (1997) Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam Books
2. The Inner Game of Tennis. W. Timothy Gallwey. Random House, New York, NY
About the Author: Sandra Bolt is the Director of Student Assessment Services and a faculty member at South Seattle College where she teaches courses in understanding and predicting human behavior in organizations.
South Seattle College/Student Assessment Services, Sandra Bolt - December 2010
Currently, the English and Math Directed Self-Placement tools and ALEKS Math Placement Test can be done online anywhere at any time at your convenience on a device that has internet access (Phone, Tablet or Computer). If you don't access to one of these devices, the Library has three Placement Testing Stations for you to use for placement tests.
South Seattle College is no longer offering exam proctoring services; however, accommodations are available for tests issued by your academic course(s).
For more information about accommodations, please visit our Access Services.
You may retake the English and Math Directed Self-Placement as many times as you wish, and your highest placement will be used.
The ALEKS Math Placement Test allows for three attempts per purchase, with a 24-hour wait period between each attempt. Your highest placement will be used.
- For instructions on how to use placement recommendations or placement tests scores for class placement, see our Placement Reciprocity page (link)
- For instructions on how to use college transcripts from previous colleges or universities for class placement, see our College Transcripts page (link)
Depending on how you choose to set your placement levels, there are two locations where you can view your placement results.
- Your English DSP, Math DSP, and ALEKS Math Placement scores can be found using the Mobile ctcLink app (HCX) in the Test Scores tool found in the Academics menu.
- Placement through transcripts, reciprocity, and/or other test scores can be found in your ctcLink Student Homepage in the tile Academic Records and select View My Milestones.