Testing Services
541-888-7371 - Photo ID required

Students who will be full-time, who will be pursuing a degree or certificate program or receiving financial aid must complete placement tests prior to registration. The placement test determines your entry levels for reading, writing and math. If you have prior college work or have taken a placement test at another college or have recent ACT or SAT scores, check with Educational Support Programs. The placement test is given in Stensland Hall between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. At the end of your testing session, you will receive a copy of your test results. Your advisor or a counselor will discuss the results and assist you to select classes based on your placement. Note: High scores may allow you to ‘test out’ of some course work.

Placement tests are scheduled by appointment through the local offices for the Curry campuses in Brookings, Gold Beach and Port Orford.

COMPASS Placement Test

COMPASS is a comprehensive computerized adaptive testing from ACT, that helps place students into appropriate courses such as reading, writing, and math.

COMPASS testing is offered on a walk-in basis. Photo ID is required. Please call the ESPS Office for testing fee schedule. For COMPASS practice site, please go to www.act.org/compass/

American College Testing (ACT)

National Test, Freshman entrance requirement
Contact ESPS Office for registration packet or go to www.act.org to register online.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

By appointment: Offering credit by exam; general and subject ESPS; $20.00 proctoring fee payable to Southwestern at time of testing. $60.00 test fee payable to CLEP the day of the exam. Retest after six months. Certain exams accepted at SOCC.

CLEP test are by appointment only. Test are administered at the ESPS office.

GED Testing Information

What is the GED Test?

You may take the GED test if you have not graduated from high school, 18 years of age or older. If you are 16 or 17 years old, you will need to get an exemption from compulsory attendance or be in an approved GED option program at a high school. If you are exempt from compulsory attendance you will need to contact the Adult Learning Skills Program 541-888-7116 to do the required GED pre testing. Prospective testers under the age of 16 are not eligible to take the GED in Oregon.

What Forms Are Available?

Southwestern offers English and Spanish versions of the GED. We also have a large print edition. People who need special accommodations for a physical disability or a learning disability may request them using special forms. The process takes time, so contact the ESPS Office in Stensland Hall well in advance.

What Can You Use the GED For?

When you fill out applications for jobs or educational programs, you can list your GED as equivalent to a high school diploma. In fact, most employers and colleges, including Southwestern, accept GED certificates. (Some colleges will require higher scores than the minimum passing scores. The ESPS Office has more information.)

What is on the GED Test?

Who Can Take the GED Test?

You may take the GED test if you have not graduated from high school, 18 years of age or older. If you are 16 or 17 years old, you will need to get an exemption from compulsory attendance or be in an approved GED option program at a high school. If you are exempt from compulsory attendance you will need to contact the Adult Learning Skills Program 541.888.7116 to do the required GED pretesting. People of age 15 or under are not eligible to take the GED in Oregon.

You need to bring:

• your photo identification
• a receipt for the fee from the Student First Stop Center.
• If you are 16 or 17 years old, you are required to bring your exemption from compulsory attendance or GED Option form.
• Do not bring such personal possessions as purses, backpacks, phones, etc., because you cannot take them to your seat while you test.

*Both the I.D. and the receipt are required before we can give you the GED test. Bring I.D. to each test.

What is Acceptable Identification?

• The GED Testing Service requires that you verify your identity with a government issued photo I.D. (examples are a driver’s license, identification card or a passport).
• All I.D. must contain 5 elements: your name, photo, date of birth, current address and signature.

What Does It Cost?

As of July 1, 2003 the fee is $75 and covers all 5 subtests. Retesting Fee of 10.00 per test.

Where Do You Pay the Fee?

People will normally pay their fees at the Student First Stop Center in the lobby of Dellwood.

When and Where Can You Take the Test?

• --Wednesday: 8:30 a.m., Writing
• --11:00 a.m. Social Studies
• --1:30 p.m. Science
• --Thursday: 1:00 p.m. Reading
• --2:30 p.m. Math.

Important:

All test-takers with appointments should arrive 10 minutes early at the ESPS office,check in and show their I.D. You may not start late. If you arrive too late for the Testing staff to get your materials and let you enter the room before the directions start for a testing session, you will need to reschedule your appointment.

How Do You Make an Appointment?

Please give ESPS a call at 541.888.7405/541.888.7371

Can You Test Without An Appointment?

No, the Testing staff will need time to set up your testing material and give you the proper testing booklet.

What If You Have Filled Out the Forms at a GED Prep Class?

If you attended a GED Prep class, you may bring your materials to the ESPS office. The Testing staff will check your I.D., check the accuracy of the forms, and, if necessary, check your exemption from compulsory attendance or GED Option form. You will then be able to make an appointment for testing.

Suppose You Started At Another GED Testing Center?

If you started in another state, you must still, pay the Oregon state fee and Southwestern's local fee (currently $75), and bring us an official score report of tests taken. If you started in Oregon, you only need to pay Southwestern's local fee of $50.

Testing Sessions: What Happens?

At each testing session a Testing staff member will hand out test materials, read directions, start all the test-takers at a common time. During the test you may not take any breaks. You may leave early if you finish before the time limit is up.

How Do You Get Score Results?

After your last test of the day, Testing staff members will scan the tests and scores will be available the next business day. Every effort will be made to do it promptly. However, there may be circumstances that slow us down, and we appreciate your understanding. You will also receive a personal ID code that you can use to go to the web site and retrieve your scores.

What Are Passing Scores?

The GED subtests use a Standard Score that ranges from 200 to 800. The passing score for each test is 410. In order to pass the GED and receive a certificate, your overall average for the 5 subtests must be at least 450.

What If You Fail One of the Tests?

If you fail a test, you may retake it using a different form. We have 3 forms of each subtest available each year. Retests after a failed test are $10.00. You should study before you test again, perhaps at GED preparation classes offered by Southwestern.

The Three-Year Limit

GED test takers have three years to complete the GED test battery in Oregon. If they do not complete testing within the three-year period, the partial test scores remain valid, but testers must pay additional testing fees:

• State fee of $25.00
• SOCC fee of $10.00 per test

When a new test series is implemented, previous testing scores are invalid. Testers will need to submit new testing fees.

How Can You Prepare for the GED Tests?

GED preparation classes are available through our ALSP office. at the Newmark Center 541.888.7116.We suggest that you take GED Practice Test before you take the GED. By taking them, you can find out quickly which subjects you are ready for and which ones you should study. Pretesting is not available at the ESPS Office.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MTBI)

Assist students in determining their personality type(s).

MBTI test are by appointment and approval of career counselor only. Test are administered at the ESPS office and takes 35 minutes to complete.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

National Test, Freshman entrance requirement.
Contact ESPS Office for registration packet or go to www.collegeboard.com to register online.

Strong interest Inventory (SII)

Assist students in choosing a major/career.

SII test are by appointment and approval of a career counselor only. Test are administered at the ESPS office in stensland.

Notice

Registration forms are available at the ESPS office for the following exams: CLEP, GMAT, GRE, PRAXIS II (NTE), PRAXIS I (PPST), SAT, TOEF, ACT.

If you need more information, Call: 541.888.7405