ACCUPLACER doesn’t have a pass or fail. Each test gives a score from 200 to 300, and your college uses it, often along with your high school record, to place you in the right reading, writing and math courses. Here’s how to make sense of your scores.

There’s no passing score

Each college sets its own cut scores: the score you need on each test to place into a particular course. Two colleges can place the same score differently. Ask your college’s testing or advising office for its placement chart before you test, so you know what you’re aiming for.

Why scores matter

Placing higher can let you skip noncredit developmental courses and start in credit-bearing classes such as college algebra or English composition. That can save a semester or more of time and tuition.

Which math test will you take?

Your college decides, often based on the course you’re heading for:

Test	Level	Practice
Arithmetic	Whole numbers, fractions, decimals and percents	Arithmetic practice
QAS	Roughly Algebra I, plus statistics and probability	QAS practice
AAF	Algebra II, precalculus and trigonometry	AAF practice

Because the tests are computer-adaptive, a strong performance on one level can lead some colleges to send you to the next test up.

Retesting

Fees, waiting periods and how many times you can retest are set by each school, so check with yours. Many students prepare for a week or two and retest to place higher.

How to raise your score

1. Find out which tests and scores your college needs.
2. Take practice tests in each subject: Reading, Writing and the math test for your level.
3. Review the math topics you miss, and practice without a calculator.
4. Take your time on test day: in most cases there’s no time limit.