Testing Center and Services

General Information:

The mission is to provide and maintain a professional, secure and supportive testing atmosphere conducive to test takers performing at their best ability and students meeting their educational goals.

The Center is responsible for implementing CUNY’s testing standards and practices while administering the University’s Assessment Tests (CAT), the Mathematics Placement Test and the Ability to Benefit (ATB) Test. Other testing services, implemented under the conditions stipulated by the institutions providing the exams, such as the NLN-NEX Nursing Entrance Exam, the (HSE) High School Equivalency Exam and others aligned with the college’s mission are provided to members of the community.

Specific information on testing may be obtained by contacting the Testing Center, located at 1150 Carroll Street, Room 311, 718-270-,4835 Email: asktesting@mec.cuny.edu.

The CUNY Assessment Testing Program

Testing Policies

The City University of New York (CUNY) requires all students to demonstrate proficiency in English (reading and writing) and math in order to enroll in credit-bearing courses in the associated subject. Applicants may establish proficiency in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, meeting benchmark scores on the SAT, ACT, and New York State Regents exams or via the CUNY Proficiency index. https://www.cuny.edu/academics/testing/testing-faqs/ https://www.cuny.edu/academics/testing/

CUNY Proficiency Index:

Starting with the Spring 2020 entering class, students who do not meet benchmark scores will no longer be administered a skills certification examination; rather, CUNY will use a proficiency index to determine development education assignment.

The proficiency index combines overall high school grade point average with SAT and/or New York State Regents exam scores. There are separate proficiency indexes for English and math.

The CUNY Proficiency Index con’t:

The CUNY Proficiency Index is a tool that helps determine if your’re ready to start college-level English and math classes without needing extra support. Instead of a placement test, CUNY looks at your high school GPA, Regents exam scores, and/or SAT scores to decide the best starting point for you.

There are two separate indexes one for English and one for math. Both use information you’ve already submitted with your freshman application:

· Your overall high school GPA

· Your Regents exam scores

If you have both Regents and SAT scores, both will be used. If you only have one, that’s fine too, the index will use whichever is available. If you don’t have Regents or SAT scores, CUNY will use your high school GPA or High School Equivalency (HSE) exam scores.

The index puts more weight on your grades that your test scores, but strong test scores can help balance out lower grades, and vice versa. In short, the Proficiency Index helps place you I the right English and math classes to support your success from day one.

The CUNY Assessment Test are critical in measuring an applicant’s readiness for college-level academic work and used by administrators, academic counselors and advisors to determine applicant’s course placements.

Accuplacer ESL Tests:

Designed for English language learners, the test results will be used to determine proficiency and placement to help support students be successful in their courses.

Ability to Benefit (ATB) Tests:

New York State residents who have a foreign high school diploma are required to meet Ability to Benefit (ATB) test standards for NY State Financial Aid eligibility.

Accuplacer Math Tests:

The Accuplacer Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) and/or the Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) test(s) may be used by your college to help determine placement into math courses.

Not all students will take the math placement test: To be eligible, a student must be math proficient, require College Algebra for their major, and have a high school record that suggest they may place into a higher-level course.

• Students begin with the Accuplacer Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics (QAS) exam. If they score high enough they may proceed to the Advanced Algebra and Functions exam (AAF). Results from the AAF determine whether a student may start in Precalculus or Calculus.

The CUNY Accuplacer ESL exam is a computer-based test designed for students whose first language is not English. It helps determine your English language skills and the best level of support to help you succeed in your college courses.

The test is adaptive, which means the questions change based on your answers to better understand your skill level. The exam includes five sections, all taken on a computer:

1. Reading Skills – Measures your ability to understand and interpret written texts.

2. Sentence Meaning – Tests your understanding of word meanings and sentence structure.

3. Language Use – Assesses your grasp of grammar and sentence construction.

4. Listening – Evaluates how well you understand spoken English.

5. WritePlacer ESL (Essay) – Requires you to write an essay to show your ability to express ideas in written English.

Ability to Benefit (ATB) for New York State Financial Aid:

If you are a New York State resident with a foreign high school diploma, you must meet the New York State Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) requirements to qualify for state financial aid programs like TAP (Tuition Assistance Program). To be eligible, you must achieve the minimum required scores on the Accuplacer Next Generation placement test in the following areas:

Required Accuplacer Scores for Financial Aid Eligibility:

Test Module Required Score Range

Reading (Next-Generation) 233-300

Writing (Next Generation) 235-300

Arithmetic (Next Generation) 230-300

These scores show you have the basic academic skills to benefit from college-level work while receiving New York State aid.

Preparing for the ATB Exam:

Use the following resources to help you prepare:

Practice real questions for all three test areas: www.accuplacerpractice.collegeboard.org

Testing Center Prep Workshops:

Check with the Medgar Evers College Testing Center for upcoming prep sessions or tutoring support.

Email: asktesting@mec.cuny.edu

Phone: 718-270-4835