English and Math Assessment

When you apply for credit classes at BCC, you are required to take English and/or math assessments. After you apply for admissions, stop by the Assessment Office to set up your assessment. There is usually no wait time, and assessments are offered on a walk-in (first-come, first-served) basis.

How Assessment Works

Apply for admission to receive a BCC student ID number.

A BCC student number is required to sign up for your English and/or Math assessment.
Select a time and date to take your assessment

Consult the assessment calendar for available dates and times for our drop-in English and Math assessments. No appointments are necessary.
Sign up and then pay the assessment fee

After you sign up for your drop-in assessment at the Assessment Office in room B132, pay the $18.75 assessment fee at the Cashier's office.

Take your assessment

After payment, you may go back to the Assessment Office to take your assessment at any time listed on the assessment calendar. Make sure you bring photo ID, which is required for admission into the assessment lab.

Prepare for the English and Math Assessment

NOTE: We do not allow personal calculators, even though the following external link states otherwise. Our COMPASS testing software contains both standard and scientific calculators for your use during the assessment.

You may download PDF versions of sample questions for COMPASS placement measures. Each file includes answers to all the sample questions. This also has a list of the majority of types of items on each assessment. (You must have Acrobat Reader to view these files. Download for free.)

Assessment Re-testing Policy

MATH: Math results are valid for two quarters. Example: A student who took the math assessment during spring quarter could use the results to register into math classes for summer or fall quarter. Students may take the math assessment a maximum of twice per quarter.

ENGLISH: English placements are valid for two years. After completing the English assessment, the student can elect to retake one section of the assessment within the same academic quarter at no additional fee. After one calendar year students may retest using the COMPASS English or ESL assessment* (see exception below for students in English 071/072/072/074 or DEVED 061/062 ).

*EXCEPTION: Students currently enrolled in English 071/072/072/074 or DEVED 061/062 cannot retake the COMPASS assessment without written permission from either the English Assessment Coordinator or the appropriate program chair even if more than one year has elapsed since their assessment.

Note: Starting summer 2008, our policy for defining “academic quarter” has been changed. We now follow the college calendar for each quarter. Once the quarter ends, the days during the quarter break are counted for the following quarter. (See exception above if you are currently enrolled in English 071/072/072/074 or DEVED 061/062)