COMPASS Placement Examination
Applicants seeking admission to associate degree, diploma, and certificates programs must have minimum SAT scores of 450 in critical reading and 450 in math or minimum ACT scores of 16 in English, 19 in math, and 18 in reading. Applicants who submit scores lower than the minimums stated above or who have not taken the SAT or ACT within five years of the application deadline must take the COMPASS placement exam or submit official copies of COMPASS or ASSET test scores from other colleges. Applicants who have successfully completed English and mathematics courses with grades of C or higher at other colleges will be exempt from the placement examination requirement if they submit official transcripts with their application for admission.
The Admissions Office admit applicants who do not achieve the minimum COMPASS or ASSET scores needed for regular program admission on a provisional basis if all other requirements are met. The COMPASS and ASSET scores needed to gain regular admission to each program of study offer at the college are available online.
The COMPASS exam is a computer-based, untimed placement test developed by ACT to identify the basic skill levels of students as they enter college. This information is important when selecting an appropriate area of study. The results also provide an indication of the likelihood of success in specific college-level courses. COMPASS measures applicants’ current level of performance in reading, writing, pre-algebra, algebra, and re-calculus.
COMPASS is administered throughout the semester. Upon receipt of admission applications, Admissions staff members send applicants information detailing specific instructions on how to schedule their placement exam appointments. It is the responsibility of applicants to attend and complete the exam during their scheduled appointments.
On the day of testing, applicants must present photo identification to enter the testing session. Applicants are required to arrive on time for testing; they may not be allowed to enter test sessions once testing has begun.
Athens Technical College offers testing preparation workshops to students at its campuses in Athens, Elbert County, Greene County, and Walton County on a routine basis. Information on the availability of workshops is posted at each campus. A variety of test preparation materials are available through the Testing Services link and the Library link on the college website.
Applicants who commit acts of academic dishonesty while completing the placement exam will be charged with violating the college’s Academic Honesty Policy.