COMPASS Placement Examination
Applicants may need to submit placement exam scores as part of the admissions process. Prospective students may submit official copies of COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT scores, provided they completed the exam within five years of the early application deadline (see Early Application Deadline). Applicants may exempt the COMPASS exam by providing official transcripts denoting the successful completion of program-level English and math courses from another postsecondary institution.
Applicants seeking admission to associate degree programs, diploma programs, and technical certificates of credit 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 early application deadline must take the COMPASS placement exam or submit official copies of COMPASS or ASSET test scores from another college. In certain instances, the Admissions Office may admit applicants who do not achieve the minimum entrance exam scores needed for regular program admission as either provisional or learning support students if all other requirements are met (see Provisional and Learning Support Admission). Minimum COMPASS and ASSET scores for admission are available on the Testing Services webpage. COMPASS and ASSET scores for each program of study are available on the college’s website.
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, and algebra.
COMPASS is administered throughout each semester. Upon receipt of admission applications, Athens Technical College will send applicants information detailing specific instructions on how to schedule their placement exam. It is the responsibility of applicants to attend and complete the exam during their scheduled exam date.
On the day of testing, applicants will need to present photo identification to enter the testing session. Applicants are required to arrive on time for testing; they may not be allowed to enter a test session 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 on the college’s website.
Applicants who commit acts of academic dishonesty while completing the placement exam will be charged with violating the college’s Academic Honesty Policy (see Academic Honesty Policy).