ACCUPLACER

Sample Questions for Students

Sentence Skills
In an ACCUPLACER placement test, there are 20 Sentence Skills questions of two types. The first type is sentence correction questions thatrequire an understanding of sentence structure. These questions ask you to choose the most appropriate word or phrase to substitute for the underlined portion of the sentence. The second type is construction shift questions. These questions ask that a sentence be rewritten according to the criteria shown while maintaining essentially the same meaning as the original sentence. Within these two primary categories, the questions are also classified according to the skills being tested. Some questions deal with the logic of the sentence, others with whether or not the answer is a complete sentence, and still others with the relationship between coordination and subordination.

3. Knocked sideways, the statue looked as if it would fall. A. Knocked sideways, the statue looked B. The statue was knocked sideways, looked C. The statue looked knocked sideways D. The statue, looking knocked sideways, 4. To walk, biking, and driving are Pats favorite ways of getting around. A. To walk, biking, and driving B. Walking, biking, and driving C. To walk, biking, and to drive D. To walk, to bike, and also driving 5. When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this is an example of jaywalking. A. When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this B. You cross the street in the middle of the block, this C. Crossing the street in the middle of the block D. The fact that you cross the street in the middle of the block 6. Walking by the corner the other day, a child, I noticed, was watching for the light to change. A. a child, I noticed, was B. I noticed a child watching C. a child was watching, I noticed, D. there was, I noticed, a child watching

Sentence Skills Sample Questions

Directions for questions 16 Select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first answer.
1. The baby was obviously getting too hot, then Sam did what he could to cool her. A. hot, then Sam did B. hot. Sam did C. hot; Sam, therefore, did D. hot; Sam, trying to do 2. She hoped to find a new job. One that would let her earn money during the school year. A. job. One that B. job. The kind that C. job, one that D. job, so that it

Directions for questions 712 Rewrite the sentence in your head following the directions given below. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the sentence given you.
7. In his songs, Gordon Lightfoot makes melody and lyrics intricately intertwine. Rewrite, beginning with Melody and lyrics... Your new sentence will include A. Gordon Lightfoot has B. make Gordon Lightfoots C. in Gordon Lightfoots D. does Gordon Lightfoot

ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS 1

8. It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the same cannot be said of liquids. Rewrite, beginning with Unlike liquids, The next words will be A. it is easy to B. we can easily C. solid objects can easily be D. solid objects are easy to be

Reading Comprehension
In an ACCUPLACER placement test, there are 20 questions of two primary types in the Reading Comprehension. The first type consists of a reading passage followed by a question based on the text. Both short and long passages are provided. The reading passages can also be classified according to the kind of information processing required including explicit statements related to the main idea, explicit statements related to a secondary idea, application, and inference. The second type of question, sentence relationships, presents two sentences followed by a question about the relationship between these two sentences. The question may ask, for example, if the statement in the second sentence supports that in the first, if it contradicts it, or if it repeats the same information.

9. Excited children ran toward the loud music, and they told others about the ice cream truck outside. Rewrite, beginning with The excited children, who had run toward the loud... The next words will be A. music, they told B. music told C. music, telling D. music and had told Rewrite, beginning with Todd cannot move the boulder... The next words will be A. when lacking B. because he C. although there D. without enough Rewrite, beginning with The real party started... The next words will be A. after the band began B. and the band began C. although the band began D. the band beginning Rewrite, beginning with Listening in the park,... The next words will be A. no unusual noises could be heard B. then Chris heard no unusual noises C. and hearing no unusual noises D. Chris heard no unusual noises

10. If he had enough strength, Todd would move the boulder.

Reading Comprehension Sample Questions

Read the statement or passage and then choose the best answer to the question. Answer the question based on what is stated or implied in the statement or passage.
1. In the words of Thomas DeQuincey, It is notorious that the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it. If, like most people, you have trouble recalling the names of those you have just met, try this: The next time you are introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself, Ill listen carefully; Ill repeat each persons name to be sure Ive got it, and I will remember. Youll discover how effective this technique is and probably recall those names for the rest of your life. The main idea of the paragraph maintains that the memory A. always operates at peak efficiency. B. breaks down under great strain. C. improves if it is used often. D. becomes unreliable if it tires.

11. The band began to play, and then the real party started.

12. Chris heard no unusual noises when he listened in the park.

ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS 2

2. Unemployment was the overriding fact of life when Franklin D. Roosevelt became president of the United States on March 4, 1933. An anomaly of the time was that the government did not systematically collect statistics of joblessness; actually it did not start doing so until 1940. The Bureau of Labor Statistics later estimated that 12,830,000 persons were out of work in 1933, about one-fourth of a civilian labor force of more than 51 million. Roosevelt signed the Federal Emergency Relief Act on May 12, 1933. The president selected Harry L. Hopkins, who headed the New York relief program, to run FERA. A gifted administrator, Hopkins quickly put the program into high gear. He gathered a small staff in Washington and brought the state relief organizations into the FERA system. While the agency tried to provide all the necessities, food came first. City dwellers usually got an allowance for fuel, and rent for one month was provided in case of eviction. This passage is primarily about A. unemployment in the 1930s. B. the effect of unemployment on United States families. C. President Franklin D. Roosevelts presidency. D. President Roosevelts FERA program.

5. In 1848, Charles Burton of New York City made the first baby carriage, but people strongly objected to the vehicles because they said the carriage operators hit too many pedestrians. Still convinced that he had a good idea, Burton opened a factory in England. He obtained orders for the baby carriages from Queen Isabella II of Spain, Queen Victoria of England, and the Pasha of Egypt. The United States had to wait another 10 years before it got a carriage factory, and only 75 carriages were sold in the first year. Even after the success of baby carriages in England, A. Charles Burton was a poor man. B. Americans were still reluctant to buy baby carriages. C. Americans purchased thousands of baby carriages. D. the United States bought more carriages than any other country.

6. All water molecules form six-sided structures as they freeze and become snow crystals. The shape of the crystal is determined by temperature, vapor, and wind conditions in the upper atmosphere. Snow crystals are always symmetrical because these conditions affect all six sides simultaneously. The purpose of the passage is to present A. a personal observation. B. a solution to a problem. C. actual information. D. opposing scientific theories.

3. It is said that a smile is universally understood. And nothing triggers a smile more universally than a taste of sugar. Nearly everyone loves sugar. Infant studies indicate that humans are born with an innate love of sweets. Based on statistics, a lot of people in Great Britain must be smiling because on average, every man, woman, and child in that country consumes 95 pounds of sugar each year. From this passage it seems safe to conclude that the English A. do not know that too much sugar is unhealthy. B. eat desserts at every meal. C. are fonder of sweets than most people. D. have more cavities than any other people.

Directions for questions 710 For the questions that follow, two underlined sentences are followed by a question or statement. Read the sentences, then choose the best answer to the question or the best completion of the statement.
7. The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in 15 years. Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this year. What does the second sentence do? A. It restates the idea found in the first. B. It states an effect. C. It gives an example. D. It analyzes the statement made in the first.

4. With varying success, many women around the world today struggle for equal rights. Historically, women have achieved greater equality with men during periods of social adversity. Three of the following factors initiated the greatest number of improvements for women: violent revolution, world war, and the rigors of pioneering in an undeveloped land. In all three cases, the essential element that improved the status of women was a shortage of men, which required women to perform many of societys vital tasks. We can conclude from the information in this passage that A. women today are highly successful in winning equal rights. B. only pioneer women have been considered equal to men. C. historically, women have only achieved equality through force. D. historically, the principle of equality alone has not been enough to secure women equal rights.

8. Social studies classes focus on the complexity of our social environment. The subject combines the study of history and the social sciences and promotes skills in citizenship. What does the second sentence do? A. It gives an example. B. It makes a contrast C. It proposes a solution. D. It states an effect.

ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS 3

9. Knowledge of another language fosters greater awareness of cultural diversity among the peoples of the world. Individuals who have foreign language skills can appreciate more readily other peoples values and ways of life. How are the two sentences related? A. They contradict each other. B. They present problems and solutions. C. They establish a contrast. D. They repeat the same idea. Many companies allow their employees paid leaves of absence to serve on juries. What does the second sentence do? A. It reinforces what is stated in the first. B. It explains what is stated in the first. C. The second expands on the first. D. It draws a conclusion about what is stated in the first.

Writeplacer Sample Topic

Prepare a multiple-paragraph writing sample of about 300-600 words on the topic below. You should use the time available to plan, write, review, and edit what you have written. Read the assignment carefully before you begin to write. Some schools require each student to participate in an organized school sport chosen by the student. People at these schools argue that athletics is an important part of the educational experience and that there should be a rule requiring participation. Others argue that students should be free to decide whether or not they wish to participate in organized school sports. Write an essay for a classroom instructor in which you take a position on whether participation in organized school athletics should be required. Be sure to defend your position with logical arguments and appropriate examples. Your essay must be 300600 words in length.

10. Serving on a jury is an important obligation of citizenship.

WritePlacer
This test measures your ability to write effectively, which is critical to academic success. Your writing sample will be scored on the basis of how effectively it communicates a whole message to the readers for the stated purpose. Your score will based on your ability to express, organize, and support your opinions and ideas, not the position you take on the essay topic. The following five characteristics of writing will be considered: FocusThe clarity with which you maintain your main idea or point of view OrganizationThe clarity with which you structure your response and present a logical sequence of ideas Development and SupportThe extent to which you elaborate on your ideas and the extent to which you present supporting details Sentence StructureThe effectiveness of your sentence structure Mechanical ConventionsThe extent to which your writing is free of errors in usage and mechanics

Arithmetic
This test measures your ability to perform basic arithmetic operations and to solve problems that involve fundamental arithmetic concepts. There are 17 questions on the Arithmetic tests divided into three types. Operations with whole numbers and fractions: topics included in this category are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, recognizing equivalent fractions and mixed numbers, and estimating. Operations with decimals and percents: topics include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with decimals. Percent problems, recognition of decimals, fraction and percent equivalencies, and problems involving estimation are also given. Applications and problem solving: topics include rate, percent, and measurement problems, simple geometry problems, and distribution of a quantity into its fractional parts.

ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS 4

Arithmetic Sample Questions

Solve the following problems and select your answer from the alternatives given. You may use the paper you have been given for scratch paper.
1. 2.75 + .003 + .158 = A. 4.36 B. 2.911 C. 0.436 D. 2.938 2. 7.86 4.6 = A. 36.156 B. 36.216 C. 351.56 D. 361.56 3.
7 20

8. Three people who work full-time are to work together on a project, but their total time on the project is to be equivalent to that of only one person working full-time. If one of the people is budgeted for one-half of his time to the project and a second person for one-third of her time, what part of the third workers time should be budgeted to this project? A. 1 3 B. C. D.
3 5 1 6 1 8

9. 32 is 40 percent of what number? A. 12.8 B. 128 C. 80 D. 800 10. 3 3 - 2 5 = A. 1 2 B. C. D.

1 1 15 14 15 1 1 15 1 2

= 0.035 0.858 0.35 3.5

A. B. C. D.

4. Which of the following is the least? A. 0.105 B. 0.501 C. 0.015 D. 0.15 5. All of the following are ways to write 25 percent of N EXCEPT A. 0.25 N B. C.
25N 100 1 4

Elementary Algebra
A total of 12 questions of three types are administered in this test. The first type involves operations with integers and rational numbers, and includes computation with integers and negative rationals, the use of absolute values, and ordering. A second type involves operations with algebraic expressions using evaluation of simple formulas and expressions, and adding and subtracting monomials and polynomials. Questions involve multiplying and dividing monomials and polynomials, the evaluation of positive rational roots and exponents, simplifying algebraic fractions, and factoring. The third type of question involves the solution of equations, inequalities, word problems, solving linear equations and inequalities, the solution of quadratic equations by factoring, solving verbal problems presented in an algebraic context, including geometric reasoning and graphing, and the translation of written phrases into algebraic expressions.

D. 25 N 6. Which of the following is closest to 27.8 9.6? A. 280 B. 300 C. 2,800 D. 3,000 7. A soccer team played 160 games and won 65 percent of them. How many games did it win? A. 94 B. 104 C. 114 D. 124

ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS 5

Elementary Algebra Sample Questions

Solve the following problems and choose your answer from the alternatives given. You may use the paper you have been given for scratch paper.
1. If A represents the number of apples purchased at 15 cents each and B represents the number of bananas purchased at 10 cents each, which of the following represents the total value of the purchases? A. A + B B. 25(A + B) C. 10A + 15B D. 15A + 10B 2. 2 15 = ? A. 17 B. 30 C. 30 D. 17 3. What is the value of the expression 2x2 + 3xy 4y2 when x = 2 and y = - 4? A. -80 B. 80 C. -32 D. 32 4. In the figure below, both circles have the same center, and the radius of the larger circle is R. If the radius of the smaller circle is 3 units less than R, which of the following represents the area of the shaded region? A. R 2 B. (R - 3)2 C. R 2 - 32 D. R 2 - (R - 3)2 5. (3x - 2y)2 = A. 9x2 - 4y2 B. 9x2 + 4y2 C. 9x2 + 4y2 - 6xy D. 9x2 + 4y2 - 12xy

6.

x2 x 6 = x2 4 3 A. x 2 3 B. x x-2 x3 C. x +2 3 D. 2 4 (-6) -5

7.

A. B.

C. 2 D. 2

2 5 2 5

8. If 2x 3(x + 4) = - 5, then x = A. 7 B. - 7 C. 17 D. - 17 9. 3(5 - 6) 4(2 - 3) = A. - 7 B. 7 C. - 1 D. 1 10. If 20 - 4 x > 16, then 5 A. x 5 B. x 5 C. x 32 D. x 32

ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS 6

Answer Key
SeNteNce SKIlls
QuestION NuMBer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 COrrect ANswer B C A B C B C C B B A D

ArItHMetIc
QuestION NuMBer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 COrrect ANswer B A C C D A B C C C

EleMeNtarY AlGeBra
QuestION NuMBer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 COrrect aNswer D C A D D B D B B A

ReaDING COMpreHeNsION
QuestION NuMBer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 COrrect ANswer C D C D B C B A D A

ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS 7