When you take the WritePlacer test, you will be given a topic
and asked to write an essay about it. The essay test you take
asks for the type of academic writing you are likely to
experience as a part of your college coursework.
You will be
given up to 60 minutes to complete the essay test. After 60
minutes the computer will automatically terminate the exam. The
score report screen will present your writing score, which will
be from 2-12. You will also see an explanation in writing of
what your score means. Your report may also contain information
about the English course in which you may be placed. Towson
University will provide specific instructions about this course
placement.
Instructions
for the Essay
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.
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 be 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:
Focus- The clarity with which you maintain your main idea or
point of view.
Organization- The clarity with which you structure your
response and present a logical sequence of ideas.
Development & Support-
The extent to which you elaborate on your ideas and the
extent to which you present supporting details.
Sentence Structure-
The effectiveness of your sentence structure.
Mechanical Conventions-
The extent to which your writing is free of errors in usage
and mechanics.
Math Test
The ACCUPLACERŽ math test for
Towson University is Elementary and Intermediate Algebra.
Students who are required to complete math placement testing
should review and refresh their algebra skills before coming to
placement testing. You can use a high school textbook and select
resources on the internet. We highly recommend this book for
refreshing: Forgotten Algebra, Barbara Lee Bleu, Barron
Publisher, 3rd Edition. Please do not bring a
calculator! If calculator use is appropriate, a
calculator icon will appear on the screen for you to use.
All test
batteries are given at every test session. The
writing test battery has a maximum time of 60
minutes; the math and reading test batteries are
untimed. However, most students complete the
math or reading batter within 45 minutes.
Elementary/Intermediate Algebra
Please Google the following topics:
Elementary and Intermediate Algebra
review material
Elementary and Intermediate Algebra
tutorials
Elementary and Intermediate Algebra
practice tests
Elementary Algebra Test
This test measures your ability to perform basic algebraic
operations and to solve problems that involve elementary
algebraic concepts. The mathematics placement test is
adaptive---this means that the test may also include
intermediate algebraic concepts depending upon your performance
of elementary algebra.
Before you
begin there will be a sample question with the correct answer
indicated.
Sample Question
Solve the following problem. You may use the paper you have been
given for scratch-work.
2x + 3x + y =
6xy
5x + y
5 (x + y)
6x + y
The correct
answer is "5x + y."
Reading Comprehension Test
This test measures your ability to understand what you read.
Before you
begin there will be two sample questions with the correct answer
indicated.
Some questions
will ask you to read the statement or passage and then choose
the best answer to the question. Answer the question on the
basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.
Sample Question
1
There are two types of pottery that I do. There is production
pottery---mugs, tableware---the kinds of things that sell
easily. These pay for my time to do other work, which is more
creative and satisfies my needs as an artist.
The author of
the passage implies that…
artists have a tendency to waste valuable time
creativity and mass-production are incompatible
most people do not appreciate good art
pottery is not produced by creative artist
The correct
answer is "creativity and mass-production are incompatible."
In other
questions, 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.
Sample Question
2
The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in 15 years.
Corn and soybean prices are expected to be high this year.
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