Lord Fairfax Community College | Current Students | Services for Students | Testing Services | Academic Placement Tests (ACT Compass®)

Placement tests allow you and your advisor to determine if you are ready to take certain college-level courses. If your score reveals weak areas, you may be required to complete skills improvement courses before enrolling in college courses.

If you are a new student, you must take placement tests in college reading, writing and math unless you qualify for an exemption. See the following list of exemptions. To get an exemption, you must send confirmation of college-level grades or scores from SATs (taken within the past five years) to the Admissions and Records Office.

Reading and Writing Exemption

• Freshman college English course: Grade of C or better
• SAT Verbal Test: Score of 500 or higher
• SAT Critical Reading Test: Score of 500 or higher

Mathematics Exemption

• SAT Math Test: Score of 500 or higher

Study materials

ACT Compass® Practice  or Placement Test Practice

Time

The test is not timed. Student(s) are only permitted to use the calculator provided with the placement test. Student(s) should plan to spend about 2.5 hours to complete the test.

Fee

None

Retake Policy

Student(s) may re-take the placement test once in a semester waiting at least 7 days in between.