essay writing tips for accuplacer

WritePlacer Essay Guide

During the ACCUPLACER test, you will have to take the WritePlacer exam, which requires you to write an essay. Your essay will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Purpose and focus
• Organization and structure
• Development and support
• Sentence variety and style
• Mechanical Conventions
• Critical thinking

You will have 1 hour to plan, write, and proofread this essay.

Your Accuplacer essay is only required to be 300–600 words in length, so a simple 5 paragraph essay will be more than sufficient. Scores on WritePlacer range from 1 to 8, with 8 being the highest.

An essay that is too short to be evaluated, written on a topic other than the one presented, or written in a language other than English will be given a score of zero.

The biggest differences between a low-scoring and a high-scoring essay is LENGTH and CLARITY. Aim to achieve multiple paragraphs with good organization, and this essay should be fairly easy!

WritePlacer Tips and Strategies

• This essay DOES NOT require you to have any outside knowledge. The essay will be based off a provided prompt meant to spark your creativity. Everything you need to answer the question will be part of the prompt!
• You must take a clear stance. Unlike real life where most of our opinions are a mix of gray, the ACCUPLACER essay requires you to take a strong stance on the issue provided in the prompt. Essays that don’t take a clear stance will score low on the rubric.
• Your stance doesn’t affect your score. The test is not steering you to one side of the argument or another. The side you choose doesn’t matter; what matters is how well you craft your argument.
• Don’t change your stance. Part of taking a clear stance means following it through to the end of the response. Even if you are struggling with the stance you chose, work your way to the end.
• Be specific in your argument. As long as you can argue logically that it supports your thesis, no example is “too” specific. One of the biggest issues that writers have with the WritePlacer exam is being too vague and general. If you are using an example from personal experience, using some names, dates, places, and other concrete details can go a long way. Try to avoid hypothetical examples as well.
• Incorporate a counter-argument. While you need to take a clear stance, that doesn’t mean you have to ignore the other side of the argument. The best writers take the opposing side into account before criticizing it and effectively securing their stance as the correct one. This is a great tool to use in your conclusion, although many students include it in an additional body paragraph.
• Keep the introduction and conclusion brief . Don’t take forever to get to the topic. The function of an introductory paragraph is to introduce the reader to the topic in the prompt, and then to clearly and forcefully state your position on it. This should be done in no more than 3–4 sentences. In the conclusion, 1–2 sentences are enough to reiterate your position and leave the essay with a closing idea. Save the bulk of your writing-time for your body paragraphs!
• Use Transition Words . Scroll down to the bottom of this article to see a good list of common transition words. Be sure to use them as you move between paragraphs! Always make sure the reader will understand why you are moving from one paragraph to the next paragraph!

WritePlacer Template

This is a sample outline for the ACCUPLACER Essay. Notice we are aiming for 5 paragraphs total. You may opt for a shorter 4 paragraph version if 5 paragraphs are too many for you to write, but aim for 5 paragraphs if you can. If you have trouble completing 5 paragraphs, see if you can streamline your body paragraphs. They can often be bloated with unnecessary wordiness. Keep the introduction and the conclusion short and sweet.

Paragraph 1 — Introduction (3–4 sentences)

You will want to begin your essay with one of the following:

• a generalization about the topic,
• a quotation,
• a short anecdote to set-up the correctness of your position,
• a historical framework,
• or a piece of news illustrating the contemporariness of the issue.

Admit to the complexity of the issue. You have two goals in the beginning part of the essay: to introduce the  topic , and to express your  opinion  on it. Be sure to place your thesis as the final sentence in your introduction.

Paragraph 2 — First Example (4–6 sentences)

Start with your most-powerful or relevant example. Remember that you won’t have any material to work from, so it’s OK that you don’t have direct quotes, statistics, or other incredibly specific details in your examples. However, be as specific as you can be about how your example supports your position. Anything can be an example, but choose ONE only for each paragraph. It needs to be something you are knowledgeable about and also something that you believe strongly supports your thesis. You have three tasks in your body paragraphs:

• Introduce your example (history, science, politics, business, entertainment, pop culture, current events, personal experience, etc).
• Describe your example as specifically as you can (do not make up fact/statistics; readers can usually tell when you’re making something up).
• Explain how it fully supports your thesis. This is the most important step and should be your main focus. This is where you prove your point.

You should be spending the majority of your body paragraph accomplishing the third step:  explaining how it fully supports your thesis . Aim to convince the reader through very concrete details how your position on the issue is correct.

Paragraph 3 — Second Example (4–6 sentences)

Use a transition phrase to introduce the second example, and then follow the same format as the previous paragraph with your new example. It’s OK to mention your first example, but the main focus of your paragraph should be on the new example, and, most importantly, how the new example proves your thesis.

Paragraph 4 — Third Example (4–6 sentences)

Use another transition phrase to introduce your third example. Then, follow the same format as the previous two paragraphs. Again, make sure the focus of your paragraph is on your new example and how it proves your thesis.

Paragraph 5 —  Conclusion (2–4 sentences)

Many writers struggle with the conclusion. A good way to end your essay is with a counter-argument. Introduce an opposing opinion, explain it in general terms, then refute it. Finish the paragraph by reinforcing the correctness of your own stance. Here’s how it might look:

Despite the fact that                     , some people will argue that                     . However,                     (refute the opposing viewpoint as wrong and/or shortsighted) . Instead,                     (discuss how your viewpoint is more valid than the viewpoint of the opposition ). Therefore,                     (leave the reader thinking about how correct your stance is) .

ACCUPLACER Essay Practice

Be sure to write at least 2 sample essays before your exam. This will help you sharpen your skills and ensure that you are comfortable with the format. Have a teacher, friend, or mentor read through your exam and give you feedback. Use the links below to find our 2 practice ACCUPLACER essay prompts. As you write your practice essays try to follow the above template to the best of your ability:

Practice Essay 1

Practice Essay 2

Transition Words List

Agreement Words

• in the first place
• not only … but also
• as a matter of fact
• in like manner
• in addition
• coupled with
• in the same fashion / way
• first, second, third
• in the light of

Opposition Words

• in contrast
• different from
• of course …, but
• on the other hand
• on the contrary
• at the same time
• in spite of
• (and) still

Causation Words

• in the event that
• for the purpose of
• with this intention
• with this in mind
• in the hope that
• in order to
• … then

Example Words

• in other words
• to put it differently
• for one thing
• as an illustration
• in this case
• for this reason
• to put it another way
• that is to say
• with attention to

More Resources

We have plenty of additional resources to help you with your Accuplacer test prep. Check out both of our practice essays for more WritePlacer practice, or head over to our home page for a full-length practice test.

Accuplacer Practice Test

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the best accuplacer study guide to help you ace the test.

General Education

Many incoming college students are required to take the ACCUPLACER test before they enroll in classes. The goal of the ACCUPLACER exam is to help your college place you in the course level that’s right for you.

While you can’t fail the ACCUPLACER, doing well on the exam can ensure that you’re placed in credit-earning courses from your first day on campus. That’s why it’s a great idea to study for the ACCUPLACER exam before you have to take it. 

That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive ACCUPLACER study guide. We’re going to cover:   

• What the ACCUPLACER exam is, including who has to take it
• A full breakdown of each individual ACCUPLACER test, including the main content areas tested on each exam
• Four tips on how to study for the ACCUPLACER tests, plus info on ACCUPLACER Math study guides

Let’s get started!

What Is the ACCUPLACER Test? 

The ACCUPLACER is the name of a set of subject area tests created by the CollegeBoard to assess an incoming college student’s readiness for the knowledge and skills required to succeed in introductory-level college courses. Colleges and universities administer different ACCUPLACER tests to eligible students in order to determine what courses those students should be placed in as they begin college. 

Colleges use the ACCUPLACER to decide whether a student is ready for credit-earning courses , or if they need to take a few remediation courses first. Remediation courses are designed to bring you up to speed, though they won’t earn you credit hours. (Usually, they don’t impact your GPA, either!) 

The good news is that the ACCUPLACER test doesn’t affect your college admission! Your test score is only used to determine what your course level should be. 

So who should take the ACCUPLACER test? Well, if you’re enrolling in a college that requires the ACCUPLACER, then you’ll have to take it. Not all universities use the ACCUPLACER exam, so you’ll need to check with your institution to see if it’s required for you. 

What’s the Format of the ACCUPLACER Test? 

The ACCUPLACER exam tests your knowledge in reading, writing, and mathematics. In total, there are five main ACCUPLACER tests: Reading; Writing; Arithmetic; Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, & Statistics (QAS); Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF). There’s also an essay exam called the WritePlacer Essay. 

With the exception of the WritePlacer test, which uses an essay format, all of the ACCUPLACER tests use a multiple choice format. There’s also no time limit on the ACCUPLACER tests. That means you can take your time and focus on accurately demonstrating your skills and knowledge in a given subject area.

How Hard Is the ACCUPLACER Test? 

The multiple choice ACCUPLACER tests use adaptive technology to tailor the exam to each individual test taker. Basically, that means that the test carefully chooses which questions to include on an individual test taker’s exam based on the skill level that test taker demonstrates on prior exam questions. In other words, the difficulty of the questions you’ll encounter on the ACCUPLACER tests is adapted to your skill level. 

What Topics Are Covered by the ACCUPLACER Test?

Now that you know what kinds of questions appear on the ACCUPLACER tests and how the difficulty level is determined, let’s look more closely at a breakdown of the kind of skills and content areas you can expect to see on the exam. 

Each test is designed to test your college readiness level in reading, writing, and mathematics. The subject tests are designed to assess different skills. The table below will show you what skills are tested on each subject test: 

The content areas that correspond to each ACCUPLACER test listed above aren’t just possible topics that will appear on the exam. As we’ll discuss in the next section, you’re going to encounter at least one exam question from each of the content areas listed above if you take that ACCUPLACER exam. 

To help you get more comfortable with what to expect from the content of each the ACCUPLACER tests, let’s dig into the details of the content of each individual ACCUPLACER test next!

The ACCUPLACER Reading test will evaluate your ability to read, understand and interpret a text.

ACCUPLACER Reading Test

The ACCUPLACER Reading test is one of the five multiple choice ACCUPLACER tests. ACCUPLACER Reading test assesses exam takers’ ability to read and understand a text. 

To assess test takers’ skills in these areas, the ACCUPLACER Reading test presents single and paired passages of prose. The reading levels of these passages ranges from easy to fairly difficult.

In terms of content, the passages cover topics from literature, literary nonfiction, careers/history/social studies, humanities, and science . There are four length levels for the passages on the ACCUPLACER Reading section: 

• Very short passages : range from 75 to 100 words
• Short passages: range from 150 to 200 words
• Medium-length passages : range from 250 to 300 words
• Long passages : range from 350 to 400 words

There are 20 questions on the reading portion of the ACCUPLACER exam. The good news is that all of the questions on the ACCUPLACER Reading test are multiple choice. The questions may appear as stand-alone questions, or as sets of questions that address a single passage of text. 

Like we mentioned earlier, you can expect to see at least one question that addresses each of the tested skill areas. Here’s how the number of questions usually breaks down: 

Keep in mind that the ACCUPLACER is an adaptive test, so the number of questions you’ll get from each content bucket will vary based on like how well you've done on the preceding questions.

Study Resources

The key to studying for the reading section of the ACCUPLACER is to make sure you’re working on your reading comprehension and analysis skills. Here are some great resources that can help you master those skills.

ACCUPLACER English Study Guide, 2019-2020 from Test Prep Books

This ACCUPLACER study guide is the whole kit and caboodle if you need to prep for ACCUPLACER Reading and ACCUPLACER Writing, since it covers both tests. It includes study materials for reading comprehension, sentence skills, and essay writing. On top of that, you get two practice tests with answer keys included!

Mometrix Free ACCUPLACER Reading Study Guide

The Mometrix ACCUPLACER Reading Study Guide is a good fit for anyone who likes to learn visually. This free study guide is actually a 50-minute YouTube video, complete with white board tutorials for answering questions that fall into the different skills and knowledge areas on this exam.

Union Test Prep ACCUPLACER Flashcards

Folks who like to study on-the-go are always looking for portable study tools. If that sounds like you, then you should check out Union Test Prep’s digital ACCUPLACER flashcards. These digital flashcards can help you get in the study time you need for the ACCUPLACER Reading test if you don’t have a lot of time to sit down with a bulky study guide book.

ACCUPLACER Writing Test

The goal of the ACCUPLACER Writing test is to evaluate students’ ability to revise and edit a range of multi-paragraph texts. According to the College Board, the ACCUPLACER writing test evaluates students on their ability to effectively express ideas through writing . That includes testing skills like idea development, organization, and effective language use.

The ACCUPLACER Writing test consists of 25 multiple choice questions. You’ll have to read a passage, then answer questions about that passage. In that way, it’s a lot like the reading test! The biggest difference is that test questions will ask you to choose the answer choice that makes the best revision or editing decision to the passage of text. 

The multi-paragraph passages on the test can cover a variety of topics and genres, like literary nonfiction, history and social studies, and science. In addition to these different content areas, the prose texts appear in different writing modes , too. Some passages might be informative, while others may be making an argument. 

That means that in order to do well on the ACCUPLACER writing test, you’ll have to have good reading and writing skills !

To get some extra practice with revising passages based on their development, organization, and usage of Standard Written English conventions, you can work with one of the ACCUPLACER Writing study guides we’ve included below!

Next Generation Accuplacer Writing Practice Tests with Grammar Review Study Guide

This study guide book provides four ACCUPLACER Writing practice tests with answers and detailed explanations. The practice tests cover all of the skills areas tested on the real ACCUPLACER Writing exam, and there’s an extensive grammar guide and review included as well!

ACCUPLACER Writing Placement Test Study Guide

This ACCUPLACER Writing study guide offers students a variety of study resources, including streaming videos, video transcripts, unlimited practice tests, flash cards, and a mobile app. Purchasing this study guide also gives you access to one-on-one support from instructors if you need help while you study! If you’re worried about the writing portion of the ACCUPLACER exam and want a comprehensive study resource, then this is a good place for you to start. 

Mometrix.com ACCUPLACER Writing Test Study Guide

If studying using video tutorials works for you, the Mometrix ACCUPLACER Writing study guide might be worth checking out. Their writing tutors walk you through every skill assessed on the exam, and they demonstrate how to solve practice questions, too.

The ACCUPLACER Arithmetic test is one of three math sections that you'll have to take as part of the overall exam. 

ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Test

The ACCUPLACER Arithmetic test assesses a student’s computational and fluency skills, as well as conceptual understanding and ability to apply math in certain contexts. Put another way, the ACCUPLACER Arithmetic test tests your foundational mathematical skills , like your ability to perform operations, use decimals, and work with fractions. 

This ACCUPLACER math test uses 20 multiple choice questions to assess the test taker’s skills and knowledge in arithmetic. The possible number of test questions for each exam content area are listed below:

For more information about the ACCUPLACER Arithmetic test, take a look at the Skills Insight statements on the ACCUPLACER website ! If you want even more ACCUPLACER math study resources, be sure to check out our list in the ACCUPLACER AAF section below. 

The Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, & Statistics test is a little harder than the Arithmetic test—but with a little extra studying, you'll do great! 

ACCUPLACER Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, & Statistics (QAS) Test

The ACCUPLACER QAS test questions focus on a range of math topics, including computing with rational numbers, applying ratios and proportional reasoning, and linear equations. This tests more advanced math skills than the arithmetic exam.

This exam will ask you to answer 20 multiple choice questions that deal with a variety of content areas . To help you understand what knowledge and skills you’ll be expected to demonstrate on the ACCUPLACER QAS exam, here’s a brief breakdown of each content area, the skills and knowledge assessed in that content area, and the number of possible exam questions in each content area on the exam:

If you want to learn more about the ACCUPLACER QAS test, check out the Skills Insight statements for this test on the ACCUPLACER website. If you want even more ACCUPLACER math study resources, be sure to check out our list in the ACCUPLACER AAF section below. 

The ACCUPLACER Advanced Algebra and Functions test is the most advanced of the math sections you'll have to take as part of the ACCUPLACER exam. 

ACCUPLACER Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) Test

The ACCUPLACER Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) test assesses students’ abilities in dealing with a variety of mathematical equations and functions, as well as basic geometry and trigonometry. 

Of the three ACCUPLACER math exams, the AAF is the most challenging. That’s because it’s testing you on more advanced skills and concepts! 

Like the other math tests, this exam is also made up of a total of 20 multiple choice questions. The specific content areas on the AAF test, the skills and knowledge assessed in those content areas, and the number of possible test questions pertaining to each content area are below: 

The ACCUPLACER website provides more information about how the questions pertaining to the different content areas affect your overall score on the AAF exam in the Skills Insight statements .

ACCUPLACER Math Study Resources

In order to get the practice you need to tackle the math equations included on the three ACCUPLACER math tests, check out the three ACCUPLACER math study guides we’ve included below.

ACCUPLACER Advanced Algebra & Functions (AAF) Math Practice Functions

If live demonstrations are the thing that helps you understand complex math problems, this 20-minute YouTube tutorial is worth checking out. The creator gears his step-by-step tutorials on math problems from the different content areas of the ACCUPLACER AAF test. This resource is specifically designed for people who haven’t taken a mathematics course in a while! So if you haven’t had a math class in a few years, this is a great study resource for you. 

Practice ACCUPLACER Tests

Conveniently, the website ACCUPLACER Practice Tests is what its name implies: a one-stop shop for ACCUPLACER practice tests. If you need to study for multiple ACCUPLACER math tests, this resource provides practice materials for all three in one centralized location. And as an added bonus: the practice tests are free!

Bob Miller’s Math Prep for the ACCUPLACER Test

Bob Miller’s test prep book covers all of the skills tested on the three ACCUPLACER math exams. It also includes step-by-step examples and math exercises, and detailed solution guides for the practice problems. There are also a total of twelve practice exams included in Miller’s ACCUPLACER Math study guide! If you’re looking for a complete resource for all of the ACCUPLACER math exams, then this guide is for you.

4 More ACCUPLACER Study Resources

So far, we’ve been giving you resources for each specific ACCUPLACER test. But if you have to take multiple ACCUPLACER tests in different subject areas, it could be helpful to have access to a couple of ACCUPLACER study guides that cover all five of the ACCUPLACER tests. 

That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best comprehensive ACCUPLACER study guides. These resources will help you prepare for all the exams! If you’re looking for an all-in-one study resource, then be sure to check out the study guides we’ve listed below.

ACCUPLACER Study Guide 2019-2020 by Test Prep Books

• Where to Buy: Amazon
• Price: About $25

If you want to pick up a real, printed study guide that you can use to study content from the different ACCUPLACER tests and learn about test taking strategies, Test Prep Books’ ACCUPLACER Study Guide 2019-2020 is a great resource. This study guide includes sections on the five main ACCUPLACER tests, a full explanation of what the ACCUPLACER is, a section on test-taking strategies, practice questions, and detailed answer explanations.

Because this guide is so thorough, it’s a great resource for anyone that’s taking the ACCUPLACER test. Whether you need lots of help or just a little tune-up, this guide will have plenty of information for you.

• Where to buy: uniontestprep.com
• Price: FREE

Folks who like to study online and on-the-go might benefit from checking out Union Test Prep ACCUPLACER Flashcards . These digital flashcards can help you get in the study time you need for the ACCUPLACER tests if you don’t have a lot of time to sit down with a bulky study guide book. It makes it easy for you to fit study time around your busy schedule since you can just whip out your phone or tablet and review whenever you have some down time.

We also love this resource because it’s free and it covers all five ACCUPLACER exams. There are even flashcard sets for the ESL exams and the essay test! 

• Where to buy: https://www.practiceaccuplacertests.com/

The ACCUPLACER Practice Tests website is a one-stop shop for practice tests for the ACCUPLACER Reading, Writing, and Math tests. The site provides free math practice and English exercises, as well as free ACCUPLACER Reading practice tests, Writing practice tests, and practice tests for the three math exams.

One important thing to note about this study resource: in addition to providing practice materials for the current versions of the ACCUPLACER tests, this website also provides practice materials for the old ACCUPLACER tests (labelled as “Classic ACCUPLACER” on their website). While the “Classic” tests are great for working through extra practice problems, keep in mind that they’re not the most up-to-date resource! We recommend that you start studying with the current ACCUPLACER tests, then use the classic tests if you want a little additional practice. 

• Where to buy: Amazon
• Price: About $10.00

Okay, okay. So this study guide is a comprehensive resource for all the ACCUPLACER math tests. If you want to brush up on your reading or writing, you’ll have to look elsewhere. 

But math is often one of the trickiest subjects for test takers, which is why we wanted to include this study guide on our comprehensive list, too. The author has taught math for 30 years, and he has lots of experience with helping students prepare for the ACCUPLACER math tests. His book covers all of the skills tested on the math exams, includes step-by-step examples and math exercises, and detailed explanations of the solutions. This book gives you all the benefits of a teacher-led study session without having to fit additional classes in your busy schedule!

How to Study for the ACCUPLACER: 4 Study Tips

Now that you’re familiar with our recommendations for ACCUPLACER study guides, check out our four tips for how to study for the ACCUPLACER below!

#1: Use the ACCUPLACER Skills Insight Statements

The best place to start in terms of an ACCUPLACER study guide is with the ACCUPLACER Skills Insight statements . These statements, created and made available online by the CollegeBoard, describe the skills and knowledge you’ll be tested on during the exams. In other words, the Skills Insights statements tell you all the topics you’ll need to know in order to pass the ACCUPLACER exam. 

Knowing what kind of content is going to be on the exams will help you seek out practice materials—even if they aren’t designed for the ACCUPLACER tests specifically— that help you work with the knowledge you’ll be accountable for on the tests.

#2: Use the ACCUPLACER-Provided Practice Materials

The ACCUPLACER website also has a number of practice tests and question sets available . These practice materials look like what you’ll see on the actual tests, so you can get comfortable with navigating the layout and format of the exams. That way you’ll develop a good feel for the ACCUPLACER exam long before you sit down for the actual test. 

#3: Take Practice ACCUPLACER Tests 

Spending some time taking practice ACCUPLACER tests is an important part of the preparation process . Taking practice tests lets you determine what areas you need to study hardest, helps you track your progress, and gets you ready to tackle the actual ACCUPLACER exam come test day. 

Fortunately, there are a plethora of practice ACCUPLACER tests available for free online. Working with these practice tests and tracking your results on them is a good way to identify the skills and knowledge you need to spend a little extra study time on before the real exams!

#4: Study Regularly 

If there are topics on the ACCUPLACER exam that you’re not totally comfortable with, then you’re going to have to do some studying. But trying to cram for a few hours before the test isn’t going to be very helpful! Not only is cramming not very effective, it’s probably not enough time for you to get a handle on the material. 

That’s why we recommend that you put a study plan together to keep yourself on track. Start studying four to six weeks ahead of the exam date, and make sure you fit a study session at least once a week. That way you’ll have a chance to build up your knowledge base before you sit for the ACCUPLACER exam. 

What's Next?

You may not have a lot of time to study for the ACCUPLACER exam. That’s why it’s important to maximize your studying so you get the most out of each session. Our guide to the best study techniques can help you study more effectively, and ultimately, help you improve your ACCUPLACER score.

But what if you can’t make time to study in the first place? That’s where good time management skills come in . If you take control of how you spend your time, we guarantee you’ll be able to fit in a few study sessions before your ACCUPLACER test. Here’s an expert guide to the best time management techniques for busy students like you.

For many people, taking a test can be an anxiety-inducing experience . This article will help you develop the tools you need to conquer your test anxiety ! While this article deals mostly with ACT and SAT test anxiety, the same skills and techniques will help you overcome your jitters about the ACCUPLACER exam, too.

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Prepare for the ACCUPLACER Essay

Learn everything there is to know about the essay section of the ACCUPLACER English test. Prepare for the test with our TestPrep-Online comprehensive ACCUPLACER English practice pack.

Free ACCUPLACER Sample Questions

• ACCUPLACER English Essay: What You Need to Know

How Is the ACCUPLACER Writing Test Graded?

Accuplacer writeplacer essay writing tips, start preparing for the accuplacer english test, the accuplacer english essay: what you need to know.

The ACCUPLACER Writing Test , or WritePlacer Test, evaluates writing skills such as focus of the text, sentence structure, and organization. The purpose of the ACCUPLACER Writing Test is to measure how well a student can develop an argument, using evidence-based support as well as the appropriate mechanical conventions. The student is given one hour to complete the test. The essay itself should be no more than 300-600 words. When preparing for the ACCUPLACER WritePlacer , it is very important to understand the expected outline of an essay. This will help you map out your ideas and stay on topic. Straying from the topic, or not sticking to the word count results in an immediate zero. To help you feel fully prepared for the ACCUPLACER essay, our ACCUPLACER English Pack offers information about the section, tips for writing, and standard examples of ACCUPLACER essay prompts.

The essay test is graded using a computer software known as Intellimetric . Intellimetric bases its grading method on an analysis of a large body of graded essays. The system analyzes factors such as conventions, language use, development, and organization, as well as essay length and relevance. You should try your best to write an organized, well-developed essay just as you would in an English class.  A CCUPLACER essays are graded on a scale of 0-8, with "clear and consistent mastery" of essay-writing required to get an 8, the highest score.  Though many are skeptical about this method of grading, there is one very clear benefit: With a computer graded essay, students can receive their grade immediately, and thus have more motivation to improve. In addition, students preparing for the ACCUPLACER essay can better understand what factors to employ into their writing. Our ACCUPLACER English Practice Pack includes past ACCUPLACER essay samples as well as typical ACCUPLACER writing prompts.

Unlike the Reading Comprehension section and the Sentence Skills section of the ACCUPLACER test, the essay portion is timed , which means you need to use your time wisely. Though you may feel that a good essay requires you to “wow” the grader, remember that at the end of the day, the grader is not a human, but a computer. It is not looking to be wowed by you; it is simply looking to grade you. Below are some tips to help you achieve a great score on the ACCUPLACER Essay :

• Stick to a standard format , including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This will help you to maintain a consistent idea and will prevent you from straying from the topic. The ACCUPLACER Essay is a test of your formal writing skills, not of your creativity.
• Keep your argument in line ; the ACCUPLACER WritePlacer is grading you on how well you can deliver and develop an argument. Make sure that you do so thoroughly by remembering the main points of your essay, and not going off on a tangent. Each paragraph should be relevant to the thesis, and each sentence within a paragraph should be relevant to the paragraph's topic sentence.
• Use evidence . Don’t worry, the evidence does not have to be science-based, but it does have to be, well, evident. The ACCUPLACER Essay wants to see how you bring a claim forward. Make sure that you do so not as a magician conjuring things from thin air, but as a detective, showing the basis of your argument. What you choose to argue is not important, but how you make your argument is.
• Read the prompt carefully —remember that your work is graded on relevance. If you do not answer the question that is asked, then it will not be graded, no matter how good the essay is.

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At TestPrep-Online we offer you the ACCUPLACER English Practice Pack. In addition to a grammar guide with exercises, sample questions, and full practice tests, the pack also includes essay assignments with full high-scored essay samples from which you can learn how to write effectively. Grammar that you learn while preparing for the other parts of the ACCUPLACER English section can help you write an essay with better mechanics. Your preparation for the ACCUPLACER Reading section can help you improve the organization and development of your ACCUPLACER Essay. Start now! Want tips for the ACCUPLACER math test as well? Try our ACCUPLACER Premium Pack, which has all the material you need to prepare for every section of the ACCUPLACER. 

ACCUPLACER® and WritePlacer® are trademarks and property of COLLEGE BOARD. The trademark holder is not affiliated with TestPrep-Online or this website.

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ACCUPLACER Writing Practice Test

Prepare for your test with realistic questions.

The ACCUPLACER Writing test is a computer-adaptive test comprised of 25 questions that assess your English and writing skills. To help you prepare for this section of the ACCUPLACER, this page contains everything you need to know, including what topics are covered, how many questions there are, and how you can study effectively.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free ACCUPLACER Writing practice test!

What’s on the Test?

Online accuplacer test prep course.

If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online ACCUPLACER test prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The ACCUPLACER course includes:

• 74 Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
• 1,250+ ACCUPLACER Practice Questions
• Over 240 Video Tutorials
• More than 550 Electronic Flashcards
• Money-back Guarantee
• Free Mobile Access

The ACCUPLACER prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their ACCUPLACER exam. Click below to check it out!

How many questions are on the test?

There are 25 questions in total on the ACCUPLACER Writing subtest.

How do you pass the ACCUPLACER Writing test?

There is no “pass/fail” scoring system for this subtest. Your score will be placed on a score range of 200-300. Your placement on that range will indicate your English and writing knowledge and abilities.

To achieve a high score, you will need to spend an adequate amount of time studying for the test.

What is a good score on the ACCUPLACER Writing test?

Your test score will be placed on a score range of 200-300. Within that range are five score bands:

A good score to aim for is the 263-275 score band.

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by Mometrix Test Preparation | This Page Last Updated: February 29, 2024

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