essay topics for accuplacer test

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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115 Most Interesting Accuplacer Essay Topics For College Students

Every level of the academic system has a certain prescribed assessment process that is introduced, which has become a necessary aspect of qualifying into the academic space of which any student aspires towards. This is exactly the case for Accuplacer, a series of tests that helps to determine any student’s readiness for college courses.

Almost every student plans to take Accuplacer in any college system they are enrolling in. These courses consist of a three-part testing technique of mathematics, reading, and writing. The writing test is taken specifically on WritePlacer. These tests are carried out through a digitized examining model designed by the school.

With the help and presence of your test score on Accuplacer, as a student, you save yourself the stress of spending exorbitant amounts enrolling for courses in which you are not grounded. One important and relaxing thing to note about the exam is that it’s not timed. Regardless, here are over 100 Accuplacer essay sample topics to explore for excellent test results.

Accuplacer Essay Topics for Test Practice and Guide

As a testing technique that comprises both mathematical questioning, reading, and writing, there are so many essay topics that can emerge from Accuplacer. This is essentially the case for people taking WriterPlacer which is the essay test of Accuplacer. Knowing some of the topics that could emerge from this section gives you an edge while preparing for your test as they all come with the different instructions included in the essay topics. Here are some Accuplacer essay sample topics to look into.

• What is the situation of capitalism in the world today and how do you think is best to control it
• Should capitalism be encouraged or curbed?
• As a CEO of a company, what are the major aspects of a company to pay the most attention to
• Choose any socio-political issue and elaborately explore its merits and demerits
• What is a dream job and why should people dream for labor
• Is dreaming about labor as capitalist as the 21st century?
• What is your dream job and why do you aspire towards it?
• Pick one major situation every president should pay deep attention to
• Vacation goals: why do we need to aspire towards vacation
• “You can make your work life a Vacation” how true is that?
• What are the basic demerits of vaccinations without legal approval
• “You dress how you’re addressed” how true is this statement?
• How do you manage burnt-out culture in a capitalist system
• Explore detailing if burn-out is manageable within the capitalist system
• Argue for or against wellness culture
• Argue for or against beauty culture
• Argue for or against the implication of imperialism
• Imperialism and neo-imperialism, what are their striking difference
• How important are learning and the teaching of critical race theory in colleges?
• In what ways can digital humanities enhance academia?

WritePlacer Sample Essay Topics

WritePlacer is a testing category that requires critical thinking and falls well within the Accuplacer testing technique. One of the aspects of your Accuplacer test scoring will be graded based on your essay construction. As Accuplacer is categorized into mathematics, reading, and writing, WritePlacer deals with essaying and how best to tackle these essay topics that will very often appear on the Accuplacer test script. Here are some Accuplacer writing prompts and WritePlacer topics to look into.

• Given the opportunity to be a president, what is your first call of action?
• How different is the Presidency from the president?
• How does the role of the president differ from that of a mayor?
• How can society be moved forward?
• Explain why we need to practice sustainable living
• What are the benefits of short vacations
• Explain why we choose different careers
• Why are there so many different careers in the world?
• How can we better manage insecurities developed due to social media?
• Do social media truly distort the image of reality?
• What are the benefits of the influencing jobs and when did it spring off?
• Argue for or against why people promote unrealistic beauty standards
• “Books are better than people” How true is this assertion?
• How important is food security
• How important is the creation of sewage and drainage systems?
• Ways through which floods can be managed
• Hurricane and flood, which strikes the hardest?
• Argue for or against female privilege
• If the Army protects the land, what’s the work of the naval force?

Noteworthy Accuplacer Essay Examples for Guide

Still on the sample essay topic for Accuplacer. There are virtually a lot of topic essays that can come up during this test and having a wholesome view of what some of the topics could look like is paramount during your test preparation period. Here are some accuplacer essays and Accuplacer essay practice topics to enhance your test abilities with.

• How important is wellness culture
• What are the major distinctions between self-care culture and wellness culture
• In what ways do self-care and wellness culture align
• How can you describe the phrase “divine timing”
• How important is formal learning in the 21st century?
• How is digital learning competing with traditional learning?
• What are the primary benefits of schooling online?
• Explore the major areas in which digital learning is important
• Digital literature and hard print literature, which is leading the pace?
• Is there the possibility for the “death of the novel?”
• What does the phrase “death of the novel” entail?
• How beneficial is education
• What are the sustainable ways to promote thrifting
• Dangers of fast fashion to sustainable development in the human society
• How can the addiction to fast fashion be controlled?
• What are some of the benefits of sports items in schools
• Argue for or against students going to school with cell phones
• How has digital technology affected the children psyche
• What is the significance of cell phones especially towards teenagers in high school

Accuplacer Essay Prompts for College and Post-High School Students

With Accuplacer, the questions on its essay version take up different interesting shapes while answering them. It can either be the need to defend a choice, to argue, or some other techniques to write with. The point is in understanding how these different essay answering methods appear to properly equip you for the testing period. Here are more Accuplacer essay prompts.

• Argue for or against the war in underdeveloped countries
• How important is reading to the mind
• Do poor reading habits affect brain development?
• Demerits of using cellphones in class
• Argue for or against alcoholism and the abuse of alcohol
• How destructive is drug abuse towards young college students?
• Importance of health insurance in the healthcare system
• Explore the expensive healthcare system in America
• How important is consensus to the development of any society?
• What are the striking differences between art and literature
• How could the widespread erosion in the American south be controlled
• The importance of drainage and sewage systems
• Hurricane and the possible ways to manage it better
• How does beauty culture promote westernization and a vague knowledge of beauty?
• What are the follow-up consequences of policing women’s bodies?
• How can global warming be resolved?
• What are the different sustainable goals that have the potential to curb climate change?
• How can climate change be explained to people without knowledge on the subject?
• What is the importance of animals to both man and the earth and how can this be promoted in human society?

Comprehensive Writing Sample Topics

Most students panic when they realize that they will be required to do some writing as part of their Accuplacer testing technique. But, this writing isn’t usually exhaustive as it’s designed to be summarized as a 5 paragraph essay. The essay can only be from 300-600 words, this is mostly because you don’t have the whole day to do it. Here are some other writing sample topics to look into.

• Should joining the military be coercive or individually motivated?
• What are the side benefits of being in the military?
• Argue for or against the need to eat healthily
• Why should more people embrace veganism?
• Importance of kindness towards others
• Is stopping school after high school advisable?
• How can student loan debt be controlled?
• Importance of borrowing a student loan?
• What are the benefits of attending college?
• What virtues does college imbue in one?
• Importance of choosing a major while in college
• Importance of taking your time to choose a major
• How can insecurity be reduced in a country?
• In what ways does education enhance one?
• Importance of the teaching profession
• Why education should be free
• Argue for or against free education
• Is Private tutorship important?
• Benefits of having a private tutor

Additional WritePlacer Prompts for Good Essays

As one of the categories within Accuplacer, WritePlacer requires as much attention as every other aspect of the test. It’s a part of the testing that requires a lot of critical thinking, understanding style, and having the ability to develop solid sentence structures that conveys the meaning of your essay to the reader/examiner. Your WritePlacer topic could take different angles and here are some other WritePlacer prompts.

• Can obstacles or disadvantages spiral into something good?
• How can you channel positivity into improving your general lifestyle?
• What are the ways to improve healthy eating in general?
• How can one manage college and personal activities?
• Should dissent be encouraged within the academic setting?
• What is the social importance of dissent?
• What is a gag order and how can it affect freedom of speech within any institution?
• Argue for or against capitalism
• Should socialism be promoted as against capitalism?
• Is teaching different from lecturing?
• Of what purpose is lecturing instead of teaching?
• What does it cost to promote peace in society?
• Do we need more social platforms or less?
• Argue for or against the benefits of social media
• Argue for or against provocative dressing
• How can harmony be promoted in college?
• Importance of friendship in college
• Should more than one major be encouraged?
• Importance of hybrid learning

Are you preparing for your college essay test and will require the best writing help? Look no more for there are trustworthy university professors and teachers who are experts in this field and are willing to provide you with assistance. Whether you want our experts to take my test exercise and other easy, quick, fun, and informative essay service, they are more than ready to help you prepare for excellent test scores.

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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.

Back to top

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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College Info

What is the Accuplacer test? Are you a new college student who needs to take the test for your school? Are you a school administrator who's heard the Accuplacer can help ensure students get placed in the correct classes? The Accuplacer is different than most other standardized tests, and it's important to understand what the test is for, what the testing experience will be like, and what Accuplacer scores will mean. We cover everything you need to know about the Accuplacer in this guide, including who should take it, what it covers, how you sign up for the test, and what Accuplacer scores mean (and why it's impossible to pass or fail the test).

What Is the Accuplacer Test? Who Takes It?

The Accuplacer is a test designed to properly place students in college-level courses. The Accuplacer is developed and administered by the College Board, the same organization that makes the SAT and AP tests. The Accuplacer is most often administered by colleges who want to make sure students are ready for college or figure out which level of college classes students are prepared for. However, the Accuplacer can be taken by any of the following groups:

• High school graduates about to begin college
• Current high school students who want to take college-level classes
• College transfer students
• ESL college students

Colleges don't use the Accuplacer to decide whether to admit a student or not; instead, the test is taken by students who have already been accepted but need to be enrolled in courses of the correct difficulty level. By having students take the Accuplacer test, colleges can ensure that they're placing students in the most appropriate courses and the students won't be overwhelmed by classes that are too difficult or bored by classes that are too easy.

What Is the Format of the Accuplacer?

The Accuplacer is actually a series of subtests that cover reading, writing, and math skills. Your school will determine the exact format of the Accuplacer exam you take since it chooses which of the subjects you'll be tested on. Your Accuplacer may just consist of reading and writing, for example. Regardless of how many subtests you take, you'll take the entire Accuplacer at one time. All of the questions, except the WritePlacer essay, are multiple choice.

The test is taken entirely on the computer, and there is no time limit for the multiple-choice sections. (Some schools may limit how long you have to write the essay). After you answer a question, you won't be able to go back and review it or change your answer. The test is also adaptive, which means that your response to each question determines the difficulty of the next question. So, if you answer a lot of questions correctly, the questions will get harder, and if you answer a lot incorrectly, the questions will get easier. This makes it possible for you to get more accurate scores while answering fewer questions.

What Does the Accuplacer Cover?

As we mentioned above, the Accuplacer tests a series of subjects in reading, writing, and math. Below is a quick overview of each of the subtests, along with the main topics they test.

Students will read passages from a range of tests and determine the meaning of words and phrases within the texts. The main topics covered are:

• Information and ideas

Tests the student's ability to revise and edit longer texts. There are two main knowledge areas tested:

• Expression of Ideas covers development, organization, and effective language use.
• Standard English Conventions covers sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.

Tests mathematics knowledge in the following areas:

• Whole number operations
• Fraction operations
• Decimal operations
• Number comparisons and equivalents

Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics

• Rational numbers
• Ratio and proportional relationships
• Algebraic expressions
• Linear equations
• Linear applications and graphs
• Probability sets
• Descriptive statistics
• Geometry concepts

Advanced Algebra and Function

• Radical and rational equations
• Polynomial equations
• Exponential and logarithmic equations
• Trigonometry

WritePlacer Essay

Students write an essay in response to one of several prompts , and their writing skills are graded by a computer. Students will be graded on:

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

This subtest helps place English learners in the appropriate courses for their language skills. It tests English skills in the following areas:

• Sentence meaning
• Language use
• Reading skills
• WritePlacer ESL

How Can You Register for the Accuplacer Test?

Unlike say, the SAT or ACT, you won't go online and register for the Accuplacer yourself. The school who's requesting you to take the test will do the registration and administration of the test for you. You'll likely need to set up an Accuplacer account, but your school will walk you through when and how they want you to do that. Then you just need to show up and take the test. This also means that a student can't just decide to take the Accuplacer on her own. Her school must decide if she'll take it, since only schools can request Accuplacer tests.

You will either take the test at the school you'll be attending (the more common option) or at an approved testing center (this is typically only done if you live far from your future school and won't be able to take the test on-campus in time). You'll see your results immediately after finishing the test (they'll also be emailed to you).

How Is the Accuplacer Scored?

Scoring on the Accuplacer is different compared to many other exams. You'll receive a score for each subtest you take. You can't pass or fail the Accuplacer, and it can even be difficult to determine what a "good" or "bad" score on the test is.

Accuplacer tests (with the exception of WritePlacer and ESL tests) are scored on a scale of 200 to 300, and scores are separated into five score bands:

The band your score falls within indicates where your skills are in that subject. You can see what skills each band corresponds to for the different subjects by looking at the Accuplacer Skills Insight document. For example, if your Arithmetic score falls within the 250-262 band, that means you have all the skills mastered by scorers in the lower score bands, as well as the ability to:

• Use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and decimals to solve multi-step applied problems
• Use addition, subtraction, and multiplication to solve one-step problems involving fractions
• Determine the result when taking the percent of a given number

The WritePlacer essay is scored from 1-8, while the WritePlacer ESL essay is scored from 1-6. The other four Accuplacer ESL tests (Language Use, Listening, Reading, and Sentence Skills) are scored from 20-120.

The College Board states outright that they don't recommend a particular score band as a "passing" score and that each school should determine what score bands they want students to meet. Therefore, the score you're aiming for will depend on the school that's having you take the Accuplacer. Some schools may want you to meet a specific score band in certain subjects to ensure you're ready for your classes, while others may just want to know where you score so you can be placed in the proper class level.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't take the test seriously though. If you slack off on the Accuplacer, you'll likely end up in a class that's too easy for you, and you may be required to take remedial classes that you don't need.

Schools may also incorporate other factors, such as your GPA, standardized test scores, and the courses you took, with your Accuplacer scores to determine the best courses for you to enroll in.

Summary: What Is the Accuplacer Test?

The Accuplacer is an exam colleges use to place students in courses of the correct difficulty level. It's not used in college admissions, but rather after students have been accepted and before they choose their classes.

The Accuplacer test covers topics in reading, writing, and math, although each school determines which subject(s) their students will be tested on. There is also a set of Accuplacer ESL tests. A student can't decide to take the Accuplacer on her own; a school must order the test. Accuplacer scores are organized into bands which indicate where your skills are for each subject. You'll receive your scores immediately after taking the test.

What's Next?

Want to take some Accuplacer practice tests and see how you're scoring? We've compiled a guide with the best Accuplacer practice materials .

Wondering what to major in? Our guide covers the 5 key factors for choosing the best college major.

Want more help preparing for the Accuplacer? Our Accuplacer study guide has all the information and tips you need to get your best score on the test.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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ACCUPLACER Essay Test Prep

Key Points: 

• ACCUPLACER essay topics require students to answer a prompt that asks them to select a side or position on a topic.
• Essay practice tests can reduce your study time and increase your scores.
• Smart Edition Academy has several options if you need more help.
• Start with a free  ACCUPLACER  practice test or prepare with an online course .

If you want more practice tests and all the resources to PASS the ACCUPLACER check out the Online Course

If you want the best chance at passing the ACCUPLACER then the Smart Edition ACCUPLACER course will provide all the material and resources you need to succeed on the test.

The ACCUPLACER essay is expected to be five paragraphs long or about 300-700 words. The ACCUPLACER essay scores range from 1-8 with 8 being a perfect score demonstrating mastery in on-demand essay writing. Test takers are scored on using written standard English to convey their ideas, essay structure and development, applying critical thinking, and mechanical conventions.

Potential ACCUPLACER essay topics require students to answer a prompt asking them to select a side or position on a topic, such as if art is a beneficial subject to learn in school or if uniforms in school should be required.

How do you write an ACCUPLACER essay?

The ACCUPLACER essay, otherwise referred to as the WriterPlacer, should be written as a concise five paragraph essay.The essay will be argumentative thus requiring the test taker to select a side and support their argument through their writing.

There isn’t a right or wrong stance to take, the important part is that you can demonstrate the ability to support your argument in the form of an essay.

Test takers should aim for the essay to be anywhere between 300-700 words. Each essay should include an introduction paragraph, three supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. Each paragraph should have 5-8 sentences.

The essay should not include any outside resources or knowledge. Instead, test takers should utilize the contents provided to them during the test and use the passages as their primary sources.

ACCUPLACER Essay Tips

There are a few things to keep in mind when writing the essay that can help you boost your score.

First, make sure to read the prompt carefully and understand what it is asking. The prompt will give you a specific task to complete in your essay like choosing a position and arguing that position, so make sure to address that task directly.

Next, writers need to make sure they understand the importance of transition words. Transition words help essays maintain organization and allow for writers to transition from one idea to the next to maintain cohesiveness.

Transition words should be included in each of the five paragraphs. Examples of transition words or phrases include furthermore, next, in conclusion, in addition to, finally, and moreover.

Next, students should remember when writing the essay to select a position and maintain that position for the entire essay.

The best way to maintain a clear argument or stance is to spend a few minutes critically thinking about the prompt and jotting down the reasons and supporting details of your stance before writing.

This outline and brainstorming session will serve as a guide as you write the paragraphs. Be sure to include the three main reasons you argue your position in the introductory paragraph and to summarize them in the conclusion paragraph.

Lastly, while each ACCUPLACER administrator has different specifications about time limits, it’s important to spend a few minutes reading through the final essay before submitting.

Even great writers who express their thoughts clearly can lose points from misspellings, improper use of punctuation, or by making grammar errors. Spend the time to review your essay and reread it to yourself to ensure it flows correctly and that everything is correct.

WritePlacer Scoring

The ACCUPLACER essay is scored on a 0-8 ranking system. If test takers write the essay in a language other than English, write an essay on a completely different topic, or don’t meet the minimum word count, they will be scored a zero.

Test takers are not graded on their stance, instead they are graded on how they express their ideas in writing to support their stance. High scores will be awarded to writers who demonstrate proper grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, and who can articulate their ideas clearly.

Furthermore, students will be scored on their organization skills, how the essay is developed, and mechanical application of writing.

For example, essays should avoid spelling errors, include transition words, and proper punctuation throughout the five paragraphs. Each paragraph should stick to its main topic and support the overall main idea or stance.

Here is a breakdown of the WritePlacer Scoring according to the official ACCUPLACER site:

• Scores from 0-1 indicate the test taker has no mastery in essay writing on demand.
• Scores from 2-3 indicate the test taker has little mastery in writing on demand.
• Scores from 4-5 indicate the test taker has a grasp of writing essays on demand and they are developing their skills.
• Scores from 6-7 indicate the writer has a consistent understanding and ability to write on demand.
• A perfect 8 score indicates the writer has mastered all required skills to write an essay on demand.

What is a good ACCUPLACER essay score?

What type of essay is on the accuplacer.

The ACCUPLACER essay expects test takers to choose a stance and share their point of view on an issue or question that is presented to them after reading a short passage.

Writers are not graded on their answer, but instead are graded on how they express their idea in writing to support their position.

Writers should include reasoning, logic, and examples available to them in the passage. Students will have to demonstrate clear focus in their writing as well as organized ideas and a cohesive essay, strong development of ideas, proper sentence structure and style, correct usage of written English, and critical thinking skills on demand.

Example ACCUPLACER Essay Topics

Students will have to write a five paragraph essay based on a short passage and prompt. The prompts will ask students to answer a question and support their stance. Examples of potential prompts include:

• Can a disadvantage or hardship be turned into something good or positive?
• Is art something that students benefit from learning about in school?
• Should senior citizens over the age of 65 be required to retake a driver’s license exam?
• Should school uniforms be required or not?

ACCUPLACER Online Course

If you want the best chance for scoring high then the Smart Edition ACCUPLACER course will provide all the material and resources you need to succeed on the test.

ACCUPLACER Practice Test

Prepare for your test with realistic questions.

Welcome to the ACCUPLACER practice test page!

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

ACCUPLACER Practice Tests by Subject

If you need some extra practice in a specific subject, click one of the subjects below to get started on a subject-specific ACCUPLACER practice test.

ACCUPLACER Arithmetic and QAS Practice Test ACCUPLACER Advanced Algebra and Functions Practice Test

ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Test ACCUPLACER Writing Practice Test

ACCUPLACER Exam Outline

The ACCUPLACER is divided into the following placement tests:

• Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS)
• Advanced Algebra and Functions

How to Study for the ACCUPLACER

How to study effectively.

Your success on ACCUPLACER test day depends not only on how many hours you put into preparing but also on whether you prepared the right way. It’s good to check along the way to see whether your studying is paying off. One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking ACCUPLACER practice tests to evaluate your progress. Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every time you take a free ACCUPLACER exam practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:

• The questions you got wrong
• The ones you had to guess on, even if you guessed right
• The ones you found difficult or slow to work through

This will show you exactly what your weak areas are and where you need to devote more study time. Ask yourself why each of these questions gave you trouble. Was it because you didn’t understand the material? Was it because you didn’t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence? Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.

Answer Explanations

Additionally, many ACCUPLACER practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be tempting to read the explanation and think that you now have a good understanding of the concept. However, an explanation likely only covers part of the question’s broader context. Even if the explanation makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you’re positive you have a thorough understanding.

Comprehend Each Topic

As you go along, keep in mind that the ACCUPLACER practice test is just that: practice. Memorizing these questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any of the same exact questions. If you only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won’t be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you’ll be able to answer any question that shows up on the test.

Strategy for ACCUPLACER Practice

When you’re ready to start taking practice tests, follow this strategy:

• Remove Limitations. Take the first test with no time constraints and with your notes and ACCUPLACER study guide handy. Take your time and focus on applying the strategies you’ve learned.
• Time Yourself. Take the second practice test “open book” as well, but set a timer and practice pacing yourself to finish in time.
• Simulate Test Day. Take any other practice tests as if it were test day. Set a timer and put away your study materials. Sit at a table or desk in a quiet room, imagine yourself at the testing center, and answer questions as quickly and accurately as possible.
• Keep Practicing. Keep taking practice tests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or it’s time for the actual test. Your mind will be ready for the schedule and stress of test day, and you’ll be able to focus on recalling the material you’ve learned.

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!

Check out Mometrix's ACCUPLACER Flashcards

Get complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts

What is on the ACCUPLACER?

There are six sections on the ACCUPLACER exam: Arithmetic, College-Level Math, Elementary Algebra, Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills, and a written essay.

Can you fail a placement test for college?

No, you cannot fail a placement test. However, a placement test will determine what courses you will need to be placed in when you begin college classes.

Are you allowed to use a calculator on the ACCUPLACER?

You are allowed to use a calculator on the ACCUPLACER. However, you are not permitted to bring your own personal calculator. There will be an on-screen calculator provided for you.

How long does it take to do the ACCUPLACER test?

The ACCUPLACER is an untimed exam. This allows you to work at a pace that is comfortable to you.

Is the ACCUPLACER multiple choice?

The ACCUPLACER is a multiple-choice test. The numbers of questions on the ACCUPLACER vary depending on which ACCUPLACER you are taking. There could be as few as 12 questions or as many as 40 questions.

What is ACCUPLACER test for?

The ACCUPLACER exam uses your scores to help place you where you would be most likely to thrive in college, assessing which classes would be best for you.

How many questions are on the ACCUPLACER math test?

There are three different ACCUPLACER math tests and each contains 20 questions.

What does ACCUPLACER test stand for?

ACCUPLACER does not stand for anything, but is a mix of the words accurate and placer. This is because the test aims to accurately place students in college classes they would thrive in.

By Peter Rench

Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&M University.

ACCUPLACER Test Home

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

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