I am going back to school in January, and before I start I have to take the Compass placement test. I have been using practice test to help study, and for a couple of websites that offer math video lessons for free (and there is alot on youtube as well.). But I am really worried about the math section. I alway did really well on math sections on standardized test in school (in the 90th percentile or above), but that was 9 years ago. If I don't do well on this test I will not get into the math class I need to get into the program I want. Has anyone out taken this test? Did you find the math section hard?
Thanks for the responses. I have found a couple of websites about what is on the test and have been studying like crazy. I guess what trips me up is the way they ask the questions. Like if you told me to divdie two polynomials (example: x-2/x^3-5x^2-6) I will divide the heck out of those polinomials, but it is never that straight foward (at least on the practice test) Most of the time I am just staring at the question trying to figure out what they want me to do!
Here's another GREAT site, for anything having to do with math or numbers and it is for kids as well as adults. Even Bill Gates is a fan of this site. AND it is FREE.
www.khanacademy.org
My Husband used this site when he was in school.
My kids also use it and like it.
It is for anyone.
I took it last year. I found it pretty hard and I actually failed it the first time around. I studied really hard for a few weeks and tried again and the second time I did really well.
I got the "Charting your success on the Compass" book from the library for practice. This was probably the best tool to understand what exactly is expected, but it doesn't have that many practice questions. I used some websites for practice and if I didn't understand certain things. I found Purple Math most useful.
Below is the list or recommended sites from my college.
Math Review
MyMathTest PDF (Includes a password and instructions on how to use this online math review. Site contains practice questions and provides support in reviewing various math concepts that are assessed on the COMPASS Math Test.)
brazosport.edu
math.com
coolmath.com
aaamath.com
purplemath.com
khanacademy.org
Cliff's Quick Review of Algebra 1: Learn and Review Quick Charts in plane geometry, elementary algebra, college algebra. (Available in the Testing Center.)
I hope this will help and Good Luck!
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I took it last year. I got top scores in the other sections, but I only got a 23 in math. Of course, it has always been my WORST subject. And of course, the stuff I studied wasn't on the test. :/ I am taking a math class this summer, and if I pass it I get to progress without any further testing. I am also taking the composition class for the program I am going into. Then this fall I am going to continue as a full-time student. I really like doing it this way, it really gives me a chance to dip my toe back into the school pool before diving in. lol.
I took it in 2010. I didn't find the math section too terribly hard and I scored well but I definitely learned that my weakness is trigonometry. You know, the angle a equals cotangent c/sign b (just throwing stuff out there, that's not the equation :).)
Review your trig and geometry for sure!
My husband just took the test and he hates math and thought he would do terribly. He did fine. In fact, he placed well above what he expected and what he needed.
I just took it at the beginning of the last semester. It will be fine! Relax, take a deep breath! The math isn't horrible...it just gives them an idea which tier you need to begin on...and once you tke it, you can retake it again if you don't think you did your best. All it does is shows them where you need to start. If you're already reviewing you should do great! Message me if you have any other questions.
I have taken it years ago. I was also worried about math - I was terrible in math throughout school, I mean truly TERRIBLE.
I placed higher than I thought I would, but not high enough for my major (one class short of college level math), I took 5 quarters of math classes one at a time, I am a science major so I needed to finish Calculus. Taking math as an adult was the best thing ever! For the first time I actually understood it and had fun in math class.
Anyhow, the test is not 'difficult'. It reacts to your answers, if you answer a lot of questions right, you get bumped to the next level. If you start answering a lot of questions wrong the test will automatically end and that is the highest level you reach.
The test is not timed (at least not at our college) and you can take as much time as you want. In my college you could even take a break and return to the test the next day if you needed to.
If you did fine in HS you will probably do fine on the test - and if you don't, take a class at your level and retest - sometimes if you have been out of it for a while it comes back to you after using that skill again. It's like riding your bike, if you haven't done it for years you will be shakey at first but you soon regain your confidence.
Good luck!
