Assessment Center
Our Mission
The mission of the Central Lakes college Assessment Department is to provide a supportive environment for learning opportunities that enhance the student’s understanding of their assessment results and how these results relate to their educational plan. We hope this site helps you find the answers to all of your questions concerning assessment.
If you are a prospective student wishing to apply to any Minnesota State College and University Institution, including Central Lakes College, you may be required to complete the assessment process. Depending upon your desired program, you may also be required to complete additional assessments. Please see the descriptions below:
Accuplacer
This assessment is required of all students seeking admittance to Central Lakes College. This requirement may, at times, be waived. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions below if you feel you may be able to have this requirement waived.
Accuplacer sample tests (pdf format)
Reading
Elementary Algebra
Sentence Skills
Arithmetic
College Level Math
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) / Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
Occasionally, students have obtained prior knowledge of various general education courses, such as English or sociology. These students may be able to "test-out" of some college level courses. See a counselor or registrar to see if this works out for you.
Credit for CLEP will be evaluated for credit according to the recommendation of the American Council on Education and according to the policies of Central Lakes College.
Cost: For civilian candidates
CLC administrative fee $20 + CLEP fee $70 = TOTAL $90
Cost: For DANTES-funded Military Candidates
CLEP examination fees are funded by Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). Examinations and optional essays are provided at no charge for all eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees of the military (with proper ID). DANTES-funded candidates are required to pay the test center administration fee directly to the institution administering the examination if they are taking the examination at a college test center.
See the CLC Counselors or CLC Registrar for more information regarding CLEP testing.
Dates: Tests are given on scheduled Wednesdays or Thursdays of the month (normally 2nd & 4th week) at 9:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.
To Schedule: Contact Lynn Anderson at 1-800-933-0346, extension 8254 or 218-855-8254 or e-mail landerso@clcmn.edu
Nursing Entrance Test (NET)
Students desiring to enter the Nursing Program are required to take this assessment, after you have taken the ACCUPLACER Test.
The NET is used to evaluate your skills and knowledge. Your scores will be used to determine whether you will benefit from the education provided by our Practical Nursing Program and to determine if the program is right for you.
Students must complete these steps prior to taking the NET test:
1) Apply to the College by Completing the Application form
2) Complete the ACCUPLACER Test
3) Schedule the NET test
The NET measures the following categories: comprehensive math, reading rate, reading comprehension, social decisions, stressful situations, learning styles, and test-taking skills. There is a “Study Guide for the NET” available in the CLC bookstore for $34.99. The Assessment Center also has several study guides that you may use but those copies need to remain in the Assessment Center.
Cost: The fee for the NET is $35. Payment can be made at the CLC Bookstore. Bring the receipt with you when you take the NET test.
Dates: NET testing is conducted under the direction of the Nursing Department. Students may contact the Assessment Department to schedule the NET test. Most students complete the test in 1½ hours, but students may have up to 2½ hours to complete the test.
BRAINERD: The NET is administered on the first and third Wednesday or Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m. and at 1:00 pm. at the Brainerd Campus in Room C110 in the Counseling Center.
STAPLES: The NET test is administered on the third Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. at the Staples campus in Room B123.
To schedule or to obtain more information, contact Lynn Anderson at 1-800-933-0346, extension 8254 or 218-855-8254 or by e-mail at landerso@clcmn.edu or Gayle Wonders, 1-800-247-6374, extension 5114, or 218-894-5114 or by e-mail at gwonders@clcmn.edu.
Schedule an Appointment or Ask Questions
If you would like to schedule an appointment for the ACCUPLACER test or need to ask questions, please contact one of the following:
BRAINERD CAMPUS
The ACCUPLACER test is currently given in Brainerd at the following times:
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday of each week at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Retests - scheduled with Lynn Anderson. Cost of retest is $15.
Lynn Anderson, phone toll-free 1-800-933-0346 ext. 8254, locally 855-8254 or e-mail at landerso@clcmn.edu
If you are unable to attend the regular testing times offered, please call to schedule an alternate appointment.
STAPLES CAMPUS
The ACCUPLACER test is currently given in Staples at the following times:
Every Monday and Thursday of the Month: 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Retests scheduled with Gayle Wonders. Cost of retest is $15.
Gayle Wonders, phone toll-free 1-800-247-6836 ext. 5114, locally 894-5114 or e-mail at gwonders@clcmn.edu
If you are unable to attend the regular testing times offered, please call to schedule an alternate appointment.
DISABILITY SERVICES COORDINATOR
Judy Richer
Brainerd 1-800-933-0346 ext. 8128
Staples 1-800-247-6836 ext. 5150
or e-mail jricher@clcmn.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT WILL I NEED TO BRING?
Please bring your Social Security Number so that our records accurately reflect your scores.
HOW WILL I BE TESTED?
The assessment is given on a computer and students use a mouse to answer questions. The test is composed of three sections: Reading , Writing, and Math. During the Math section, students are not allowed to use a calculator; however, we provide scratch paper for solving problems. Additionally, no books or notes are allowed during the assessment. The assessment is NOT timed, so you may pace yourself. After testing, your results are printed and your assessment coordinator will review the results with you.
IF I HAVE A DISABILITY, CAN I MAKE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS ?
If you have a documented disability and desire a testing accommodation, please contact Judy Richer, Disability Coordinator. On Monday, Wednesday or Friday, she can be reached at 1-800-933-0346 ext. 8128; on Tuesday or Thursday she can be reached at 1-800-247-6836 ext. 5150 or by e-mail at jricher@clcmn.edu
CAN I BE EXEMPTED FROM THE ASSESSMENT?
Generally, you will not need to take the assessment if you meet any of the following:
* You have a college degree and have sent your transcripts to CLC Assessment Coordinators (BRAINERD, Lynn Anderson, Central Lakes College, 501 West College Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401: STAPLES, Gayle Wonders, Central Lakes College, 1830 Airport Road, Staples, MN 56479).
* You have successfully completed a college level English and Math class with a 2.0 (C) or better, and have sent your transcripts to CLC Assessment Coordinators.
* You have taken the assessment within the last three years and CLC Assessment Coordinators have a copy of the results.
* You have taken the ACT test, scored 24 or better on each section and have sent the results to CLC Assessment Coordinators.
* You have taken the SAT test and have scored a 500 or above on both the Verbal and Mathematics section of the test, and have sent the results to CLC.
* If your intent is to enroll in one of the following programs: Computerized Small Business, Customized Training, Farm Business Management, or Small Business Management
* You intend to register for 6 credits or less and only one term. Those 6 credits may not include an upper division (1000 or 2000 level) Math or English course.
WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS ARE ON ACCUPLACER?
Reading Comprehension
This test is designed to measure how well you understand what you read. Some questions are the sentence relationship type in which you must choose how sentences are related. Other questions refer to reading passages of varying lengths.
Sentence Skills
Two kinds of questions are given in this test. Sentence correction questions ask you to choose a word or a phrase to substitute for an underlined portion of a sentence. Construction shift questions ask that a sentence be rewritten in a specific way without changing the meaning. A variety of topics is included.
Arithmetic
The arithmetic test measures your skills in three primary categories. The first is operations with the whole numbers and fractions. This includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and recognizing equivalent fractions and mixed numbers. The second category involves operations with decimals and percents. It includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division as well as percent problems, decimal recognition, fraction and percent equivalences, and estimation problems. The last category tests applications and problem solving. Questions include rate, percent, and measurement problems, geometry problems, and distribution of a quantity into its fractional parts.
Elementary Algebra
There are also three categories in the Elementary Algebra Test. The first category, operations with integers and rational numbers, includes computation with integers and negative rationals, the use of absolute values, and ordering. The second category is operations with algebraic expressions. It tests your skills in evaluating simple formulas and expressions, and in adding and subtracting monomials and polynomials. Both of these categories include questions about multiplying and dividing monomials and polynomials, evaluating positive rational roots and exponents, simplifying algebraic fractions, and factoring. The third category tests skill in solving equations, inequalities, and word problems. These questions include solving systems of linear equations, quadratic equations by factoring, verbal problems presented in algebraic context, geometric reasoning, the translation of written phrases into algebraic expressions, and graphing.
College-Level Mathematics
The College-Level Mathematics test assesses proficiency from intermediate algebra through pre-calculus. Five categories are covered. The first category, algebraic operations, includes simplifying rational algebraic expressions, factoring, expanding polynomials, and manipulating roots and exponents. The category, solutions of equations and inequalities, includes the solution of linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, equation systems, and other algebraic equations. Coordinate geometry asks questions about plane geometry, the coordinate plane, straight lines, conics, sets of points in the plane, graphs of algebraic functions. Applications and other algebra topics asks about complex numbers, series and sequences, determinants, permutations and combinations, fractions, and word problems. The last category, functions and trigonometry, presents questions about polynomial, algebraic exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions.
HOW AND WHERE CAN I TAKE THE ASSESSMENT?
You may take the assessment at any of the 2-year Minnesota State Colleges and University campuses that administers the ACCUPLACER test. If you take the assessment at a location other than CLC, please have a copy of the results sent to our Assessment Coordinators. You may also schedule an appointment to take the assessment with us by clicking on the Schedule an Appointment link.
WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR A GED?
Any student without a high school diploma or a GED certificate is considered to be an Ability to Benefit student. Ability to Benefit students must meet minimum scores on the ACCUPLACER Test.
For more information contact:
BRAINERD, Norma Mietzner at 1-800-933-0346, extension 8121.
STAPLES, Gayle Wonders at 1-800-247-6836, extension 5114.
CAN I RETEST TO IMPROVE MY SCORE?
Yes, you can retest to improve your score. After the first retest, a retest is allowed every 90 days. There is a $15 retest charge. You will need to schedule your retest time with the assessment center coordinator. Your retest fee needs to be paid at the CLC bookstore and the receipt brought to the Assessment Center to show proof of payment.
