Accuplacer English Assessment

Overview of Accuplacer

Reading Test

This section of the test is a series of 20 multiple choice questions. Questions are either standalone or part of sets built around a common passage or passages. Four broad knowledge and skill categories are assessed:

• Information and Ideas (reading closely, determining central ideas and themes, summarizing, understanding relationships)
• Rhetoric (analyzing word choice rhetorically, text structure, point of view, purpose, arguments)
• Synthesis (analyzing multiple texts)
• Vocabulary

Writing Test

There are 25 multiple choice questions in this section. Test takers must determine if the passage is correct, or provide the best possible edit to that passage. Two broad knowledge and skill categories are assessed:

• Expression of Ideas (development, organization, effective language use)
• Standard English Conventions (sentence structure, usage, punctuation)

WritePlacer Test

For this section, you are asked to provide a writing sample in response to a specific prompt. You have 1 hour to complete the writing sample. Each response is evaluated based on the following features of writing:

• focus,
• organization,
• development and support,
• sentence structure & mechanical conventions.

Each writing sample is evaluated based on its overall impression and ability to communicate, not on the basis of the individual writing characteristics in isolation.

FAQ's

• The Accuplacer test can be used to satisfy English proficiency requirements for admission to KPU.
• Accuplacer will take approximately 2.5 hours to complete.
• Registration is done through Assessment & Testing Services online booking system.
• Student Accuplacer Practice information is available at this site: Student Accuplacer Portal
• You should take the Accuplacer English assessment as soon as possible, if it is a requirement for admission.
• This test can only be taken once per semester.  This test will give you a course placement or recommend upgrading needed.
• For more information on the test format and to see typical questions, check out the Student Accuplacer Portal

The results of your assessment are available to be viewed on your KPU Student profile in 2 business days after your test.

Check your 'STUDENT PROFILE' to view your test results:

• Go to: https://one.kpu.ca
• Click: 'Online Self Service' or 'OSS' (If it does not appear on the homepage, type in OSS on the Search line at the top of the page)
• Enter your KPU Student email and Password. Click: Login
• Click: Student Menu
• Click: Prior Education (on the left of the page)
• Your Test Score(s) will be listed below the header 'Testing'