FAQs

A: All new and returning students are required to be assessed prior to registration to determine their skill level in English, reading and mathematics. It is important that your counselor/advisor review your placement test results so that, in combination with other relevant information, he/she can assist you in choosing the appropriate courses to take in order to help you reach your educational goal. While no single placement test score by itself can exclude a student from enrolling in any particular course, these tests provide one of the most effective means for measuring your knowledge of English, reading and mathematics.

A: The MATH test usually takes about an hour. The ENGLISH test has two components, Reading Comprehension and Sentence Skills, and about 2 hours are provided to complete the test. The ESL test has three components, Listening, Reading and Grammar/Usage, and 2 hours are provided to complete the test.

A: Yes. The English/reading test requirement will be waived for students who meet one of the following conditions: 1) present proof to their English instructor that they have completed, with a grade of C or higher, college courses equivalent to the CSM prerequisites as listed in the class schedule; 2) hold an associate or higher degree from an accredited institution; or 3) are enrolling in six or fewer units and are not planning to enroll in an English or reading class. The English test requirement will be waived, and eligibility for English 100 received, for students with a minimum score on one of the following tests:

The mathematics test requirement will be waived for students who meet one of the following conditions:
1) present proof to their mathematics instructor that they have completed with a grade of C or higher college courses equivalent to the CSM prerequisites as listed in the class schedule;
2) present proof to their mathematics instructor that they received a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB Exam or a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Calculus BC Exam; or
3) are not planning to enroll in a mathematics class, including business mathematics.

A: Yes. Special tests for students who speak English as a second language are given weekly and on each of the test dates listed. Other students who have questions about the ESL tests are encouraged to contact the Multicultural Center (Bldg. 20, Room 107, 574-6154) or the Assessment Center (Bldg. 1, Room 130, 574-6175).

A: Yes. CSM provides modified or alternative #assessment services for students who need and request special accommodations. Such students are advised to call the Assessment Center (Bldg. 1, Room 130, 574-6175) or the Disability Resource Center, (Bldg. 16, Room 150, 574-6438) at least two weeks prior to their scheduled testing date.

A: Placement tests are valid for two years. The mathematics test may be repeated once within a two year period. The English and ESL tests may be repeated only once within a two year period. Please contact the Assessment Center for additional information regarding this policy.

Q: Do I need to take the placement tests even if I already took it at another college?

A: College of San Mateo will review results from the following assessment instruments: Accuplacer Sentence Structure and Reading Comprehension, Companion Sentence Structure and Reading Comprehension, and Math MDTP. The tests must have been taken within the past two years and must be identical to those tests offered at College of San Mateo. Students must provide the Assessment Center with official raw scores for review and evaluation.

A: No fee is charged for taking the manual and/or computerized tests and appointments are required. Students need to call the Assessment Center at 574-6175 to make an appointment.

A: Students should bring their correct social security number or CSM student identification number (“G” number), some form of personal identification with a picture (e.g., driver’s license, passport), and a #2 pencil. Students who do not have a social security number are advised to call the Assessment Center at 574-6175 for additional instructions.

A: For manual test, test results are available the following business day after 3:00 pm on your student WebSMART account. For testing completed on Saturday, for example, results are available via WebSMART after 3:00 pm on the following Monday. For computerized test, your test results will be available on the same day.

A: To access WebSMART you must submit a College Admission Application and allow time for processing (typically applications are processed within 24-48 hours). To retrieve your test results go to https://websmart.smccd.net;
1.) login with your student CSM ID or Social Security Number and your 6-digit birth date (PIN)
2 .) click on STUDENT RECORDS
3 .) click on PLACEMENT TEST RESULTS
4 .) click on List Placements.

Print a copy of your test results for your records.

A: Placement tests are intended to measure skills which research have shown to be closely related to academic success. In combination with other measures, test results represent student strengths and capabilities as measured by these tests. While no placement test score by itself can exclude a student from enrolling in any particular course, these tests provide one of the most effective means for measuring a student’s knowledge of English, reading, and mathematics. Students are advised to discuss their placement results with a counselor/advisor so that, in combination with other relevant information (e.g., previous academic record), they can assist them to develop an educational plan.

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