Makeup Testing

If you have already taken the placement test and are unhappy with your results, Owensboro Community and Technical College allows each person to retake the test one time.

Can I retest immediately?

No. You must wait at least one week from the date of your first test before you can schedule for a retest. During that waiting period - and before you can reschedule - you must come to the Teaching and Learning Center and brush up on your skills using the SkillsTutor program.

What do I do when I come into the TLC for remediation?

Each time you visit the Teaching and Learning Center, you log-in on the TLC's sign-in computer, which is under the clock.
As a student working on COMPASS remediation, you also sign in the white "Post-COMPASS Test" notebook on the information desk . Your signature and times will help document your hours in the Center.

How do I use SkillsTutor?

A staff member will provide you with a username and password.
The staff member will explain how to use SkillsTutor.
For COMPASS remediation, you must work on SkillsTutor in the TLC for a certain number of hours.
A TLC staff member will always be present to assist you.

How long do I have to work on SkillsTutor?

How long you work on SkillsTutor before retesting depends on how many areas of the test you want to retake. Also, it depends on how well you want to do on your retest.

If you are retesting in one area only, then you must come to the TLC and work on SkillsTutor the following number of hours:

Reading - two hours. Since only one hour per day can be counted, you will spend at least two days completing this activity.
English - three hours. Since only one hour per day can be counted, you will spend at least three days completing this activity.
Math - three hours. Since only one hour per day can be counted, you will spend at least three days completing this activity.

If you are retesting in two areas, then you must come to the TLC and work on SkillsTutor the following number of hours:

Reading and English - five hours; two in reading and three in English. Since only one hour per day can be counted, you will spend at least five days completing this activity.
Reading and math - five hours; two in reading and three in English. Since only one hour per day can be counted, you will spend at least five days completing this activity.
Math and English - six hours; three in math and three in English
- Only one hour per day can be counted for your first five hours. Since this will entail at least five days, your sixth hour can be completed on any one of those five days. Therefore, on one of your five days, you may complete two hours. However, the two hours cannot be back-to-back; the two hours must be separated by a break. If you wish, you may spread your hours over more than five days.

If you are retesting in all three areas, then you must come to the TLC and work on SkillsTutor the following number of hours:

Reading, math, and English - eight hours; two in reading, three in math, and three in English.
- Since only one hour per day can be counted for your first five hours, you will spend at least five days completing this activity. For your remaining three hours, on three of your five days, you many count an extra hour per day. However, the two hours cannot be back-to-back; the two hours must be separated by a break. If you wish, you may spread your hours over more than five days.

One reason the TLC so stresses committing yourself to more than the required study for retesting is that you may retest only one time. If you don't do well or accidentally make mistakes on the retest, you will not receive a third chance. Our goal in the TLC is to help you prepare for a successful retest. If you are really serious about improving your score and placement, then your time spent in the Teaching and Learning Center, with the TLC staff to assist you, will be a welcomed opportunity.

How do I know when I have finished my hours? Do I go by the sign-in log?

Ask a TLC staff member - each of whom wears a name badge - to run a SkillsTutor report to verify your hours spent on the program. The report also verifies your scores in each area. One of the TLC staff will advise you whether the scores indicate you need further work on SkillsTutor or whether the scores and hours indicate you are ready for retesting.

What do I do after you've verified my hours and scores?

A TLC staff member will be happy to schedule an appointment date for you to retake the COMPASS test.

What is my goal?

Your goal is to place higher on your retake test, not to put in your required hours. The required hours of remediation are a prerequisite before retaking the test, not your goal.
Why do we ask students to remediate? We want to help you. Our experiences have shown that the more time students spend refreshing skills, the better they do on their retake tests. Spend as much time as possible reviewing your skills - this means going above and beyond the minimum number of hours required by our campus.

How many times may I retake the COMPASS placement test?

One time.

Can I retake math one day, reading on another day, and writing (English) on another day?

No. Each part of the test must be taken on the same day and during the same test session.

How much does it cost to retake the COMPASS placement test?

Currently, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System charges the following:

$7 for each individual part of the test or
$20 to retake the complete test (math, writing/English, and reading)