Testing Office

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Welcome to the Testing Office

English as a Second Language (ESL) Testing

The Accuplacer ESL exam is a mandatory exam for incoming students who have received their high school diploma from an institution outside of the United States and do not have passing English SAT, ACT or NYS Regents exam scores. You must take this exam prior to registering for English classes at Queens College.

If you believe you need to take this exam, please send an email to testing@qc.cuny.edu and complete the “ESL Testing Required Survey” by clicking the link in the automatic reply. If you are a GSSP (Global Student Success Program) student, you do NOT need to take the Accuplacer ESL placement exam. However, you may need to take a different English placement exam, so please contact your GSSP advisor to find out if you will require any placement testing before registering for classes at Queens College. Visit their website: https://www.queensgssp.com/ Email: info@queensgssp.com

The ESL exam has 5 sections: Reading Skills, Listening, Sentence Meaning, Language Usage and Writing (WritePlacer ESL). The exam is untimed with the exception of the writing section. The test can take students anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours to complete depending on their pace.

 

If you believe you should be exempt from the ESL exam because you have passing English SAT, ACT or NYS Regents exam scores, please email a record of your scores to testing@qc.cuny.edu and upload a copy of your score report to CUNYfirst. For instructions, please see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYMiwiRnRrI. When uploading and selecting a document class, select “Admissions” and for document type, select “Miscellaneous/Other.”

Here are the passing scores for the SAT, ACT and NYS English Regents.

  • English SAT:
    • 480 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading & Writing section
  • ACT English Test:
    • 420 or higher
  • NYS English Regents:
    • 75 or higher
Ability to Benefit (ATB) Testing

Students who have earned their high school diploma or equivalency from a school outside the United States that are applying for New York State financial aid programs (e.g., TAP, Excelsior, New York State Scholarships, APTS, AIMS) are required by New York State to take the Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) test. Meeting the minimum scores on the ATB test does not guarantee New York State aid. All other academic, financial, and residency requirements must be met.

Students must take and pass the ATB test within the college’s add/drop period to establish award eligibility in that term. Students who do not achieve the minimum required score on any component of the initial test are eligible to retest after 14 days.

The ATB exam has 3 sections. You must receive the minimum passing scores on all 3 sections of the exam to complete the ATB test. If the fail one or two sections of the test, you will only need to retake the sections you failed when you retest. Once you receive a passing score on a section, that section is complete. Here are the minimum passing scores for each section:

  • Reading, Accuplacer Next Generation: 233
  • Writing, Accuplacer Next Generation: 235
  • Arithmetic, Accuplacer Next Generation: 230

To find out more information about the ATB exam and to find out if you need to test, please email testing@qc.cuny.edu and take the “ATB Testing Survey” linked in the automatic email reply. *Please note, if you have the “ATB Testing Required” item on your CUNYfirst to do list, you must contact the testing office to determine if you need the ATB exam.*

If you have applied for and received a U.S. high school equivalency diploma, you do not need to take the ATB test. However, you must upload a scanned copy of your diploma to CUNY First so that we can confirm your TAP eligibility and excuse you from the ATB test. For instructions, please see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYMiwiRnRrI. When uploading and selecting a document class, select “Admissions” and for document type, select “Miscellaneous/Other.”

Testing FAQs & Test Preparation Resources:

Download the Accuplacer Study App for ESL & ATB Practice Tests

For more information and test preparation resources, click here: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/testing/test-preparation-resources/

 

 

FAQs

  1. Is the ATB test required in order to register or take classes at Queens College?
    • No, the test is not required, and students can freely register for courses without taking the exam. It is recommended for NYS/NYC residents who plan to apply for NYS financial aid. If you take the test and do not pass, you can maintain your enrollment but should seek guidance/support around your financial need.
  2. Is the ESL test required in order to register or take classes at Queens College?
    • Yes, the ESL test is required for students with an ESL testing hold to register for courses at Queens College. It is recommended that you take the ESL exam as soon as possible so that you can register for classes.
  3. How do I become a resident or prove New York state residency? 
    • Please refer to the Office of Admissions page for more information and application/documentation to be submitted. In general, students must have been living in New York for the preceding 12 months and have permanent resident status or other eligible status
  4. Can I take the test at a private testing center or outside of CUNY and import the scores?
    • No, because CUNY cannot verify the validity of any scores taken outside of a CUNY institution.
  5. Can I use my calculator for the Arithmetic section?
    • No, students are encouraged to use provided scrap paper. The Accuplacer exam also provides a screen-based calculator for the arithmetic section for some, but not all, Arithmetic questions.
  6. I want to apply for the U.S. high school equivalency instead of taking the ATB test because I already have 24 U.S. college credits, including 6 credits in English, 3 credits in Math, 3 credits in Natural Sciences (computer science does not count), 3 credits in Social Sciences, 3 credits in Humanities, and 6 elective credits. What do I do?
    • Step 1: You must complete Part A of Form J 
    • Step 2: Order an official transcript through Parchment using this link. Be sure to select the Queens College Registrar as the place you would like to order transcripts from. Attach Form J to your transcript request, ensuring that only Part A is filled out. Leave Part B blank, as it will be completed by the Registrar’s office.
      • When Parchment asks you where you would like to send your official transcript, please provide them with the address listed at the top of Form J. This will mail your official transcript and Form J to Albany so that it can be processed. Here is the address:
        • The New York State Education Department
          High School Equivalency (HSE) Office
          89 Washington Avenue, EBA 460
          Albany, NY 12234
    • Step 3: Once you receive your U.S. high school equivalency diploma in the mail, you must scan and upload the document to your CUNYFirst account to complete the process. For instructions on how to upload documents to CUNYFirst, please see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYMiwiRnRrI.
    • *PLEASE BE ADVISED: This process can take up to 10-15 weeks or longer to complete. We strongly advise that if you are less than 8 weeks from the first day of classes for the semester that you are applying for NYS financial aid, you should take the ATB test to ensure you meet the ATB requirement in time to receive financial aid.*I want to apply for the U.S. high school equivalency instead of taking the ATB test because I already have 24 U.S. college credits. What do I do?
    • If you wish to follow up with the Registrar after completing the above steps, you can submit a support ticket to the Registrar’s Office here
  7. I have a question about testing, what should I do?
  8. I am a GSSP (Global Student Success Program) student. Do I need to take the Accuplacer ESL placement exam?
    • If you are a GSSP student, you do not need to take the Accuplacer ESL placement exam. However, you must contact your GSSP advisor to find out if you will require any placement testing with their office before registering for classes at QC. Visit their website: https://www.queensgssp.com/ Email: info@queensgssp.com
  9. Where can I find more information about NY State financial aid and the ATB exam?