Assessment & Placement          Accuplacer Test (for Native Speakers of English) - Sample Questions

Accuplacer Sample Questions

Sample questions are shown below for each of the ACCUPLACER tests. Those presented cover only a few of the areas covered by each test. Keep in mind that these sample questions are not meant to be a study guide. These are designed to give you a general idea of the types of questions you will find on the Accuplacer test.

(Printer-friendly sample Accuplacer - This version has a few more samples in it than the one below.)

Sample questions are covered in:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Sentence Skills
3. Arithmetic (see also Pre-algebra samples from the Rockville Math Department)
4. Elementary Algebra (see also Algebra samples from the Rockville Math Department)
5. College Level Mathematics (see also College Level Mathematics sample (.pdf) from the Rockville Mathematics Department)

For additional sample questions, go to the College Board's web site (pdf).

Reading Comprehension Question 1: Narration
In the words of Thomas De Quincey, "It is notorious that the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it." If, like most people, you have trouble recalling names of those you have just met, try this: the next time you are introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself, "I'll listen carefully; repeat each person's name to be sure I've got it, and I will remember." You'll discover how effective this technique is and probably recall those names for the rest of your life.

The main idea of the paragraph maintains that the memory

A. always operates at peak efficiency.
B. breaks down under great strain.
C. improves if it is used often.
D. becomes unreliable if it tires.

[ANSWERS]
Question 2: Sentence Relationships
Two bold sentences are followed by a question or statement about them. Read each pair of sentences and then choose the best answer to the question or the best completion of the statement.

The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in fifteen years.

Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this year.

What does the second sentence do?
A. It restates the idea found in the first.
B. It states an effect.
C. It gives an example.
D. It analyzes the statement made in the first.

Question 1: Sentence Correction
Select the best version of the bold part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first answer.

Ms. Rose planning to teach a course in biology next summer.

A. planning
B. are planning
C. with a plan
D. plans

Question 2: Sentence Correction

The baby was obviously getting too hot, then Sam did what he could to cool her.

A. hot, then Sam did
B. hot, Sam did
C. hot; Sam, therefore, did
D. hot; Sam, trying to do

Question 3: Sentence Correction

She hoped to find a new job. One that would let her earn money during the school year.

A. job. One that
B. job. The kind that
C. job, one that
D. job, so that it

Question 4: Sentence Correction

Knocked sideways, the statue looked as if it would fall.

A. Knocked sideways, the statue looked
B. The statue was knocked sideways, looked
C. The statue looked knocked sideways
D. The statue, looking knocked sideways,

Question 5: Sentence Correction

To walk, biking, and driving are Pat's favorite ways of getting around.

A. To walk, biking, and driving
B. Walking, biking, and driving
C. To walk, biking, and to drive
D. To walk, to bike, and also driving

Question 6: Sentence Correction

When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this is an example of jaywalking.

A. When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this
B. You cross the street in the middle of the block, this
C. Crossing the street in the middle of the block
D. The fact that you cross the street in the middle of the block

Question 7: Sentence Correction

Walking by the corner the other day, a child, I noticed, was watching for the light to change.

A. a child, I noticed, was
B. I noticed a child watching
C. a child was watching, I noticed,
D. there was, I noticed, a child watching

Question 8: Construction Shift
Rewrite the sentence in your head, following the directions given below. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the sentence given you.

Being a female jockey, she was often interviewed.
Rewrite, beginning with
She was often interviewed...

The next words will be
A. on account of she was
B. by her being
C. because she was
D. being as she was

Question 9: Construction Shift
In his songs, Gordon Lightfoot makes melody and lyrics intricately intertwine.
Rewrite, beginning with
Melody and lyrics...

Your new sentence will include
A. Gordon Lightfoot has
B. make Gordon Lightfoot's
C. in Gordon Lightfoot's
D. does Gordon Lightfoot

Question 10: Construction Shift
It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the same cannot be said of liquids.
Rewrite, beginning with
Unlike liquids, ...

The next words will be
A. it is easy to
B. we can easily
C. solid objects can easily be
D. solid objects are easy to be

Question 11: Construction Shift
Excited children ran toward the loud music, and they told others about the ice cream truck outside.
Rewrite, beginning with
The excited children, who had run toward the loud...

The next words will be
A. music, they told
B. music told
C. music, telling
D. music and had told

Question 12: Construction Shift
If he had enough strength, Todd would move the boulder.
Rewrite, beginning with
Todd cannot move the boulder...

The next words will be
A. when lacking
B. because he
C. although there
D. without enough

Question 13: Construction Shift
The band began to play, and then the real party started.
Rewrite, beginning with
The real party started...

The next words will be
A. after the band began
B. and the band began
C. although the band began
D. the band beginning

Question 14: Construction Shift
Chris heard no unusual noises when he listened in the park.
Rewrite, beginning with
Listening in the park,...

The next words will be
A. no unusual noises could be heard
B. then Chris heard no unusual noises
C. and hearing no unusual noises
D. Chris heard no unusual noises

Question 1:
All of the following are ways to write 20 percent of N, EXCEPT

A. 0.20N
B. 20/100N
C. 1/5N
D. 20N

Question 2:
7/20

A. 0.035
B. 2.858
C. 0.35
D. 3.5

Question 3:
7.86 X 4.6 =

A. 36.156
B. 36.216
C. 351.56
D. 361.56

Question 4:
Which of the following is the least?

A. 0.105
B. 0.501
C. 0.015
D. 0.15

Question 5:
The average weight for a group of 20 women is 130 pounds. If the average weight for 3/4 of these women was 140 pounds, what was the average weight, in pounds, for the rest of the women?

A. 100
B. 110
C. 120
D. 135

Question 6:
A soccer team played 160 games and won 65% of them. How many games did they win?

A. 94
B. 104
C. 114
D. 124

Question 7:
The Number of Employees of Company K Who Were Involved in Accidents

	Plant X	Plant Y
Mechanic	11	30
Power Machine Operators	9	12

The table above show the results of an industrial health survey of 10,000 people employed at Company K for more than 5 years. If 2,500 employees were surveyed in each of the four categories, which group of employees had the highest accident rate?

A. Mechanics in Plant X
B. Mechanics in Plant Y
C. Power Machine Operators in Plant X
D. Power Machine Operators in Plant Y

Question 8:
Which of the following is closest to ?

A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 8

Question 9:
Three people who work full time are to work together on a project, but their total time on the project is to be equivalent to that of only one person working full time. If one of the people is budgeted for 1/2 of his time to the project and a second person for 1/3 of her time, what part of the third worker's time should be budgeted to this project?

A. 1/3
B. 1/4
C. 1/6
D. 1/8

Question 1:
If a number is divided by 4 and then 3 is subtracted, the result is 0. What is the number?

A. 12
B. 4
C. 3
D. 2

Question 2:
If A represents the number of apples purchased at $.15 each and B represents the number of bananas purchased at $.10 each, which of the following represents the total value of the purchases?

A. A+B
B. 25(A+B)
C. 10A + 15B
D. 15A + 10B

Question 3:
16x - 8 =

A. 8x
B. 8(2x - x)
C. 8(2x - 1)
D. 8(2x - 8)

Question 4:
If x² - x - 6 = 0 then x is

A. -2 or 3
B. -1 or 6
C. 1 or -6
D. 2 or -3

Question 1:
If f(x) = - x + 2 , then f(-x) =

A. - x
B. + x
C. - x + 2
D. + x + 2
E. + x - 2

Question 2:
The equation x² + 2ix - 4 = 0 has as its roots

A. - 1, - - 1
B. - i , + i
C. - i , - + i
D. - i , + i
E. - i , - - i

[ANSWERS]