CUNY Assessment Tests (CAT): Frequently Asked Questions

CUNY Assessment Tests (CAT): Frequently Asked Questions

1) What are the CUNY Assessment Tests (CAT)?

CATs are placement exams that are used to help determine admission and placement into college-credit courses. Every student needs to take the math exam for placement purposes, and students who scored below 75 on the ELA Regents or below 480 on the critical reading component of the SAT must take a reading exam and a writing exam as well.

To find out which exams YOU may need to take, check out the admission requirements HERE: http://www.cuny.edu/academics/testing/cuny-assessment-tests/admissions-requirements.html.

Math: The math exam is an un-timed exam that is given on the computer. You will only be able to use the computer calculator. The test is organized into the following sections: numerical skills/pre-algebra, algebra, college algebra, geometry, and  trigonometry.  You need to pass the first two sections (Math 1 and Math 2) in order to be placed into a college-level math course at a 4-year CUNY.  Already proficient students will take the Math 3 exam. Take as much time as you need with this exam.

Reading: The reading exam is an un-timed, multiple-choice, computer-based test of reading.  Questions will involve identifying facts from the reading, identifying author’s tone and purpose, and making inferences. Take as much time as you need with this exam.

Writing: The writing exam is a 90-minute written essay test in which you will be asked to write a response to a short passage. You should take the complete 90 minutes to read and annotate the passage, brainstorm or outline, write your essay, and revise.

2) When do I take these exams?

After you have heard from the CUNY colleges to which you have been accepted, you should receive a letter about testing. You should make sure to take the Placement Exams as early as possible because they are required for admissions to certain programs, and most colleges have free workshops for students who do not pass. If you have not yet received a testing letter, but have been accepted by a CUNY college, contact the Testing Office at the college in which you plan to enroll.

3) Why bother preparing for the College Assessment/ Placement Exams?

• They’re required for entrance into the SEEK program! Most CUNY’s require these tests to be taken by April 1^st.
• It can save you time:  If you pass, you can get started right away on your college courses instead of taking zero-credit developmental courses first (remedial classes).
• It can save you money:  College classes are expensive, and each class at CUNY can cost between $720 and $1,240. If you pass the exam, you can bypass paying for zero-credit developmental courses! If you don’t pass, see how you can still save money in question 5, below.

3) How do I prepare for the CUNY Placement Exams?

Reading Exam

·         An overview of the exam can be found at: http://www1.cuny.edu/readingtutorial/launch.html

·         Additional practice exercises can be found at: http://jjc.jjay.cuny.edu/erc/act/reading/exmenu_reading.php

Writing Exam

·         An overview of the exam can be found at: http://cuny.edu/academics/testing/cuny-assessment-tests/resources/CATWInformationforStudentsandpracticeweb.pdf

Math Exam

·         Overviews and sample items relating to the math exam can be found at: http://www.cuny.edu/academics/testing/cuny-assessment-tests/resources/Mathematics_Test_samples.pdf

·         A great site for online diagnostic and practice exams can be found at: http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/oaa/compass/

·         http://areyoureadyformath.com

4) What do I need to bring for the exam?

In order to take the exam, you need to have applied to CUNY and you need to know your social security number or CUNY ID. On the day of the exam, you will need:

1)      Testing letter or ticket,

2)      photo ID (either high school or driver's license), and

            3)    pen and pencil.

5) What If I don’t pass?

·         Don’t fear! CUNY has a program called CUNY START where you take part-time or full-time classes for the first semester of college. Instead of using your FAFSA money for this semester, you only pay $75 (all books included) and you re-take the CAT test up to two times until you pass! This gets you COLLEGE READY and you can start Spring 2016 as a full-time student.

Good luck! Please check in with me if you have questions, or respond to this email.