The Testing Center administers placement tests or accepts measures of readiness to help determine a student's starting courses. Incoming college students must take a test or submit their measures after they submit an application but before registering for classes. Students who still need to satisfy college readiness may take one or more academic preparation courses before starting credit courses.

Take the placement tests using this link. Incoming traditional college students will take a placement test. The Testing Center administers the following placement tests to new students to measure their readiness for college courses:

  • CollegeBoard ACCUPLACER Reading and WritePlacer for U.S. students whose primary language is English.
  • The ESL ACCUPLACER test for international students.
  • The ALEKS-PPL math test for all traditional students.

Find Exemptions and waivers using this link. The Testing Center also accepts other measures that grant exemptions to the placement test. Students may submit any or all of the following if they are less than 5-years-old:

  • High SAT, ACT, or GED scores.
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.6 or higher for graduates of U.S. high schools.
  • Transfer credit from other institutions.
  • Recent, high placement test scores from other institutions.

Take Continuing Education placement tests using this link. Students in some WDCE programs need a special version of the ACCUPLACER placement tests, which they may take in person or online. Traditional college students should not use these instructions.

Transfer placement test scores using this link. PGCC accepts some placement test scores from other institutions if they are less than four years old. Other institutions may accept some placement test scores taken at PGCC under certain rules and conditions. Please verify the other institution's rules for sending and receiving scores before attempting a score transfer.

The Placement Test Requires a Photo ID

Students must present one of these forms of photo ID for placement tests, waivers, and exemptions.

  • PGCC student ID or employee ID card (with name and photo).
  • State-issued driver's license.
  • Maryland state (MVA) ID card.
  • Employer's ID (with name and photo).
  • Valid passport.
  • U.S. Uniformed Service ID Card (military ID).
  • U.S. DoD Common Access Card.
  • Permanent Resident Card (Green Card/Form I-551).
  • Employment Authorization Document (work permit).

Rules for Placement Testing

Please complete all tests on your own using appropriate resources, such as a pencil and blank scratch paper.

  • Math tests provide a built-in calculator resource only for questions that require them. Students are not permitted to use their own calculators on the placement test.
  • Inappropriate resources include, but are not limited to, the following: other people, books, notes, the internet, phones, tablets, calculators, computers, smart watches, etc.
  • If the College finds evidence that a student used an inappropriate resource while taking a placement test, their test scores will be invalidated and removed from their student record. Then, the student must take all future placement tests in person.
  • Incoming students must follow the College's Code of Conduct and other Testing Center rules.

PGCC uses ACCUPLACER and ALEKS-PPL Placement Tests

Prince George’s Community College uses different placement tests to help determine college readiness.

We use CollegeBoard's ACCUPLACER to evaluate reading and writing readiness for students educated in the United States and other countries. International students must take an ESL test to determine their English readiness. High school graduates will take ALEKS-PPL to evaluate their math readiness, while students in Early College Access programs will take ACCUPLACER's math tests.

Multiple Attempts

If you took a placement test multiple times, the College uses the best outcome to determine your final course placement. However, you may not take a placement test after you enroll in English or math courses since the test results cannot be used as a substitute for course performance. This applies even if you have only taken the placement test once.

Taking Each Test

All of the College's placement tests are web-based, but they will not work on phones or tablets. Click or tap the name of each placement test to read more about it. When you’re ready to take a placement test, please read our instructions for taking the placement test.

CollegeBoard Accuplacer

ACCUPLACER, from CollegeBoard, is a web-based test of English and Reading readiness for U.S. English-speaking students. ESL students are not eligible to use ACCUPLACER scores for placement.

  • ACCUPLACER WritePlacer is a single-question essay test of English readiness.
    • The platform will assign a single topic and you must write a roughly 300-word essay about it. The essay must be completed in one sitting.
    • This test takes around one hour to complete and is usually evaluated immediately. A result of “Score Pending” will become a final score on the next business day.
  • ACCUPLACER Reading is a multiple-choice test of Reading readiness.
    • You will have to read passages and answer questions about them.
    • The ACCUPLACER Reading test is adaptive. It usually has 20 questions, but may vary for each student and attempt.
    • This test takes around 40 minutes to complete and results are available immediately.

Current policy allows only two attempts at any ACCUPLACER test within a two-year time period. You may only take the test again if you did not enroll in an English or ESL class.

McGraw-Hill ALEKS-PPL

ALEKS-PPL is a web-based test of math readiness intended to replicate the pencil-and-paper experience. Students should use paper and pencil to work out the solution to each test question and enter it into ALEKS. It is not multiple-choice.

  • The ALEKS-PPL test is adaptive, and the number of questions changes as it measures your mathematics readiness. This test must be completed in one sitting and never exceeds 25 questions.
  • You have a time limit of two hours to complete and submit the test. If you exceed the time limit, the test will end, and you will receive a score and placement based on the work completed.
  • Most students need roughly one hour and 30 minutes for the test. Test results are available immediately.

When you finish, the ALEKS platform creates a series of prep and learning modules to help you improve your math skills for another attempt.

  • The Prep and Learning modules are self-paced math review lessons tailored to the results of your first ALEKS-PPL score.
  • You must spend at least five (5) hours of total work in the modules and wait at least one full day before you can retake the test. You do not have to complete all the work in one sitting.
  • ALEKS-PPL allows up to one year of time to work on the modules and retake the test before your access expires. Your previous scores will remain, but you may lose access to your modules and second test attempt. It is strongly recommended that you complete your required hours and retake the test as soon as possible.
  • Current policy allows only two attempts at the ALEKS-PPL test within a two-year time period. You may only retake the test if you did not enroll in a mathematics class.
  • The modules do not work on phones and tablets. You must use a desktop or laptop computer running recent versions of Windows, macOS, or recent Chromebook models.
  • The yellow button below lets you to log into ALEKS-PPL and continue working on your prep and learning modules. This link is not the placement test.

ALEKS-PPL STUDY MODULE

ESL Accuplacer

Starting in 2023, PGCC uses Accuplacer ESL to measure English and Reading readiness for international students. There is not a registration process. Students may take the ESL test immediately after applying to the college.

  • The ESL Test has four required sections: the ESL WritePlacer essay, Sentence Meaning, Language Use, and Reading Skills. You must complete all sections to get a final score.
  • The ESL WritePlacer section is a single-question essay. The platform will give you a topic and you must write a roughly 300-word essay under a 90-minute time limit.
  • The Sentence Meaning, Language Use, and Reading Skills sections have 20 multiple-choice questions each.
  • Each section can only be taken once.
  • The whole test takes roughly two and a half hours to complete, and results are available after two to three business days.

Students may only take the ESL test twice within a two-year time period.

Who takes the ESL Accuplacer test?

The ESL Accuplacer test is for incoming international students who need to demonstrate their level of English and Reading Readiness. However, international students may take the same English and Reading placement tests as U.S. students if they satisfy any of the following conditions:

  • They completed at least 4 years of their high school education in the U.S.
  • They have a diploma from passing the GED tests in the U.S. Students with a GED diploma should submit their official GED transcripts to PGCC.
  • They are from any of the countries below:
    • Antigua & Barbuda
    • Australia
    • The Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Belize
    • Bermuda
    • Canada
    • Cayman Islands
    • Commonwealth of Dominica
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Ireland
    • Jamaica
    • Montserrat
    • New Zealand
    • St. Kitts & Nevis
    • St. Lucia
    • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Solomon Islands
    • Trinidad & Tobago
    • Turks & Caicos Islands
    • United Kingdom
    • United States of America
    • Virgin Islands

Sample Tests and Study Guides

This list of online resources can help students improve skills needed for the placement tests. Some may also be useful after starting courses.

myPGCC, Owl Link, and Navigate

The College creates a myPGCC account for every student, unlocking many College services such as Owl Link and Navigate, without needing to visit our campus. These services will only work for students who submit their applications, pay any outstanding fees, and activate their myPGCC accounts.

You will need Owl Link to register for classes. Go to myPGCC and log in, then click Owl Link. If you have never used myPGCC, click First Time Login. New users may need to change their passwords. After you verify your Owl Link account, you can use PGCC Navigate to schedule appointments with advising and other offices.

Please contact the Technology Service Desk to resolve any issues.

Doing Well on the Placement Tests

No student will be denied admission to the College based on placement test results except for international students (F-1 visa), who must score high enough to allow full-time enrollment. However, your test performance will determine which college courses you may or may not take. Academic preparation courses may be required for students whose scores do not satisfy college readiness. Students are advised to take the placement tests seriously and employ a common-sense approach when preparing for the test:

  • Eat well and get plenty of rest.
  • Allow yourself ample time to review the sample tests and study guides.
  • Review math operations with decimals, fractions, exponents, and algebra.

After Finishing the Placement Tests

For the in-person placement tests, students will receive a printed copy of their scores immediately. Instructors must evaluate the ESL test, which takes 2-3 business days. Typically, all scores will be posted to a student's record within two business days of receiving final scores from tests or assessments. Still, holidays and other college closures might delay this process.

Contacting an Advisor

After you finish the placement process, you must contact an advisor to register for courses. Please visit the College's advising site for the best ways to ask questions and schedule appointments.

ALEKS-PPL Prep and Learning Modules

When you finish the ALEKS-PPL math placement test, the ALEKS platform creates a series of prep and learning modules to help you improve your math skills for another attempt. The study modules do not work on phones and tablets. You must use a desktop or laptop computer running recent versions of Windows or macOS. You may also use recent Chromebook models. Use the yellow button below to log into ALEKS-PPL and continue working. This link is not the placement test.

ALEKS-PPL STUDY MODULE

Getting Copies of Placement Test Scores

If you have already taken a placement test at a PGCC campus within the last four years, you may request a printed copy of your placement test scores from the Testing Center. You must come to the Testing Center in person and show a valid photo ID to get your scores. The testing center is located in Bladen Hall, Room 100, at PGCC's main campus in Largo, MD.

Transferring Placement Test Scores

Students may also request a transfer of certain placement test scores directly to other accredited institutions. The College cannot guarantee which scores other institutions and organizations will accept or use. Contact us below for more information.

Questions? Contact Us

Phone: 301-546-0147 | 301-546-0090 

Email: testingcenter@pgcc.edu

Prince George's Community College
Bladen Hall, Room 100
301 Largo Road
Largo, MD 20774

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