Remote Placement Testing
Welcome to the Bucks County Community College Placement Tests.
Bucks County Community College offers placement testing remotely and in person. Students can test in person during the department’s open hours or remotely on their own schedule. If testing remotely, a webcam, microphone, and desktop or laptop computer are required for testing. If you do not meet these technical requirements or if you only have access to a tablet or mobile device, you must test in person in the Testing Center.
In-person testing is available in Newtown on a walk-in basis. Please visit Placement Test Schedule to view the testing schedule.
**If English is your second language, you must complete the Language Use, Reading Skills, and Writing tests in person at our Testing Center. Please refer to the schedule for available hours.**
Information for prerequisite approval via transcripts from another college for guest and transfer students are posted on the Admissions and Registrar Page.
If you have any questions regarding the placement tests you are required to take, testing waivers, or the next steps in the enrollment process, please email info@bucks.edu.
If you have questions regarding the tests themselves, please contact the Testing Center directly at testing@bucks.edu or 215-968-8466.
About Placement Testing
Placement testing is used by the College to place students into their first Math, Reading, and Writing classes. These tests are designed to ensure you are in classes that are neither too hard nor too easy. Please take your time and answer each question to the best of your ability. With the exception of the Math retests, you cannot take the placement tests again.
Based on review of your tests and scores, you may be required to complete supplemental tests or retests in person in the Testing Center.
Instructions for each test is available below. Make sure to have your Bucks ID number ready. You will need to enter this information.
Academic Integrity
All work must be your own. No outside assistance or resources are permitted for placement testing. These include, but are not limited to, friends, family, phones, Google, personal calculators, and text editors such as Microsoft Word.
IMPORTANT: If plagiarism, prohibited materials, or outside aid is suspected, your scores will be voided and retesting in person will be required.
Math Placement
The Math placement test is an untimed test administered through ALEKS. It will be used to determine what Math classes you can start with. Please take your time. Once you go forward to the next question, you will not be able to go back to previous questions.
A webcam, microphone, and desktop or laptop computer are required for this test. If you do not meet these technical requirements or if you only have access to a tablet, or mobile device, you must test in person in the Testing Center. Scrap paper is permitted. You may only use the calculator built into the program. If you have any technical issues with ALEKS, the contact information to reach ALEKS’s technical support is available on the last page of the instructions document below.
For your convenience, we recommend that you print the ALEKS Remote Account Creation document below. You will not be able to access it while the LockDown Browser is open. Make sure to write down your login information for your ALEKS account. You may use this login information to access your ALEKS account for up to 12 months from your first test. During this 12-month period, you may take up to four additional assessments to try to test into a higher level.
When you are ready to test:
Please open the attached ALEKS Account Creation document to create your ALEKS account, download the required LockDown Browser, and complete the first test.
Reading and Writing Placement Tests
The Reading placement test is a one-hour timed test that will be used to determine if you need to take a Reading class. Please take your time. You can only take this assessment once. Once you go forward to the next question, you cannot go back to a previous question.
The Writing placement test is a 50-minute timed test that will be used to determine your Writing class. You will be asked to respond to one essay prompt. Recommended responses are 300-500 words. There is no spell check or grammar check.
IMPORTANT: The Reading and Writing Placement tests will not work on mobile devices or tablets. If you do not meet these technical requirements, you must test in person in the Testing Center.
Remember: Your Writing Placement test should be an accurate reflection of your own writing. If plagiarism or outside aid is suspected, your scores will be voided and retesting in person will be required.
When you are ready to test:
Please open the Reading and Writing Placement Test Instructions document to create your account and add the Reading and Writing tests to your College Success dashboard.
When You're Done Testing
When you are done with placement testing, click HERE to proceed to your Next Steps!