Placement Test FAQs

Please arrive on time or 10 - 15 minutes early. If you are late, you may be asked to reschedule the test.

What is the purpose of the placement tests?

Delaware Tech uses multiple measures such as the placement tests to provide information about your skill levels in reading, English, and mathematics. Our placement tests provide information about your skill levels in reading, English, and mathematics. In addition to the other measures, your scores on the placement tests help to determine the integrated reading and writing/English, and mathematics courses that are most appropriate for you at this time.

What types of tests are given?

Most students take a minimum of 3 tests: Next Generation reading, WritePlacer, and elementary algebra. The Next Generation reading test consists of 20 multiple choice questions to measure your understanding of what you read and to determine the meaning of words and phrases in short and extended contexts. The WritePlacer test includes a prompt and students are asked to write an essay of 300 to 600 words to measure how effectively you can develop and express your ideas in writing. The elementary algebra test includes 12 multiple choice questions that test your skills solving equations, inequalities, linear equations, graphs, sequences, system of equations, absolute value, piecewise functions, polynomials, factorization, and quadratics.

Based on your elementary algebra test results, you may go on to take the advanced algebra, pre-algebra and/or the basic math portions of the test. The pre-algebra test consists of 8 multiple choice questions that test your skills solving equations; adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions; adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals; factors and multiples; adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers; converting measurement; and exponent properties. The basic math test consists of 5 multiple choice questions to that test your skills adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing positive, negative, and rational numbers. The advanced algebra test consists of 20 multiple choice questions that test your skills solving linear equations, linear applications, factoring, quadratics, functions, radical and rational equations, polynomial equations, exponential and logarithmic equations, geometry concepts and trigonometry.

Students with whom English is their second language may need to take the Levels of English Proficiency (LOEP) tests, which include language usage, sentence meaning, and reading skills. The ESL language usage test consists of 20 multiple choice questions and measures your proficiency in using correct grammar in English sentences. The ESL sentence meaning test consists of 20 multiple choice questions and measures how well you understand the meaning of sentences in English. The ESL reading skills test consists of 20 multiple choice questions and measures your ability to read English.

What if I've had little or no computer experience? How will I do on a computerized placement test?

NO PROBLEM! The placement tests are very user friendly, and there will always be a person in the Assessment Center to answer your questions.

What if I have special needs?

Please contact a Student Affairs representative at your home campus to review the request process.
Owens (Georgetown) Campus: (302) 259-6049
Terry (Dover) Campus: (302) 857-1349
Stanton Campus: (302) 454-3954
George (Wilmington) Campus: (302) 571-5343

How long does the test take?

That depends on you! Our students say that the best part about placement tests is that they are untimed. You work at your own pace! Most students average about 2 hours for 3 to 4 tests.

What should I bring to the test site?

Be sure to bring along at least one form of photo identification and know your student ID number. Scrap paper and pencils will be provided. Identification is required for admittance to the test. No other materials (calculators, dictionaries, etc.) may be used. However, you may use the pop-up calculator that appears for some of the math questions.

Should I guess if I'm unsure of an answer?

You should understand that this is an adaptive test. Questions are chosen for you on the basis of your answers to previous questions. Therefore, you must answer every question when it is first given. You cannot omit a question or return to it later.

When will I find out my test scores?

When you have finished testing, you will make an appointment to review your test scores.