Testing Services
Testing Contacts
Jasmine Dang, Testing Coordinator, LI 205
Email: uhwotest@hawaii.edu
Phone: 689-2752
Testing services available at UH-West Oʻahu include:
- COMPASS Placement
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations
- Proctoring for paper–based tests
All test proctoring is by appointment and offered on a limited basis depending on proctor availability. All proctoring must be scheduled during business hours Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to Arrange Test Proctoring: Students
Students requiring ADA accommodations:
To secure ADA accommodations in Library 232, the designated ADA testing room, students must register with the Disabilities Services Specialist, Janice Takaki (689-2679: takaki@hawaii.edu). Reservations are handled through the testing coordinator, 689-2752 (uhwotest@hawaii.edu).
All other students:
COMPASS. If you need to take the COMPASS Placement Exam, contact the testing coordinator. Group testing takes place in the summer and prior to spring registration; all other testing is handled on an individual basis.
All Other Proctoring. If your instructor has arranged for you to take a make-up or outside-of-class exam, you should contact the testing coordinator to schedule your exam or quiz.
Faculty Instructions for Requesting Test Proctoring
Faculty with students needing ADA testing accommodations should inform their students to take responsibility for scheduling their own exams. Professors must bring or email the exam and accommodations form to the testing coordinator at least 24 hours before the test is scheduled to take place.
For face-to-face classes that require test proctoring outside of scheduled class time (or for makeup tests), services are limited due to lack of space and lack of staff.
Because of our limited resources, we would appreciate if your students could use proctoring services at larger Testing Centers if they frequent other campuses.
Taking the COMPASS Placement Test
UHWO Freshmen must take the COMPASS Placement test to determine their math or English class.
To schedule a COMPASS test, please call 689-2752.
About the Test
COMPASS stands for Computerized Adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System. On computer-adapted tests, questions are ranked in order of difficulty and the test automatically adjusts the level of questions you receive based on each of your answers. For instance, if you get a question correct, you are given a harder question; if you get a question wrong, you are given an easier one. This process continues until you are consistently answering the same number of questions correctly or incorrectly at a given level. This level translates into your placement score.
The COMPASS test is required of all students with no previous college experience.
Only those students who:
1) scored 510+ on the SAT Exam Writing Section;
2) scored 22+ on the ACT English Test;
3) scored 4+ on the AP English Language & Comp Exam;
4) scored 3+ on the AP English Literature & Comp Exam; or
5) completed ENG 100 or its equivalent at a regionally accredited institution, are exempt from taking the English placement test.
At UH West Oʻahu we require that students take the Math and English “Writing” test. We do not require the COMPASS “Reading” exam, however several community colleges, including Leeward Community College, require the Reading score in order to enroll in any of their College English courses.
Taking the Test
The COMPASS is a free test that is administered on-campus in the D105 Computer Lab. You must schedule an appointment with Student Services (A108) by calling 454-4700. When you schedule your test time, the staff will let you know when you need to be at the computer lab or private testing room. Ask the proctor on duty if you have any questions. Please follow all directions the proctor tells you.
Bring a photo campus I.D. if you have one; otherwise bring an I.D. card with your name, photo, social security number, or Banner I.D. We provide scratch paper, but you might want to bring your lucky pencil for figuring out problems. Your computer has a calculator built in, but you may also bring your own basic calculator (The ACT website lists more information.
Prohibited calculators include:
Casio-- Algebra fx 2.0, ClassPad 300, and all model numbers that begin with CFX-9970G;
Texas Instruments -- All model numbers that begin with TI-89 or TI-92; and
Hewlett-Packard: hp 48GII and all model numbers that begin with hp 40G or hp 49G).
There is no time limit for the COMPASS, but we suggest allowing yourself at least two hours. The average testing time is 45 minutes per test. Make sure you budget in at least 15 minutes to get signed in at our computer lab or private testing room and read the directions. You will receive your test results as soon as you complete the test.
Most students take both the Math and English tests on the same day, but you can schedule the tests separately if you prefer.
Preparing for the Test
Education research shows that students’ scores improve when they practice first! There are many free online resources your may use (see these links), and you may also purchase guides at your favorite bookstore or online site.
At UH West Oʻahu we offer free test prep workshops throughout the summer. We encourage new students to sign up for a workshop shortly before you are scheduled to take the test.
Our workshops explain how the COMPASS works, why it is important, and we provide general test taking strategies. Students have an hour to take sample Math and Writing tests and to work with tutors. We also schedule private tutoring appointments to help prepare students for the test.
http://www.act.org/compass/sample
http://www.act.org/compass/sample/pdf/writing.pdf
http://www.act.org/compass/sample/pdf/numerical.pdf
http://www.act.org/compass/sample/pdf/geometry.pdf
http://www.yourteacher.com/colleges/leeward-community-college.php
Understanding Test Results
Since you receive your score as soon as you complete the test, we recommend that you to make an appointment with an advisor at the Student Services Office in A108 as soon as possible.
After the Test
You may re-take the COMPASS test if you believe that the score does not reflect your current skill level. We do not, however, recommend multiple re-takes, which may place you in a class above your skill level. Beginning in Fall 2011 there will be a $25 proctoring fee charged after two COMPASS tests (two math, two writing). At UH West Oʻahu, we comply with the UH system-wide policy that math scores are valid for two years. Currently there is no expiration deadline on the Writing score.
Final Words
Remember - COMPASS test scores determine the level Math and English class are eligible to enroll. Although we don’t want you to be overly anxious about taking these tests, your scores are important to you. Prepare, relax, and do your best!