How can I prepare for the Assessments?

The English and Math faculty of MiraCosta College strongly encourage you to review before you take your English and Math Assessment!

MATH ASSESSMENT REVIEW

Algebra Readiness:

This is the assessment to take if you have never studied algebra. Students who take this assessment will be advised to take one of these courses: Math 20, Pre-Algebra or Math 30, Elementary Algebra. (High scorers may wish to take the Elementary Algebra Assessment next.)

TOPIC 1 - Integers
TOPIC 2 - Fractions
TOPIC 3 - Decimals
TOPIC 4 - Exponents
TOPIC 5 - Equations and Expressions
TOPIC 6 - Geometry

Elementary Algebra:

Students who take this assessment will learn whether enrollment in one of these courses is indicated: Math 20, Pre-algebra; Math 30, Elementary Algebra; or Math 64, Intermediate Algebra. Take the Elementary Algebra Assessment if any of the following statements applies to you:

Elementary algebra was the highest math class that you completed.
You have taken at least two years of high school algebra (or the equivalent), but you took your last algebra course more than two years ago, or you earned a grade below “B.”
You earned a very high score on the Algebra Readiness Assessment and you have studied elementary algebra.
You took the Intermediate Algebra Assessment and you were advised to take this assessment next.
Your elementary algebra skills are sharp and you are very confident about your ability to solve the types of problems listed above in the time allotted.

TOPIC 1 - Arithmetic Operations
TOPIC 2 - Polynomials
TOPIC 3 - Linear Equations and Inequalities
TOPIC 4 - Quadratic Equations
TOPIC 5 - Graphing
TOPIC 6 - Rational Expressions
TOPIC 7 - Exponents and Square Roots
TOPIC 8 - Geometric Measurement
TOPIC 9 - Word Problems

Intermediate Algebra:

Students who take this assessment will learn whether they have met the graduation requirement for competency in math; whether re-assessing on the Elementary Algebra Assessment is recommended; if preparedness is indicated for enrollment in Math 64, Intermediate Algebra; or if preparedness is indicated for enrollment in any of the following transfer courses: Math 103, Statistics; Math 105, Concepts and Structures of Elementary Mathematics I; Math 115, Calculus with Applications; Math 125, College Algebra or Math 130, Trigonometry.

This is the assessment to take if any of these statements is true:

You have taken at least two years of high school algebra (or the equivalent) and you completed your last algebra course within the past two years with a grade of at least “B.”
You have taken three years of high school algebra or the equivalent, but you took your last algebra course more than three years ago, or you earned a grade below “B.”
You earned a very high score on the Elementary Algebra Assessment and you have studied intermediate algebra successfully.
You took the Pre-calculus Assessment and were advised to take this assessment next.
Your intermediate algebra skills are sharp and you are very confident about your ability to solve the types of problems listed above in the time allotted.

TOPIC 1 - Elementary Operations
TOPIC 2 - Rational Expressions
TOPIC 3 - Exponents and Radicals
TOPIC 4 - Linear Equations
TOPIC 5 - Quadratic Polynomials
TOPIC 6 - Graphing and the Coordinate Plane
TOPIC 7 - Functions
TOPIC 8 - Word Problems

Pre-Calculus:

Students who take this assessment will learn whether they have met the graduation requirements for competency in math; whether re-assessing on the Intermediate Algebra Assessment is recommended; if they qualify for Math 135, PreCalculus; or if they qualify for Math 150, Calculus and Analytic Geometry.

This is the assessment to take if any of the following statements is true:

You have completed Trigonometry and at least three years of high school algebra (or the equivalent); you finished your last course within the past two years; and you earned a grade of at least “B.”
You earned a very high score on the Intermediate Algebra Assessment and you have completed a course in Trigonometry.
You have studied Trigonometry, your algebra skills are sharp, and you are very confident about your ability to solve the types of problems listed above in the time allotted.

TOPIC 1 - Elementary Operations with Numerical and Algebraic Fractions
TOPIC 2 - Operations with Exponents and Radicals
TOPIC 3 - Linear Equations and Inequalities
TOPIC 4 - Polynomials and Polynomial Equations
TOPIC 5 - Functions
TOPIC 6 - Trigonometry
TOPIC 7 - Logarithms and Exponential Functions
TOPIC 8 - Mathematical Modeling - Word Problems

Click HERE to watch a video about the Math Assessment and see what it looks like to take this assessment on a computer.

ENGLISH AND ESL ASSESSMENT REVIEW

English Assessment

This is the assessment to take if English is your first (native) language. This includes:

Students who have grown up in an English-speaking home.
Students who have been educated in all-English schools from elementary through high school.

COMPASS Reading Assessment sample questions at:

COMPASS Writing Skills Assessment sample questions at:

ESL Assessment

This is the assessment to take if your first (native) language is NOT English. This includes:

Students who have grown up in a home in which English was NOT the primary (main) language.
Students enrolled in the International Student Program (IIP), or students who have completed Non-Credit ESL (continuing ed.) or English Language Development (ELD) classes in high school.