Basic Skills Testing

Basic skills tests/assessments are recommended for all first-time college students and those who plan to enroll in reading, writing, ESL (English as a Second Language) or math courses.

English The English test measures reading and writing skills. The first section is composed of passages followed by questions regarding the content. In the second section, students will identify sentence and grammar errors and identify logical sentence choices. In the last section, students are given sentences with words missing and are asked to fill in the blanks with the correct answer. All three sections must be taken for either reading or writing courses. It is administered on the computer and is timed. Students should allow 1 hour and 30 minutes for the English test. Only one attempt is permitted. English sample test.

English as a Second Language The ESL test is for students whose native language is not English and who wish to enroll in ESL classes. It is composed of four sections. Listening, reading, and grammar are administered on the computer and are not timed. Writing (essay) is timed for 30 minutes. Students should allow approximately 3 hours. Only one attempt is permitted. ESL sample test.

Standardized Math Exam is for students who wish to enroll in any math course at ARC, or who may want to take a math course at another Los Rios college. It is not available online. It is only available at the ARC Main Campus or at the Natomas Center. It is administered on the computer and is not timed. Students should allow approximately one hour. The test can be taken twice per year. Math sample test.  Math COMPASS test preparation workshops information.

Learning and Study Strategies Inventory The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory, LASSI, is used to assess students' awareness of their use of learning and study strategies. It is administered on the computer and is not timed. Allow 30 minutes.