EARLY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM:

What is Early Assessment?
The Early Assessment program allows prospective students--particularly high school juniors and seniors--to discover how well prepared they are for college English and Math courses. It also alerts students, teachers, and parents to the placement measures enacted by the Higher Education Policy Commission of West Virginia to ensure that students entering college-credit courses in English and math demonstrate adequate preparedness.

Mathematics / English
Students may not enroll at any two-year or four-year institution in WV public colleges and universities in a mathematics course that is designed to be applied toward a baccalaureate degree, associate of arts (A.A.) , an associate of science (A.S.), an associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degree at a four-year college or university or an AA, AS, or AAS degree at a community college unless the minimum score prescribed is earned.

Students who do not meet the criteria are provided with re-testing via the COMPASS tests in math and English or the placement essay writing opportunity. Through Early Assessment, students can take these tests before they come to college to register for classes.

This service is free of charge. Furthermore, students are not asked to make any commitment to attend Fairmont State University or Pierpont Community & Technical College. Students will receive copies of any satisfactory COMPASS scores that they may wish to apply to other colleges or universities in West Virginia or out-of-state schools that accept those scores. Prospective college students from high schools, vocational centers, and other adult education sites are invited to participate.

Early Assessment: English
Early Assessment provides classroom preparatory workshops for the ACT English subtest, as well as essay writing workshops, and actual English Skills COMPASS testing in the students' classrooms. Students may also take the COMPASS English test on main campus or at the Caperton Center in Clarksburg.

Students whose initial placement essay scores or English Skills COMPASS test scores are satisfactory will have those scores reserved. If, however, a student's essay or COMPASS score does not meet the minimum criteria, that student will be given feedback on what he or she can do to improve. Those students will be encouraged to retest at registration, should they choose to attend college.

Early Assessment: Math
Early Assessment provides classroom preparatory sessions for the ACT Math subtest, as well as COMPASS algebra testing in the classroom. Prospective students may also visit the main campus or the Caperton Center in Clarksburg to take the COMPASS algebra test.

This exam is untimed and allows the use of calculators, making it an accurate math assessment tool for all students, including those with learning disabilities. Students find out their results and initial course placements immediately. The test can place a student in any course from Pre-Algebra through Calculus. These early test results will also let students know how prepared they are to meet the math demands of their intended major. Students who are satisfied with their initial test score may have that score reserved until they register for classes. Students whose scores are unsatisfactory will be given materials to review, and those students may re-test at registration, should they choose to attend college. A satisfactory COMPASS score can substitute for a low Math ACT score.

Who Benefits?
Prospective students benefit.
They may use the feedback from early placement testing to review and retest, ensuring that they have an additional opportunity to test into the most advanced class possible for them.

Teachers benefit.
They, too, receive copies of the individual feedback their students receive when Early Assessment works in conjunction with the secondary classroom. This gives teachers the opportunity to individualize their instructions to the specific needs of their classes. Early Assessment also reinforces the classroom efforts of secondary educators.

Guidance counselors benefit.
They can use the information from early testing to help students plan their course schedules accordingly.

Finally, Fairmont State benefits.
We will be able to offer those students with satisfactory initial scores a speedier advising and registration process during general registration. The more students who participate in Early Assessment, the faster the lines move for everyone!

How Can I Participate?
Any interested student, teacher, parent, or secondary administrator is invited to contact the Early Assessment Coordinator, Nancy Parks, at (304) 367-4990 or nparks@fairmontstate.edu