California Chemistry Diagnostic
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an appointment for the Test?
Walk-in testing and appointment testing is available for the General Assessment Test and Concurrent Admissions Test. Check the "Dates and Hours" link to the right for availability. In general, testing is organizes as follows:
We have Paper/Pencil testing that is by appointment only. These tests are:
What do I need to bring with me to the test?
Photo identification. We cannot administer the test without your I.D. A driver's license, state identification, resident card, passport, Riverside Community College District student ID, or high school ID are all examples of acceptable picture ID's.
What should I NOT bring with me to the test?
Cell phones and pagers. If you bring a cell phone or pager, please turn it off or set it to silent mode. Also do not bring: radios or MP3 players (such as a Walkman, Ipod, etc.), calculators, dictionaries, food or drink. Please do not bring children; they cannot sit with you while you take the test and we have no "drop-in" child care available. If a friend or family member gave you a ride, they must wait for you someplace other than the Assessment Center.
How should I prepare for the test?
Make sure you are rested, feel healthy and are not hungry. The test is not timed, so work at your own pace and answer each question carefully. For more preparedness tips and links to sample questions and sample tests, check out the "Preparing for the Test" link to the right.
Can I use a calculator or dictionary on the test?
No. No study/computation aids are permitted.
How long is the test?
The test is not timed, so you don't need to worry about running out of time. It generally takes from 1—2 hours to complete. However, you may take as long as necessary to complete your test. HOWEVER, if you are not finished by the time the Assessment Center closes, we will stop your test and give you a pass to return within ten days to resume where you left off.
When do I get my placements?
You get a printed copy of your placements immediately after completing the test.
What happens if I fail the Assessment test?
This Assessment test is to establish your starting points in English, Reading and/or Math. It is not a pass/fail test.
I'm taking the test and...
I'm running out of time! (because of an upcoming class, an appointment, etc.)
I'm feeling nervous, stressed, or otherwise unwell.
I just got paged and it's an emergency!
You may leave the test at any time, but make sure you check out with the test administrators. You may return the next day or any other day the Assessment Center is open for up to ten calendar days. When do, you'll be able to pick up right where you left off
Make sure you come back before your expiration date. Before you leave the room the Assessment Center Staff will tell you when your expiration date is. If you do not return before your expiration date, it is likely you will be given a placement based on whatever test work you have completed.
If I don't like my placement on the Assessment Test, can I take it again?
In accordance with Matriculation regulations [Title V, Section 55521(a)(2)], the assessment test is only to be used for initial placement into courses. This means you can only take the test once. If you have departed the Riverside Community College District or have not had the opportunity to take classes in English, Reading and/or Math for more than one year, you are permitted to appeal to test one more time. The paperwork can be done directly in the Assessment Center. Any other retest appeals must be made at the Counseling desk.
I just finished the Assessment Test. I have the placement print-out in my hand. Now what do I do?
For most students, the next step in the matriculation process is to make an Orientation/Group Counseling appointment. At the completion of your test you will receive a flyer listing what your next step is. If you need an Orientation appointment you can call the Counseling office for your campus.
Riverside (951) 222-8440
Moreno Valley (951) 571-6104
Norco (951) 372-7101
I don't want to take the test.
All Matriculated students need to take the test. If you strongly feel you don't have to take the test, talk to a counselor during walk-in counseling hours to see whether or not you qualify as a Matriculated student. You may also check the "Who Needs To Be Assessed" link to the right to see if you fit into any of the categories listed.
I was told my selection of major affects the math placement.
This question is actually out-of-date, as we no longer ask for your major on the test. However, if you took the test prior to October 2007, please note the major you chose on the test in no way affected your placement. However, your major does affect which Math classes you need to take in order to transfer and/or graduate. Discuss these matters with a counselor.
I started my test on the Riverside Campus. Is it possible to finish it at a different location?
Yes. Once you start the Accuplacer Online Assessment Test, you can finish it at any Riverside Community College District Assessment Center or Learning Center that has Assessment Testing. We currently have testing available at the Ben Clark Training Center, Moreno Valley, Norco and the Rubidoux Annex. Please make sure you return to finish your test by the "Complete Before" date indicated in the sheet given you when you leave the test.
I took the test at the Riverside Campus. Are my results good for Norco or Moreno Valley classes?
Yes. Any test taken on any Riverside Community College District campus is good for classes on any campus.
Is there testing at my high school?
We test 12th grade students at high schools in the six districts surrounding our three Riverside Community College District locations. Testing typically takes place from late January to mid-May. Budgetary considerations and personnel resources can affect the availability of off-site testing.
Check with your high school counselor to see when we are testing at your school.
High School Concurrent Admissions Students
High School students wishing to enroll as part of the High School Concurrent Admissions program must take a test similar to, but not identical to the Assessment Test. At Riverside they can test any time the Assessment Center is open. At Moreno Valley and Norco they can test during regular hours with the understanding that space is limited and workstation priority goes to general admission students. Moreno Valley and Norco also have specific dates and time where High school Concurrent Admissions students have priority. For more information regarding dates and hours, see the "Dates and Hours" link to the right.
There is a lot of information to know about this process. It is best to visit the page dedicated to this subject: http://www.rcc.edu/services/admissions/HS_concurrent.cfm
What is Matriculation?
Matriculation is a process which brings the student and the college into an agreement for the purposes of realizing the student's educational goals. It is actually a partnership between Riverside Community College District and the student to ensure the student's educational success.
We adhere to the California Community College Chancellor's Office and State Senate Regulations for implementation of matriculation components. To view these documents in their entirety, select a link of interest:
Once I have completed the tests, how do I move through my Math and English requirements?
When you complete the test you receive a print-out showing your placements. These placements are your personal starting points in English, Math and Reading. How far you as an individual need to progress from these starting points depends on various factors, such as your educational major, whether you are graduating and transferring, transferring without graduating, graduating with a major or certificate, and where you want to transfer.
Because many factors affect your personal pathway here, it is imperative you seek a counselor's advice when interpreting your placements. However, below you will find two charts to give you a general idea of the progression of English, Math and Reading courses. These charts are also printed in the schedule of classes.
Chart for English/Reading - PDF
Chart for Math - PDF
What are the Assessment Center locations?
There is an Assessment Center on each campus.
The Moreno Valley Assessment Center is located upstairs in the Student Services Building, Room SSV 301. (Map - PDF)
The Norco Assessment Center is located upstairs in the Student Services Building, Room SSV 218. (Map) - PDF
The Riverside City Campus Assessment Center is in its own building between the Martin Luther King building and the Physical Sciences building. (Map - PDF)
How can I contact you?
Before calling or sending an e-mail, it's a good idea to see if your question is answered in the Frequently Asked Questions.
The phone numbers for the Assessment centers are:
Riverside (951) 222-8451
Moreno Valley (951) 571-6492
Norco (951) 372-7156
I am a UCR student who wants to take the RCC Math 35 class taught at UCR. What do I need to do?
You need to place into MAT-35 on RCC's Assessment test. There are walk-in times and appointment times available on different campuses. Consult the "Dates and Hours" link to the right to see when you can come in to test. Please note, since you are only taking the Math test, and since you are currently enrolled at UCR, you cannot make an appointment for the special tests marked as "Full test for first-time college students only."
I have test results from another college. Can I use these at RCC?
If you took the "Accuplacer Online" assessment test at another college, you can submit it for evaluation with the following conditions:
1) The test must be the same on we use, called "Accuplacer Online"
2) The test must be no more than one year old
3) We must have the test print out from the Accuplacer program, not a print out from a student records program
4) The print out must have your test raw scores, not scores changed by multiple measures
Bring the print-out to any RCCD Assessment Center. You will complete a form called the "Matriculation Appeal for Outside Placement Evaluation". We will use your test's scores, along with multiple measures data you provide on the form, to generate placements based on scoring criteria decided by RCCD staff.
Within 1-5 business days you will receive a phone call telling you the scores have processed, that they are on your students record, and you can come in to receive a print-out of course placements. Please note, placements will not always be the same as you earned at the other college. This is because scoring criteria is different from one college to the next.