If you plan to earn a degree or certificate or transfer to a four-year institution, you need to have your skill levels assessed before you meet with an advisor or register for classes at Lower Columbia College. If you have not earned a GED/High School Diploma and you are planning on receiving Financial Aid, you may need to take the Ability to Benefit test.
Contact Us: Testing Center
Placement tests are given in the Testing Center located in the Admission Center on a drop in basis; no appointment is necessary. Locate Admissions Center on campus map.
> Locate Admissions Center on campus map
Hours
- Monday limited availability, contact the
for more information
- Tuesday - Thursday, 8 am-5 pm
- Friday, 10 am-5 pm
What You Will Need
- $30 for New Student Fee (includes placement assessment)
- Photo identification
- Approximately 3 1/2 hours for testing (You do not need to take all the tests in one day)
Policies and Recommendations
- Course placements are mandatory. Be sure to adequately prepare yourself prior to testing.
- You are allowed one retake. You must wait 24 hours before retesting, and you should prepare beforehand.
- Placement results expire after two years.
- You may complete the Compass testing at another college; it is your responsibility to request to have these scores faxed to our office at 360-442-2359.
- Use this document to interpret placement results.
How to Practice
Practice may save you time or money by cutting down on the number of classes you need to take. Visit the testing office if you need paper based practice.
The Compass Reading & Writing assessments are untimed, standardized, multiple-choice assessments completed entirely on the computer. These assessments will determine your English course placement.
The Pearson MyMathTest Diagnostic is made up of timed, sequential assessments that are not multiple-choice and are done entirely on the computer.
Request a free practice account.
Alternatives to Placement Testing
If you have already taken college level English or Math classes at LCC or another institution, you may be eligible to continue on in your education without placement; make an appointment with an entry advisor and bring your transcripts.
Transfer Agreement with Local High Schools: If you completed a course entitled "Math Analysis" or "Pre-calculus" with a B or higher at any one of the following schools, you may qualify for LCC's transfer agreement: Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Mark Morris, R.A. Long, Toutle Lake, or Woodland High School.
- Any course requiring "Math Analysis" or "Pre-Calculus" as pre-requisites will qualify as well.
- Must be no longer than one academic year from completion of pre-requisite or subsequent course.
The transfer agreement qualifies students to enroll in a first tier college level mathematics course without taking a placement test: Math 107 (Math in Society), Math 112 (College Algebra), Math 131 (Math for Elementary Teachers I), or Math 210 (Elements of Statistics). If you are covered by the transfer agreement and would like to take a course higher than the first tier courses identified in the agreement, you may take the "Advanced" test.
If you qualify for either of these alternatives, you must bring a copy of your transcript for review with an advisor.
For a printable version of this information, click here.
*Ability to Benefit (ATB)
If you do not have your high school diploma or GED, you can still qualify to receive financial aid, but you must prove you have the Ability to Benefit from college level coursework. The Compass assessment is an approved source that can be used to make that determination.
ATB testers take Compass pre-algebra, reading, and writing in one test session (no splitting the assessment over multiple days). To qualify for Financial Aid, you must achieve the following minimum required results (based on a formula):
| Section |
Minimum Score |
| Pre-Algebra |
25 |
| Reading |
62 |
| Writing |
32 |
Retakes
If the minimum score is not achieved, one retake is permitted with documented proof of skill improvement. If any section is insufficient to receive an ATB Certificate, all portions of the assessment are required to be retaken - even those with passing scores.
Testing Sessions
Students must pre-register to take the Ability to Benefit Test. We currently offer ATB Testing on Tuesdays from 9 am to 12 pm by appointment only.