What
is the reading test like?
READING -
You will take a nationally standardized reading test.
Part
I: The
first part of the reading test consists of 80
multiple-choice questions which assess your knowledge
of college-level vocabulary. You will
have 15 minutes to complete this section. Here
are some sample vocabulary items:
1. A salient idea
is: A.
emotional B.
outstanding C. tasty D.
ridiculous E. average
2. To acquiesce is
to: A. acquire B.
melt C.
inquire D. agree E.
expire
Part
II: The
second part is a test of comprehension. You
will read seven passages on various academic
subjects. Each passage is followed by questions
that assess both literal and analytical comprehension. The
questions range from identifying the main idea to
locating details to inferring information from the
passage. There are a total of 38 multiple-choice
questions, and you will have 20 minutes to
read the passages and answer the questions.
What
does the writing test involve?
WRITING -
To assess your writing skills, the university will ask
you to write an argumentative essay in response
to a question similar to the sample below. Two
faculty members will read and score your essay according
to established criteria, including focus, development,
organization, style, and mechanics.
SAMPLE
ONLY: Directions: Use
the information provided below to write a well organized,
well developed, and carefully edited essay in response
to the assigned question. Do not simply copy
the information provided; rather than quoting extensively,
you should re-state the information in your own words. Use
as much of the information as you need to develop
a strong essay. You may add your own ideas
to your essay, but do not disregard the information
provided.
Question: Should
consumers have the option of disconnecting automobile
airbags when they purchase a car? Purpose: To
argue in support of your position on the question.
Audience: Educated
readers, not all of whom agree with your position.
-
Beginning with the model year 1998, all
passenger cars will be required to have
dual airbags. -
Statistics show that for every 71 lives
saved because of airbags, one child was
killed because of airbags. -
Statistics show that airbags saved about
1,500 lives last year. -
Only 60-70% of car users wear seatbelts.
-
Airbags often save lives in high speed
accidents; in low speed accidents where
airbags are deployed, the likelihood of
the airbags' injuring or even killing people
is greater.
|
-
Taking all types of crashes into consideration,
What is the math test like?
MATHEMATICS – The
math test has been developed by Niagara’s mathematics
department and has questions ranging from basic arithmetic
to intermediate algebra. There are 40 multiple-choice
questions. You will have 45 minutes to complete
the test without the assistance
of a calculator.
SAMPLES
ONLY:
1. 4
– 2
= __________ 2. Solve: x2 = 2x + 3
3. 40%
of ______ is 100. 4. Sam
answered 35 out of 50 questions correctly on his
math test.
What
percent of the questions did he get correct?
5. Find
the value of the expression when
x = -3: 5(3x – 4) – (x + 2)
6. Factor: 2a
- 19a - 60
If
your major requires calculus, you will be assessed
for your calculus readiness. The assessments
are from the Mathematical Association of America
and also use a multiple choice format. This
test, too, is designed to be completed without the
assistance of a calculator. If
your major requires calculus, you will be assessed
for your calculus readiness. The assessments
are from the Mathematical Association of America
and also use a multiple choice format. This
test, too, is designed to be completed without the
assistance of a calculator.
- Write
the equation of the line with slope .4 passing
through the point (5,7) For
what values of x in the interval
does (sin x –1) (sin x
+ 1) = 0? If
f(x) = x
, then f(16) = ? tan
4p
- Solve: 6x
- x > 2
The
graph of
crosses the x axis at ?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Niagara University’s
placement tests are very important in determining
what courses are appropriate for you. The
following suggestions can help you do your very best.
To prepare for the READING TEST:
Your best preparation is simply reading; the more you read, the
more likely that you will do well. In addition to reading fiction
and nonfiction books, read a newspaper every day, particularly the editorial
pages and news magazines. The New York Times is especially
recommended. For additional preparation, you may want to look at
the web sites below.
¨ These
sites may be useful in preparing for the VOCABULARY section
of the reading test: www.m-w.com
The
most useful features are “Word of the Day” and “Word
Game of the Day.”
www.wordsmyth.net
www.wordcentral.com
Look at “Word of the Day” and the “Word
of the Day Archives.”
www.nytimes.com/learning/students/wordofday/index.html
www.vocabulary.com
www.dictionary.com
Look
at “Word of the Day” and “Word of
the Day Archives.”
http://www.niagara.edu/oas
Click on “Study & Reading Strategies,” then
click on “Reading,” then click on “13
Ways to Increase Your Vocabulary.”
¨ These sites may be useful in preparing for the COMPREHENSION section
of the reading test:
http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/read.html
This
site contains useful tips for reading textbooks. Also,
click on “Reading to Comprehend and Learn” and “Tips
for Increasing Reading Speed.”
- These web sites may
be useful in preparing for the COMPREHENSION section
of the test:
www.nytimes.com/learning/
Read as many articles as you can, because
the reading level of The New York Times closely
approximates college reading.
www.usatoday.com
Be
sure to read the “full text” of articles,
not the synopsis. Push yourself to read more quickly
than usual, but without losing concentration.
www.tsd.jcu.edu.au/netshare/learn/studskls/online.html
Scroll
down to “Learning,” and then click on “Effective
Reading.”
www.warwick.ac.uk/EAP/reading/reading.htm http://snow.utoronto.ca/Learn2/resources/readstdy.html
www.basic-learning.com/bls/readtest.htm
This
site can give you a quick estimate of how many words
per minute you read.
2. To prepare for the WRITING TEST:
A
good way to prepare for the writing test is to access
the interactive exercises on the Rules for Writers web
site at www.bedfordstmartins.com/hacker/rules.
When
you visit this web site, click on the menu item "Writing
Assignments and Student Essays." Then click on "Arguing
a Point." This page offers an excellent review
of the features of a good argumentative essay. In
fact, the points it covers are exactly the features that
the essay evaluators will look for when they rate your
placement essay. At the bottom of the web
page, click on "View Sample Essay" to see an
example of a well written argumentative essay, an excellent
model of what you should strive to do when you compose
your placement essay.
If
you need a review of usage, grammar, and mechanics, this
web page also offers interactive exercises on a variety
of important topics.
To prepare for the MATHEMATICS
TEST:
¨ The
following review books are suggested for students who
wish to prepare for the Math test:
Mathematics Made Simple (Fifth edition) by Sperling & Stuart. Doubleday
Made Simple Books.
Topics covered range from whole number
arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percents and proportions
through simple Algebra I, factoring and algebraic equation
solving. Explanations, examples, and tests are
included.
Review of Elementary Mathematics (Second
edition). Schaum's Outlines.
Basic arithmetic topics through solving linear equations are included.
Mathematics -The Easy Way. Barron's
series.
Included
are examples of methods of working fraction, decimal,
percentage problems and examples of algebraic problems
through factoring and solving.
Algebra I and Algebra II Books. Cliff's
Quick Review series.
The Algebra I book is useful for students
entering most majors as a review of arithmetic and
basic algebra facts. The Algebra
II book is useful for students in majors that require
Calculus.
Math Essentials. Learning Express series.
A review of basic
arithmetic processes including fractions, decimals and
percent problems.
¨ The
following web sites may be helpful:
www.sosmath.com
www.mathnotes.com
www.mathpower.com
www.algebrahelp.com
Back
to Top
Back
to Disability Services
Back
to Information for Students |
