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ACCUPLACER®

Sample Questions for Students

© 2012 The College Board. College Board, ACCUPLACER, WritePlacer and the
acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. All other products and
services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on
the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
Sentence Skills 3. To walk, biking, and driving are Pat’s favorite ways of
getting around.
A. To walk, biking, and driving
In an ACCUPLACER® placement test, there are 20
B. Walking, biking, and driving
Sentence Skills questions of two types. C. To walk, biking, and to drive
• The first type is sentence correction questions D. To walk, to bike, and also driving
that require an understanding of sentence 4. When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this is
structure. These questions ask you to choose an example of jaywalking.
the most appropriate word or phrase for the A. When you cross the street in the middle of the block,
underlined portion of the sentence. this
B. You cross the street in the middle of the block, this
• The second type is construction shift questions. C. Crossing the street in the middle of the block
These questions ask that a sentence be rewritten D. The fact that you cross the street in the middle of the
according to the criteria shown while maintaining block
essentially the same meaning as the original 5. Walking by the corner the other day, a child, I noticed, was
sentence. watching for the light to change.
A. a child, I noticed, was watching
Within these two primary categories, the questions B. I noticed a child watching
are also classified according to the skills being tested. C. a child was watching, I noticed,
Some questions deal with the logic of the sentence, D. there was, I noticed, a child watching
others with whether or not the answer is a complete 6. Going back to his old school, everything there looked
sentence, and still others with the relationship smaller than Don remembered.
between coordination and subordination. A. Going back to his old school,
B. When he went back to his old school,
C. To go back to his old school,
D. As he went back to his old school,
Sentence Skills Sample 7. Painting, drawing and to sculpt are some of the techniques
Questions artists such as Picasso used to express themselves.
A. Painting, drawing and to sculpt
B. To paint, to draw, and sculpting
Directions for questions 1–12 C. Painting, drawing and sculpting
Select the best version of the underlined part of the D. To paint, draw, and sculpting
sentence. The first choice is the same as the original 8. Playing sports in school which is an activity meant to teach
sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, teamwork and leadership skills students can use later in life.
choose the first answer. A. which is an activity
B. is an activity because it is
1. Stamp collecting being a hobby that is sometimes used in C. being an activity which is
the schools to teach economics and social studies. D. is an activity
A. being a hobby that is 9. Glancing at his watch, Daniel picked up his speed.
B. is a hobby because it is A. Glancing at his watch
C. which is a hobby B. He glanced at his watch and
D. is a hobby C. To glance at his watch
2. Knocked sideways, the statue looked as if it would fall. D. Since he glanced at his watch
A. Knocked sideways, the statue looked 10. For a snake, shedding their skin up to eight times a year is
B. The statue was knocked sideways, looked part of a natural process.
C. The statue looked knocked sideways A. For a snake, shedding their skin
D. The statue, looking knocked sideways, B. A snake’s shedding its skin
C. When a snake sheds its skin
D. To shed its skin, for snakes

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


1
11. To appear white or colorless, light is actually composed of an 16. The band began to play, and then the real party started.
entire spectrum of colors.
Rewrite, beginning with
A. To appear white or colorless,
B. In appearing white or colorless, The real party started
C. As it appears white or colorless,
D. While it appears white or colorless, The next words will be
A. after the band began
12. I was surprised by the noise peering through the window to
B. and the band began
see who was at the door.
C. although the band began
A. I was surprised by the noise peering D. the band beginning
B. I was surprised by the noise, peered
C. The noise surprised me, peering 17. Chris heard no unusual noises when he listened in the park.
D. Surprised by the noise, I peered Rewrite, beginning with
Directions for questions 13–25 Listening in the park,
Rewrite the sentence in your head following the The next words will be
directions given below. Keep in mind that your new A. no unusual noises could be heard
sentence should be well written and should have B. then Chris heard no unusual noises
essentially the same meaning as the original sentence. C. and hearing no unusual noises
D. Chris heard no unusual noises
13. It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the
18. It is unusual to see owls during the daytime, since they are
same cannot be said of liquids.
nocturnal animals.
Rewrite, beginning with
Rewrite, beginning with
Unlike liquids,
Being nocturnal animals,
The next words will be
The next words will be
A. it is easy to
A. it is unusual to see owls
B. we can easily
B. owls are not usually seen
C. solid objects can easily be
C. owls during the daytime are
D. solid objects are easy to be
D. it is during the daytime that
14. Although the sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and
19. While bear attacks on humans are extremely rare, most
light, it will bravely resist any force that threatens its nest.
occur when a mother bear’s cubs are approached.
Rewrite, beginning with
Rewrite, beginning with
The sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and light,
Bear attacks on humans are extremely rare,
The next words will be
The next words will be
A. but it will bravely resist
A. but approaching a mother bear’s cubs
B. nevertheless bravely resisting
B. and approaching a mother bear’s cubs
C. and it will bravely resist
C. even though approaching a mother bear’s cubs
D. even if bravely resisting
D. nevertheless approaching a mother bear’s cubs
15. If he had enough strength, Todd would move the boulder.
Rewrite, beginning with
Todd cannot move the boulder
The next words will be
A. when lacking
B. because he
C. although there
D. without enough

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


2
20. If I want your opinion, I will ask for it. 25. The big celebration meal was over, and everyone began to
feel sleepy.
Rewrite, beginning with
Rewrite, beginning with
I won’t ask for your opinion
Everyone began to feel sleepy
The next words will be
A. if I want it The next words will be
B. when I want it A. and the big celebration meal
C. although I want it B. before the big celebration meal
D. unless I want it C. after the big celebration meal
D. although the big celebration meal
21. It began to rain, and everyone at the picnic ran to the trees
to take shelter.
Rewrite, beginning with
Everyone at the picnic ran to take shelter
The next words will be
A. beginning to rain
B. when it began to rain
C. although it began to rain
D. and it began to rain
22. Lucy saw an amazing sight when she witnessed her first
sunrise.
Rewrite, beginning with
Witnessing her first sunrise,
The next words will be
A. an amazing sight was seen
B. when Lucy saw an amazing sight
C. Lucy saw an amazing sight
D. seeing an amazing sight
23. After three hours of walking the museum, the entire family
felt in need of a rest.
Rewrite, beginning with
The entire family felt in need of a rest
The next words will be
A. walking through the museum for three hours
B. having walked through the museum for three hours.
C. and they walked through the museum for three hours
D. despite having walked through the museum for three
hours.
24. Bats see extremely well in the dark; in fact, much better than
humans.
Rewrite, beginning with
Unlike bats,
The next words will be
A. humans can see
B. humans do not see
C. it is not easy to see
D. seeing is difficult

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


3
Reading Comprehension 2. Unemployment was the overriding fact of life when
Franklin D. Roosevelt became president of the United
States on March 4, 1933. An anomaly of the time was that
In an ACCUPLACER placement test, there are the government did not systematically collect statistics of
20 questions of two primary types in Reading joblessness; actually it did not start doing so until 1940. The
Comprehension. Bureau of Labor Statistics later estimated that 12,830,000
persons were out of work in 1933, about one-fourth of a
• The first type of question consists of a reading civilian labor force of more than 51 million.
passage followed by a question based on the text.
Roosevelt signed the Federal Emergency Relief Act on May
Both short and long passages are provided. The 12, 1933. The president selected Harry L. Hopkins, who
reading passages can also be classified according headed the New York relief program, to run FERA. A gifted
to the kind of information processing required, administrator, Hopkins quickly put the program into high
including explicit statements related to the main gear. He gathered a small staff in Washington and brought
the state relief organizations into the FERA system. While
idea, explicit statements related to a secondary the agency tried to provide all the necessities, food came
idea, application, and inference. first. City dwellers usually got an allowance for fuel, and rent
for one month was provided in case of eviction.
• The second type of question, sentence
relationships, presents two sentences followed by a This passage is primarily about
question about the relationship between these two A. unemployment in the 1930s.
sentences. The question may ask, for example, if B. the effect of unemployment on United States families.
C. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
the statement in the second sentence supports that
D. President Roosevelt’s FERA program.
in the first, if it contradicts it, or if it repeats the
same information. 3. It is said that a smile is universally understood. And nothing
triggers a smile more universally than a taste of sugar.
Nearly everyone loves sugar. Infant studies indicate that
humans are born with an innate love of sweets. Based on
Reading Comprehension statistics, a lot of people in Great Britain must be smiling
because on average, every man, woman, and child in that
Sample Questions country consumes 95 pounds of sugar each year.
From this passage it seems safe to conclude that the English
Read the statement or passage and then choose the best
A. do not know that too much sugar is unhealthy.
answer to the question. Answer the question based on B. eat desserts at every meal.
what is stated or implied in the statement or passage. C. are fonder of sweets than most people.
D. have more cavities than any other people.
1. In the words of Thomas DeQuincey, “It is notorious that
the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it.” If, 4. With varying success, many women around the world
like most people, you have trouble recalling the names of today struggle for equal rights. Historically, women have
those you have just met, try this: The next time you are achieved greater equality with men during periods of social
introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself, adversity. The following factors initiated the greatest number
“I’ll listen carefully; I’ll repeat each person’s name to be of improvements for women: violent revolution, world war,
sure I’ve got it, and I will remember.” You’ll discover how and the rigors of pioneering in an undeveloped land. In all
effective this technique is and probably recall those names three cases, the essential element that improved the status
for the rest of your life. of women was a shortage of men, which required women to
perform many of society’s vital tasks.
The main idea of the paragraph maintains that the memory
A. always operates at peak efficiency. We can conclude from the information in this passage that
B. breaks down under great strain. A. women today are highly successful in winning equal
C. improves if it is used often. rights.
D. becomes unreliable if it tires. B. only pioneer women have been considered equal to
men.
C. historically, women have only achieved equality
through force.
D. historically, the principle of equality alone has not been
enough to secure women equal rights.

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


4
5. In 1848, Charles Burton of New York City made the first to countries where people spoke other languages and where
baby carriage, but people strongly objected to the vehicles no one had ever heard of pygg clay. The tradition caught on
because they said the carriage operators hit too many all over the world, and today piggy banks come in all colors
pedestrians. Still convinced that he had a good idea, Burton and are made of all kinds of materials, including plastic.
opened a factory in England. He obtained orders for the
baby carriages from Queen Isabella II of Spain, Queen This passage is mainly about
Victoria of England, and the Pasha of Egypt. The United A. how people in different countries save their money
States had to wait another 10 years before it got a carriage B. how people in England made pottery centuries ago
factory, and only 75 carriages were sold in the first year. C. how a common expression began in a surprising way
D. how an unusual custom got started
Even after the success of baby carriages in England,
A. Charles Burton was a poor man. 9. It is said that a smile is universally understood. And nothing
B. Americans were still reluctant to buy baby carriages. triggers a smile more universally that the taste of sugar.
Nearly everyone loves sugar. Infant studies indicate that
C. Americans purchased thousands of baby carriages.
humans are born with an innate love of sweets. Based on
D. the United States bought more carriages than any other
statistics, a lot of people in Great Britain must be smiling
country.
because on average, every man, woman and child in that
6. All water molecules form six-sided structures as they freeze country consumes 95 pounds of sugar each year.
and become snow crystals. The shape of the crystal is
determined by temperature, vapor, and wind conditions in This passage implies that the writer thinks that 95 pounds of
the upper atmosphere. Snow crystals are always symmetrical sugar per person per year is
because these conditions affect all six sides simultaneously. A. a surprisingly large amount
B. a surprisingly small amount
The purpose of the passage is to present C. about what one would expect
A. a personal observation. D. an unhealthy amount
B. a solution to a problem.
10. The wheel has been used by humans since nearly the
C. actual information.
beginning of civilization and is considered one of the most
D. opposing scientific theories.
important mechanical inventions of all time. Most primitive
technologies since the invention of the wheel have been
7. In the words of Thomas DeQuincey, “It is notorious that based on its principles, and since the industrial revolution,
the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it.” If, the wheel has been a basic element of nearly every machine
like most people, you have trouble recalling the names of constructed by humankind. No one knows the exact time
those you have just met, try this: The next time you are and place of the invention of the wheel, but its beginnings
introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself, can be seen across many ancient civilizations.
“I’ll listen carefully; I’ll repeat each person’s name to be sure
I have it, and I will remember.” You’ll discover how effective According to this passage, the wheel is an important
this technique is and probably recall those names for the rest invention because
of your life. a. it is one of the world’s oldest inventions
The writer believes people remember names best when they b. it forms the basis of so many later inventions
c. it is an invention that can be traced to many cultures
a. meet new people
d. it is one the world’s most famous inventions
b. are intelligent
c. decide to do so 11. Samuel Morse, best known today as the inventor of
d. are interested in people Morse Code and one of the inventors of the telegraph,
was originally a prominent painter. While he was always
8. Many people have owned, or have heard of, traditional
interested in technology and studied electrical engineering
“piggy banks,” coin banks shaped like pigs. A logical theory in college, Morse went to Paris to learn from famous artists
about how this tradition started might be that because pigs of his day and later painted many pictures that now hang
often symbolize greed, the object is to “fatten” one’s piggy in museums, including a portrait of former President John
bank with as much money as possible. Adams. In 1825, Morse was in Washington, D.C., painting
However, while this idea makes sense, it is not the correct a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette when a messenger
origin of the term. The genesis of the piggy bank is the old arrived on horseback to tell him that his wife was gravely
English word “pygg”, which was a common kind of clay ill back at his home in Connecticut. The message had taken
hundreds of years ago in England. People used pots and jars several days to reach him because of the distance. Morse
made out of this red “pygg” clay for many different purposes rushed to his home as fast as he could, but his wife had
in their homes. Sometimes they kept their money in one of already passed away by the time he arrived. Grief-stricken,
the pots, and this was known as a pygg bank. Over the years, he gave up painting and devoted the rest of his life to finding
because “pygg” and “pig” sounded the same, glaziers began ways to transmit messages over long distances faster.
making novelty banks out of pottery in the shape of a pig as Morse left the art world and helped to invent the telegraph
a kind of joke. These banks were given as gifts and exported
A. because he was tired of painting

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


5
B. because he wanted to communicate with people far 15. Knowledge of another language fosters greater awareness of
away cultural diversity among the peoples of the world.
C. because of a personal tragedy in his life
Individuals who have foreign language skills can appreciate
D. because he was fascinated by science
more readily other peoples’ values and ways of life.
12. Leonardo DaVinci is not only one of the most famous artists
in history, he was also a botanist, a writer and an inventor. How are the two sentences related?
Even though most of his inventions were not actually built A. They contradict each other.
in his lifetime, many of today’s modern machines can be B. They present problems and solutions.
traced back to some of his original designs. The parachute, C. They establish a contrast.
the military tank, the bicycle and even the airplane were D. They repeat the same idea.
foretold in the imaginative drawings that can still be seen in
the fragments of Leonardo’s notebooks. Over 500 years ago, 16. Serving on a jury is an important obligation of citizenship.
this man conceived ideas that were far ahead of his time. Many companies allow their employees paid leaves of
The author of this passage is praising Leonardo DaVinci for absence to serve on juries.
his: What does the second sentence do?
A. artistic talent A. It reinforces what is stated in the first.
B. intelligence B. It explains what is stated in the first.
C. vision C. It expands on the first.
D. fame D. It draws a conclusion about what is stated in the first.
Directions for questions 13–22
17. While most people think of dogs as pets, some dogs are bred
For the questions that follow, two underlined sentences and trained specifically for certain types of work.
are followed by a question or statement. Read the The bloodhound’s acute sense of smell and willing
sentences, then choose the best answer to the question or personality make it ideal for tracking people missing in the
the best completion of the statement. woods.

13. The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in 15 years. What does the second sentence do?
A. It makes a contrast.
Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this B. It restates an idea found in the first.
year. C. It states an effect.
What does the second sentence do? D. It gives an example.
A. It restates the idea found in the first. 18. Paris, France, is a city that has always been known as a
B. It states an effect. center of artistic and cultural expression.
C. It gives an example.
In the 1920s, Paris was home to many artists and writers
D. It analyzes the statement made in the first.
from around the world who became famous, such as Picasso
14. Social studies classes focus on the complexity of our social and Hemingway.
environment.
What does the second sentence do?
The subject combines the study of history and the social A. It reinforces the first.
sciences and promotes skills in citizenship. B. It states an effect.
What does the second sentence do? C. It draws a conclusion.
D. It provides a contrast.
A. It expands on the first sentence.
B. It makes a contrast. 19. Studies show that the prevalence of fast-food restaurants
C. It proposes a solution. corresponds with the rates of obesity in both children and
D. It states an effect. adults.
Obesity is now on the rise in countries outside the U.S.,
where fast food restaurants are becoming more common.
How do the two sentences relate?
A. They express roughly the same idea.
B. They contradict each other.
C. They present problems and solutions.
D. They establish a contrast.

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


6
20. Compared with the rest of the country, North Dakota has
a thriving economy, making it a place where more people
WritePlacer®
want to live.
This test measures your ability to write effectively,
Winters in North Dakota are inhospitable, with average which is critical to academic success.
temperatures in January ranging from 2 degrees Fahrenheit
to 17 degrees. Your writing sample will be scored on the basis of
how effectively it communicates a whole message to
What does the second sentence do?
the readers for the stated purpose. Your score will be
A. It reinforces the first.
B. It explains what is stated in the first. based on your ability to express, organize and support
C. It contradicts the first. your opinions and ideas, not the position you take on
D. It analyzes a statement made in the first. the essay topic. The following five characteristics of
21. Some stores are testing a new checkout system that allows writing will be considered:
shoppers to use their mobile phones to scan items as they • Focus — The clarity with which you maintain
walk through stores and pay at self-service kiosks, skipping
the cashiers’ lines. your main idea or point of view
The new mobile checkout system is intended to reduce long
• Organization — The clarity with which you
lines and customer wait times in stores. structure your response and present a logical
sequence of ideas
What does the second sentence do?
A. It expands on the first. • Development and Support — The extent to which
B. It states an effect. you elaborate on your ideas and the extent to
C. It contrasts with the first. which you present supporting details
D. It gives an example.
• Sentence Structure — The effectiveness of your
22. According to the American Sleep Disorders Association, the
sentence structure
average teenager needs around 9.5 hours of sleep per night,
possibly because critical growth hormones are released • Mechanical Conventions — The extent to
during sleep. which your writing is free of errors in usage and
The average adult requires between six and eight hours of mechanics
sleep per night for optimal health and productivity.
How do the two sentences relate?
A. They establish a contrast. WritePlacer Sample Topic
B. They contradict each other.
C. They reinforce each other. Prepare a multiple-paragraph writing sample of about
D. They provide a problem and solution. 300–600 words on the topic below. You should use the
time available to plan, write, review and edit what you
have written. Read the assignment carefully before you
begin to write.
Some schools require each student to participate in an
organized school sport chosen by the student. People at
these schools argue that athletics is an important part
of the educational experience and that there should be a
rule requiring participation. Others argue that students
should be free to decide whether or not they wish to
participate in organized school sports. Write an essay
for a classroom instructor in which you take a position
on whether participation in organized school athletics
should be required. Be sure to defend your position
with logical arguments and appropriate examples. Your
essay must be 300–600 words in length.

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


7
Arithmetic Arithmetic Sample Questions
This test measures your ability to perform basic For each of the questions below, choose the best answer
arithmetic operations and to solve problems that from the four choices given. You may use the paper you
involve fundamental arithmetic concepts. There are 17 received as scratch paper.
questions on the Arithmetic tests, divided into three
1. 2.75 + .003 + .158 =
types.
A. 4.36
• Operations with whole numbers and fractions: B. 2.911
Topics included in this category are addition, C. 0.436
subtraction, multiplication, division, recognizing D. 2.938
equivalent fractions and mixed numbers, and 2. 7.86 × 4.6 =
estimating. A. 36.156
B. 36.216
• Operations with decimals and percents: Topics C. 351.56
include addition, subtraction, multiplication, D. 361.56
and division with decimals. Percent problems, 3. 7 =
20
recognition of decimals, fraction and percent
A. 0.035
equivalencies, and problems involving estimation B. 0.858
are also given. C. 0.35
• Applications and problem solving: Topics include D. 3.5
rate, percent and measurement problems; simple 4. Which of the following is the least?
geometry problems; and distribution of a quantity A. 0.105
into its fractional parts. B. 0.501
C. 0.015
D. 0.15
5. All of the following are ways to write 25 percent of N
EXCEPT
A. 0.25 N
25N
B. 100
1
C. 4
N

D. 25 N
6. Which of the following is closest to 27.8 × 9.6?
A. 280
B. 300
C. 2,800
D. 3,000
7. A soccer team played 160 games and won 65 percent of
them. How many games did it win?
A. 94
B. 104
C. 114
D. 124

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


8
8. Three people who work full-time are to work together on a
14. 46.2 × 10−2 =
project, but their total time on the project is to be equivalent
to that of only one person working full-time. If one of the A. 0.0462
people is budgeted for one-half of his time to the project and B. 0.462
a second person for one-third of her time, what part of the C. 4.62
third worker’s time should be budgeted to this project? D. 462
A. 13
3 3 1
B. 15. If ÷ = n, then n is between
5 2 4
1
C. 6 A. 1 and 3
1 B. 3 and 5
D. 8 C. 5 and 7
9. 32 is 40 percent of what number? D. 7 and 9
A. 12.8 16. What is 12% of 120?
B. 128 A. 10
C. 80 B. 14.4
D. 800 C. 18.4
D. 28.8
1 2
10. 3 3 – 2 5 =
17. A box in a college bookstore contains books, and each book
A. 1 2
1 in the box is a history book, an English book or a science
book. If one-third of these books are history books and
1
B. 15 one-sixth are English books, what fraction of the books are
14 science books?
C. 15
1
D. 1 15 A. 1
3
11. 2 1 + 4 2 = B. 1
2 3 2
1 2
A. 6 C.
6 3

B. 6
5 D. 3
6 4
1
C. 7
6 18. The measures of two angles of a triangle are 35° and 45°.
5 What is the measure of the third angle of the triangle?
D. 7 A. 95°
6
B. 100°
1,345 C. 105°
12. What is rounded to the nearest integer?
99 D. 110°
A. 12
B. 13
C. 14
D. 15
13. Three of four numbers have a sum of 22. If the average of
the four numbers is 8, what is the fourth number?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 8
D. 10

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


9
Elementary Algebra
1 2
19. Erica bought 3 yards of fabric. If she uses of the fabric
2 3 Sample Questions
to make a curtain, how much will she have left?
For each of the questions below, choose the best answer
A. 1 yd. from the four choices given. You may use the paper you
6 received as scratch paper.
B. 1 yd.
3 1. If A represents the number of apples purchased at 15 cents
each, and B represents the number of bananas purchased
1 at 10 cents each, which of the following represents the total
C. 1 yd.
6 value of the purchases in cents?
1 A. A + B
D. 2 yd.
3 B. 25(A + B)
20. Jen wants to tile the floor of her kitchen. The floor is C. 10A + 15B
rectangular and measures 12 feet by 8 feet. If it costs $2.50 D. 15A + 10B
per square foot for the materials, what is the total cost of the 2. √ 2 × √ 15 = ?
materials for tiling the kitchen floor? A. 17
A. $160 B. 30
B. $200 C. √ 30
C. $220 D. √ 17
D. $240
3. What is the value of the expression 2x2 + 3xy – 4y2 when x =
2 and y = - 4?
Elementary Algebra A. -80
B. 80
C. -32
A total of 12 questions of three types are administered D. 32
in this test.
4. In the figure below, both circles have the same center, and
• The first type involves operations with integers the radius of the larger circle is R. If the radius of the smaller
and rational numbers, and includes computation circle is 3 units less than R, which of the following represents
the area of the shaded region?
with integers and negative rationals, the use of
A. πR 2
absolute values, and ordering. B. π(R – 3)2
• The second type involves operations with algebraic C. πR 2 – π × 32
expressions using evaluation of simple formulas D. πR 2 – π(R - 3)2
and expressions, and adding and subtracting
monomials and polynomials. Questions involve 5. (3x – 2y)2 =
multiplying and dividing monomials and A. 9x2 – 4y2
polynomials, the evaluation of positive rational B. 9x2 + 4y2
roots and exponents, simplifying algebraic C. 9x2 + 4y2 – 6xy
fractions, and factoring. D. 9x2 + 4y2 – 12xy

• The third type of question involves translating 6. If x > 2, then x2 – x – 6


=
x2 – 4
written phrases into algebraic expressions and x–3
A.
solving equations, inequalities, word problems, 2
x–3
linear equations and inequalities, quadratic B. x–2
equations (by factoring), and verbal problems C. x–3
x+2
presented in an algebraic context. D. 3
2

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


10
7. 4 – (-6)
= 13. For which of the following equations are x = 5 and x = –5
-5
both solutions?
2
A. 5 A. x2 – x 2 − 5x − 25 =
0
B. – 2
5 B. x 2 + 25 =
0
C. 2 C. x 2 + 10x − 25 =
0
D. – 2
D. x 2 − 25 =
0
8. If 2x – 3(x + 4) = – 5, then x =
u 5u u
A. 7 14. If x ≠ 0, then + − =
x x 5x
B. – 7
C. 17 7x
A.
D. - 17 5u
5u
9. – 3(5 – 6) – 4(2 – 3) = B.
7x
A. – 7
B. 7 29u
C.
C. – 1 5x
D. 1
D. 31u
5x
10. Which of the following expressions is equivalent
to 20 – 45 x > 16?
A. x ≤ 5 15.
B. x ≥ 5
C. x ≥ 32½ The solution set of which of the following inequalities is
D. x ≤ 32½ graphed on the number line above?
11. Which of the following lists of numbers is ordered from least A. 2x − 4 ≥ −3
to greatest? B. 2x + 5 ≤ 6
1 3 2 3 C. 3x − 1 ≤ 5
A. − , − , , D. 4x − 1 ≥ 7
3 5 3 5
3 1 3 2
B. − , − , , 16. 2x + 6y =5
5 3 5 3 x + 3y =2
1 3 3 2
C. − , − , , How many solutions ( x, y ) are there to the system of
3 5 5 3 equations above?
3 1 2 3 A. None
D. − , − , ,
5 3 3 5 B. One
C. Two
D. More than two
12. If 5t + 2 =6, then t = 17. Which of the following is a factor of both x 2 − x − 6 and
A. 8 x 2 − 5x + 6 ?

A. x −3
B. 5 B. x +3
4 C. x −2
C. 4 D. x +2
5
D. –8

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


11
6 4
18. 10x +2 8x =
College-Level Mathematics
2x
Test
12
A. 9x
B. 14x
4 The College-Level Mathematics test measures your
4 2 ability to solve problems that involve college-level
C. 5x + 4x
mathematics concepts. There are six content areas
D. 5x3 + 2x 2
measured on this test: (a) Algebraic Operations,
19. A rectangular yard has area 96 square feet. If the width of (b) Solutions of Equations and Inequalities,
the yard is 4 feet less than the length, what is the perimeter,
in feet, of the yard? (c) Coordinate Geometry, (d) Applications and other
A. 40 Algebra Topics, (e) Functions and (f) Trigonometry.
B. 44 The Algebraic Operations content area includes
C. 48 the simplification of rational algebraic expressions,
D. 52 factoring and expanding polynomials, and
20. On Monday, it took Helen 3 hours to do a page of science manipulating roots and exponents. The Solutions
homework exercises. The next day she did the same number of Equations and Inequalities content area includes
of exercises in 2 hours. If her average rate on Monday was p
exercises per hour, what was her average rate the next day, in the solution of linear and quadratic equations and
terms of p? inequalities, systems of equations, and other algebraic
equations. The Coordinate Geometry content area
A. 2 ( p + 1) exercises per hour
presents questions involving plane geometry, the
B. 3 ( p − 1) exercises per hour
coordinate plane, straight lines, conics, sets of points
in the plane, and graphs of algebraic functions. The
C.
2
p exercises per hour
Functions content area includes questions involving
3 polynomial, algebraic, exponential and logarithmic
D. 3 p exercises per hour
functions. The Trigonometry content area includes
2 trigonometric functions. The Applications and
other Algebra Topics content area contains complex
numbers, series and sequences, determinants,
permutations and combinations, factorials, and word
problems. A total of 20 questions are administered on
this test.

Sample Questions
For each of the questions below, choose the best answer
from the four choices given. You may use the paper you
received as scratch paper.
5 3
1. 2 2  – 2 2
1
A. 2 2

B. 2
3
C. 2 2
5
D. 2 3

E. 22

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


12
1 1 1 7. If the two square regions in the figures below have the
2. If a ≠ b and x + a = b , then x = respective areas indicated in square yards, how many yards
1 1 of fencing are needed to enclose the two regions?
A. b – a
B. b – a
1 125
C. ab
a–b 5
D. ab
ab
E. a–b A. 4√130
( )=
1 2
3. If 3x – 2x + 7 = 0, then
2
x –  3 B. 20√10
20
C. 24√5
A.   9 D. 100
7 E. 104√5
B.   9
7 8. If log10x = 3, then x =
C. - 9
A. 310
8
D. - 9 B. 1,000
20
E. - 9 C. 30
10
4. The graph of which of the following equations is a straight D. 3
line parallel to the graph of y = 2x ? 3
E.
A. 4x – y = 4 10
B. 2x – 2y = 2 x – 1
9. If f(x) = 2x + 1 and g(x) = 2 , then f(g(x)) =
C. 2x – y = 4
D. 2x + y = 2 A. x
E. x – 2y = 4 x – 1
B. 4x + 2
5. An equation of the line that contains the origin and the 4x + 2
point (1, 2) is C. x – 1
A. y = 2x 5x + 1
D. 2
B. 2y = x
(2x + 1)(x – 1)
C. y = x –1 E. 2
1
D. y = 2x +1 10. If θ is an acute angle and sin θ = 2 , then cos θ =
y A. -1
E. 2  = x – 1 B.  0
6. An apartment building contains 12 units consisting of 1
one- and two-bedroom apartments that rent for $360 and C.   2
$450 per month, respectively. When all units are rented, the
√3
total monthly rental is $4,950. What is the number of two- D. 2
bedroom apartments?
E.  2
A. 3
B. 4 11. 5y(2y – 3) + (2y – 3) =
C. 5 A. (5y + 1) (2y + 3)
D. 6 B. (5y + 1) (2y – 3)
E. 7 C. (5y – 1) (2y + 3)
D. (5y –1) (2y – 3)
E. 10y (2y – 3)
12. For what real numbers x is x2– 6x + 9 negative?
A. –3 < x < 3
B. x < –3 or x > 3
C. x = –3 or x = 3
D. 0 < x < 6
E. For no real numbers x

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


13
13. A root of x2 – 5x – 1 = 0 is 16. One ordering of the letters T, U, V and W from left to right
is UTVW. What is the total number of orderings of these
1 − 29 letters from left to right, including UTVW?
A.
2 A. 8
B. 12
5 − 17 C. 16
B.
2 D. 20
1 + 29 E. 24
C.
2
5 + 17 17. If f ( x ) = 3x − 1 and f −1 is the inverse of f, what is the
D. 2
2 value of f −1 ( 3) ?
5 + 29
E.
2 1
A.
3
2
14. In the xy -plane, the graph of y = x2 and the circle with B.
3
center (0,1) and radius 3 have how many points of
intersection? C. 1
A. None
D. 2
B. One
C. Two
D. Three E. 7
E. More than three 3

15. 18. The sequence {an} is defined by a0 = 1 and


an=
+1 2an + 2 for n = 0, 1, 2, ... . What is the value of
a3 ?
A. 8
B. 10
C. 16
D. 20
E. 22
If an equation of the linear function in the figure above is 19. From 5 employees at a company, a group of 3 employees will
y = mx + b, then m = be chosen to work on a project. How many different groups
of 3 employees can be chosen?
r A. 3
A. −
s B. 5
r C. 6
B. D. 10
s
E. 15
C. rs
x
1
D. r 20. If f ( x ) =   and a < b, which of the following must be
 3
true?
E. −s
A. f ( a ) + f ( b ) =
3
1
B. f ( a ) + = f (b)
3
C. f ( a ) = f ( b )

D. f ( a ) < f ( b )

E. f ( a ) > f ( b )

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


14
ACCUPLACER ESL Reading 3. Some of Edward Weston’s black-and-white photographs of
American nature scenes are considered superb examples
Skills Test of visual art. Indeed, some of his photographs have
commanded top prices at art galleries.
The ESL Reading Skills test measures your ability Which of the following best characterizes Weston’s
to read English. Specifically, it assesses your photographs?
comprehension of short passages. It contains brief A. They belong to famous collectors.
passages of 50 words or less and moderate length B. They have been sold in art galleries for large sums of
money.
passages of 50 to 90 words. Half of this test contains C. They introduced many Americans to visual art.
straightforward comprehension items (paraphrase, D. They contrast American cities with natural settings.
locating information, vocabulary on a phrase level,
4. Speaking to a group of people can be a frightening
and pronoun reference). The other half assesses experience. Some speakers cope by looking above the heads
inference skills (main idea, fact versus opinion, of the audience. Others try to imagine that they are talking
cause/effect logic, identifying irrelevant information, to a friend. A few try picturing the audience in some non-
threatening way, such as in their pajamas.
author’s point of view and applying the author’s logic
to another situation). The author of the passage assumes that speakers should
A. feel comfortable when addressing an audience.
B. scare the audience.
Sample Questions C. encourage people to talk during the speech.
D. speak only to familiar people.
5. People have different ways of learning. Some are better
1. Television has been introduced to almost every country
at making mental pictures of new ideas. Others are more
in the world, reaching a large number of viewers on every
comfortable with writing lists of things to memorize.
continent. About 600 million people saw the first person
Certain people can learn best when listening to music, while
walk on the moon, and a billion people watched the
others need silence to concentrate.
twentieth Olympic Games. Television has in many ways
promoted understanding and cooperation among people. It Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?
does this by showing educational and cultural programs. A. Mental pictures help many to learn.
From this passage, a reader can conclude that the author B. Some people prefer lists to making mental pictures.
believes that C. To learn well you need to be comfortable.
A. people spend too much time watching television D. Different individuals have different ways of acquiring
B. not every country needs to have television information.
C. television can unify people from around the world 6. Before giving first aid to an accident victim, you should
D. television is as important as schools obtain his or her consent. Asking for consent takes a simple
question. Say to the victim, “I know first aid, and I can help
2. Janet’s parents bought her a new sports car as a birthday
you until an ambulance arrives. Is that okay?”
present. It was blue. Janet sold her 7-year-old blue pickup
truck to a high school student. The truck could not go very “Asking for consent” means asking for
fast, but the student was happy with it. A. permission to help the victim.
From the passage, which of these statements can the reader B. thanks from the victim.
assume? C. help from onlookers.
A. Janet prefers trucks to cars. D. information about the victim’s injuries.
B. Janet likes the color blue. 7. Jane and Paul are busy for 15 hours a day, 5 days a week
C. Janet owns more than one vehicle. going to college and working in a restaurant. They go to
D. Janet drives her car every day. sleep at 11 p.m. every day, but on Sunday they take part in
dance lessons.
According to the passage, Jane and Paul spend most of their
time
A. at home.
B. going to college and working.
C. taking part in dance lessons.
D. sleeping.

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


15
8. If you hold a piece of copper wire over the flame of a match, 12. Money has existed for thousands of years in nearly every
heat will be conducted by the copper wire to your fingers, culture as a means of exchange. However, today, the use of
and you will be forced to drop the wire. You will, however, cash is becoming less and less common in modern societies
still be able to hold the match because the match is a poor all over the world. Every year, a higher percentage of
conductor of heat. Anyone, child or adult, can try this purchases is made online, and even in stores customers are
simple experiment. now using credit cards more often than cash. Many people
today do all of their banking on the Internet rather than
Which of the following is implied in the passage above? going to the bank in person.
A. Copper is a good conductor of heat.
B. A match and copper conduct heat equally. The author of the passage probably assumes that
C. A match is an excellent conductor of heat. A. cash will become virtually obsolete in the near future
D. Matches should be kept out of the reach of small B. using cash will become popular again
children. C. paying with credit cards all the time is dangerous
D. societies that do business online will prosper
9. Many people own different pets. Dogs, cats, birds, and fish
are common household pets. Others pets are considered 13. Insomnia — the inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep — is
to be exotic animals. These include snakes, lizards, and a condition that plagues many people at one time or another
hedgehogs. in their lives. It can be uncomfortable, but is usually not
harmful, and most people who believe they have been awake
Snakes are all night have actually slept more than they think. While
A. uncommon pets. some people rely on prescription medication to help them
B. likely to be found in a household with dogs. sleep, insomnia can be controlled by changing behavior.
C. found only in zoos. Insomnia is often caused by stress or anxiety, but it can also
D. not allowed in people’s homes. be made worse by eating too heavily too late; consuming a
lot of caffeine; or watching television, using computers or
10. Cesar Chavez was an influential leader for farmworkers. exercising right before bedtime. If you can’t sleep, the best
He fought for their rights and better working conditions. thing to do is to get out of bed and do something calming for
Chavez led many strikes that angered farm owners. a while, such as read, until you feel sleepy. Some people find
Eventually he succeeded in getting increased wages and that herbal tea such as chamomile helps them feel drowsy.
improved living situations for farmworkers.
The author believes that people can best combat insomnia by
Chavez changed lives because he
A. trying to sleep
A. helped the farmers get more workers.
B. taking medication
B. worked for the farmers.
C. accepting their condition
C. helped work on the farms every day.
D. changing their habits
D. changed the conditions for the farmworkers.
14. Before giving first aid to an accident victim, you should
11. When cartoonist Charles M. Schulz was a boy in elementary obtain his or her consent. Asking for consent takes a simple
school, other boys teased him for being small and not very question. Say to the victim, “I know first aid, and I can help
good at sports, and his art teacher told him he had no talent until an ambulance arrives. Is that okay?”
for drawing. He had few friends, and was too shy to talk to
a red-haired girl he admired. Later in life, Schulz used his According to the passage, it is wrong to
childhood experiences in his comic strip “Peanuts,” using A. use first aid on an accident victim without medical
the strip’s main character, the sad and lonely Charlie Brown, training
to represent himself as a little boy. “Peanuts” was unique at B. attempt to help an accident victim without permission
the time because it contained no adult characters. Readers
C. help a victim before an ambulance arrives
fell in love with Charlie Brown, and “Peanuts” eventually
D. call for an ambulance instead of helping the victim
became one of the most popular comic strips of all time.
15. Dr. Ellen Ochoa is an inventor and is also the first female
What is the main idea of the passage? Hispanic astronaut. Her inventions include technology
A. “Peanuts” was the world’s most widely read comic strip. to help robots to inspect equipment in space to maintain
B. Charles M. Schulz was a very famous cartoonist. safety and quality control on spacecraft. Before retiring, she
C. Schulz turned the pain of his youth into fame as an logged more than 1,000 hours in space across several space
adult. missions.
D. The “Peanuts” comic strip featured children as its only
characters. Dr. Ochoa is
A. the first Hispanic person to travel into space
B. the first inventor to travel into space
C. the first woman to travel into space
D. the first Hispanic woman to travel into space

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


16
16. Dogs and cats make very different types of pets. Before
deciding whether to buy or adopt a dog or a cat, prospective
ACCUPLACER ESL Sentence
owners need to carefully consider their own lifestyles
and personalities. Dogs may make more affectionate
Meaning Test
companions, but they require more care and attention. They
must be taken out several times a day and should not be The ESL Sentence Meaning test measures how well
left alone for more than a few hours. Larger dogs require you understand the meaning of sentences in English.
significant exercise to remain fit and healthy. Cats are It assesses the understanding of word meanings in
usually more independent in nature and interact less with one- or two-sentence contexts. The sentences are
their owners. Also, a cat can be left on its own all day, or
even for several days, as long as it has food and clean water drawn from the subject areas of natural science,
to drink. history/social studies, arts/humanities, psychology/
human relations, and practical situations. There are
From this passage a reader can conclude that
four content areas measured: (a) Particle, Phrasal
A. owning a cat requires less work than owning a dog
B. people who travel a lot should not own a cat Verbs, Prepositions of Direction; (b) Adverbs,
C. people who like to play with their pets should own a cat Adjectives, Connectives Sequence; (c) Basic Nouns
D. owning a cat is more responsibility than owning a dog and Verbs; and (d) Basic and Important Idioms.
17. People’s moods are largely a matter of focus. It is a natural
tendency of many people to focus on what is wrong in their
lives, or on the day-to-day events that make them angry or
irritated. However, anyone can change this by directing the
Sample Questions
mind. When feeling down or upset, a person can change his
or her state of mind by recalling happy memories, by paying The sentence below has a blank space. Choose the word
attention to the things for which he or she is grateful, or by or phrase that makes the sentence meaningful and
directing the attention to something uplifting or beautiful, correct.
such as artwork, nature or music. By directing the mind
in this way, a person can transform his or her mood in an 1. Shikibu Murasaki, who wrote almost a thousand years ago,
instant, even if none of the outward circumstances have was one of the world’s novelists.
changed. A. most early
B. too early
Which of the following is implied by the passage above?
C. more early
A. People’s moods are determined by the conditions D. earliest
around them.
B. People can take responsibility for controlling their own 2. The Chang children their parents by making
moods. sandwiches for the whole family.
C. A person’s mood depends on what happens to him or A. helped out
her that day. B. helped with
D. People are usually in a good mood unless something C. helps for
happens to change it. D. helps to
3. As demonstrated by his last album, which was released after
his death, Ibrahim Ferrer one of the most beautiful
voices in Latin music.
A. had
B. have
C. have had
D. having
4. After we saw the play, we had different opinions
Jane’s performance.
A. about
B. at
C. for
D. towards

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


17
5. Having recorded many of the most beloved songs of the 12. Bram Stoker is best known for his classic horror novel
1940s, jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald one of the most Dracula, which was published in 1897.
prominent musical performers of her time.
What did Bram Stoker do?
A. had been
B. has been A. He was a doctor.
C. was B. He was a merchant.
D. will be C. He was a writer.
D. He was an engineer.
6. As we drove through the darkness, we saw another car
coming the bend in the road. 13. Exhausted from her transatlantic flight, Judy could not stay
up past 9 p.m.
A. through
B. under What did Judy do at 9 p.m.?
C. over A. Leave work
D. around B. Come home from the airport
7. Sonia is so determined and stubborn, she never C. Lose her enthusiasm
until she gets exactly what she wants. D. Go to bed
A. gives up 14. This semester many students are enrolled in a new course,
B. gives out African Dance, which is being taught by a first-time
C. gave in instructor, Sheila Duncan.
D. gave away
How long has the university offered the African dance class?
8. At only 43, John F. Kennedy was the American A. For a short time
president ever to be elected.
B. For many years
A. most young C. For an entire school year
B. more young D. On and off for a while
C. youngest
D. younger 15. Samantha sleeps late whenever she can, leaves work early,
and never does anything unless she absolutely has to.
Each problem contains one or two sentences followed by Which best describes Samantha?
a question. Choose the correct answer to the question. A. boring
B. lazy
9. Elena found a tomato that was much bigger than all the C. selfish
others in the garden. D. tired
How did the tomato compare to the others in the garden? 16. Gustave Eiffel was immortalized by his Eiffel Tower in Paris,
A. It was the smallest. a structure that was originally meant to be temporary.
B. It was not very large.
C. It was larger than some. Gustave Eiffel was
D. It was the largest. A. a painter
B. a politician
10. When the popular entertainer canceled her appearance, the C. an architect
Latin American festival was postponed indefinitely. D. a construction worker
When will the festival likely take place? 17. We heard on the radio that because of damage to the school
A. Tonight caused by the storm, classes are cancelled until further
B. Tomorrow notice.
C. Next week
When will classes resume?
D. Many weeks later
A. later today
11. Janet is never late to meet her friends, and sometimes arrives B. tomorrow
early. C. several weeks from now
Which best describes Janet? D. when the storm is over
A. Lonely
B. Punctual
C. Talkative
D. Tardy

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


18
18. Early for her dentist appointment, Beth killed time by
looking in all the store windows on the block.
ACCUPLACER ESL Language
What was Beth doing? Use Test
A. exercising
B. shopping The ESL Language Use test measures your proficiency
C. hunting in using correct grammar in English sentences. There
D. waiting are five content areas measured on this test: (a) Nouns,
19. Even though Maria’s puppy Sparky was the runt of the litter Pronouns, Pronoun Case Structure; (b) Subject–Verb
when she picked him out, he grew up to be the biggest dog in Agreement; (c) Comparatives, Adverbs, Adjectives;
the neighborhood. (d) Verbs; and (e) Subordination/Coordination.
When Maria first got Sparky,
A. he was larger than the other puppies
B. he was the smallest of all the puppies Sample Questions
C. he was larger than some of the other puppies
D. he was not very small The sentence below has a blank space. Choose the word
20. W hen Miguel ran for class president, he won by a mile. or phrase that makes a grammatically correct sentence.
How many votes did Miguel get compared to the other 1. washing her sweater, Mary hung it up to dry.
candidate? A. After
A. He got just enough votes to win. B. Before
B. He got about the same number of votes. C. By
C. He got significantly more votes. D. Until
D. He got a few more votes.
2. Some day men and women to Mars.
21. Juanita rushed to her dance class and burst through the door A. will travel
in the nick of time.
B. will travels
When Juanita got to her dance class, she was C. will traveling
A. very early D. will traveled
B. very late 3. Water at a temperature of zero degrees Celsius.
C. nearly late A. having frozen
D. a little late B. freezing
C. freeze
D. freezes
4. get a new haircut?
A. Have you
B. Does you
C. Are you
D. Did you
5. Jacques Cousteau will be remembered for his inventions and
for to marine science.
A. dedication
B. his dedication
C. being dedicated
D. his being dedicated
6. Since my parents always insist that I get a good night’s sleep,
they were when I stayed out last night past my
curfew.
A. very happy
B. very relieved
C. very tired
D. very angry

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


19
7. children learn to read, whole new worlds and Read the two sentences below and choose the best way
experiences open up to them. of combining them.
A. Before
B. Since 14. Her puppy ran out into the street chasing a cat. The owner
C. Until quickly went to retrieve it.
D. After A. The owner quickly went to retrieve it after a cat was
8. When get to the hotel? chased into the street by her puppy.
B. The owner quickly retrieved it after her puppy chased a
A. have we
cat into the street.
B. will we
C. When her puppy ran into the street after a cat, the
C. did we
owner quickly went to retrieve the puppy.
D. are we
D. Quickly retrieving it, the owner went quickly after her
9. Galileo is most famous that the Earth revolves puppy that ran out into the street after a cat.
around the sun, rather than the other way around.
15. Lisa plays the piano. Her sister Kelly plays the piano, too.
A. for having discovered
A. Lisa and her sister Kelly plays the piano.
B. for discovery
B. Both Lisa and her sister Kelly play the piano.
C. his discovery
C. Lisa plays the piano and Kelly plays the piano.
D. in discovering
D. Lisa and Kelly too play the piano.
10. Men and women sometimes have difficulty understanding
16. The road was slippery. We put chains on the tires.
each other because differently.
A. Although the road was slippery, we put chains on the
A. they communicate
tires.
B. they communicated
B. The road became slippery when we put chains on the
C. they have communicated
tires.
D. they communicates
C. We put chains on the tires because the road was
11. Because she had practiced so hard for the gymnastics slippery.
competition, Stacey was when she achieved a nearly D. Putting chains on the tires, the road we were on was
perfect score. slippery.
A. disappointed
17. Kazuko took her dog for a walk. They went to the park.
B. tired
C. victorious A. Kazuko, going to the park, took her dog for a walk.
D. thrilled B. Kazuko took her dog for a walk in the park.
C. Kazuko took her dog for a walk because they went to
12. can speak more than one language, you have the the park.
opportunity to make more new friends. D. Kazuko and her dog went to the park, where they
A. So you walked.
B. As you
18. We knew it might get chilly at the football game. We brought
C. When you
along some extra blankets.
D. Though you
A. We knew it might get chilly at the football game when
13. Light than sound, which is why you see lightening we brought along some extra blankets.
before you hear the thunder. B. Bringing along some extra blankets, we knew it might
A. travelling faster get chilly at the football game.
B. travels faster C. We brought along some extra blankets because it might
C. having travelled faster get chilly at the football game.
D. will travel faster D. It got chilly at the football game and we brought along
some extra blankets.
19. Juan loves to play baseball. His friend Miguel enjoys baseball
too.
A. Both Juan and his friend Miguel enjoy playing baseball.
B. Juan and his friend Miguel enjoys playing baseball.
C. Juan enjoys playing baseball and his friend Miguel too.
d. Juan loves baseball and Miguel too enjoys baseball.

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


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20. Wolves are pack animals. They are rarely spotted alone.
A. Wolves are rarely spotted alone if they are pack ani-
mals.
B. Being pack animals, wolves are rarely spotted alone.
C. After being pack animals, wolves are rarely spotted
alone.
D. Wolves are rarely spotted alone, although they are pack
animals.
21. My aunt invited me to lunch. We went to her favorite
restaurant.
A. My aunt and I went to her favorite restaurant, when she
invited me to lunch.
B. My aunt invited me to lunch because we went to her
favorite restaurant.
C. My aunt invited me to lunch at her favorite restaurant.
D. My aunt, going to her favorite restaurant, invited me to
lunch.
22. It was snowing heavily. Jorge still wished his father would let
him drive into town.
A. Even though it was snowing heavily, Jorge wished his
father would let him drive into town.
B. Because it was snowing heavily, Jorge wished his father
would let him drive into town.
C. Jorge wished his father would let him drive into town
as it was snowing heavily.
D. Jorge wished his father would let him drive into town;
nevertheless it was snowing heavily.
23. Do not pour your own drink when eating in a restaurant in
Japan. It is considered impolite.
A. Because it is considered impolite, do not pour your own
drink when eating in a restaurant in Japan.
B. In Japan, do not pour your own drink when eating in a
restaurant if it is considered impolite.
C. Pouring your own drink is considered impolite in
Japan in a restaurant, so you should not do it.
D. Do not pour your own drink when eating in a restau-
rant in Japan while it is considered impolite.

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


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Answer Key

Sentence Skills Reading Comprehension


Question Correct Question Correct
Number Answer Number Answer
1 D 1 C
2 A 2 D
3 B 3 C
4 C 4 D
5 B 5 B
6 B 6 C
7 C 7 C
8 D 8 C
9 A 9 A
10 B 10 B
11 D 11 C
12 D 12 C
13 C 13 B
14 A 14 A
15 B 15 D
16 A 16 A
17 D 17 D
18 B 18 A
19 A 19 A
20 D 20 C
21 B 21 B
22 C 22 A
23 B
24 B
25 C

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


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Answer Key

ESL Reading Skills ESL Sentence Meaning


Question Question
Number Correct Answer Number Correct Answer
1 C 1 D
2 B 2 A
3 B 3 A
4 A 4 A
5 D 5 C
6 A 6 D
7 B 7 A
8 A 8 C
9 A 9 D
10 D 10 D
11 C 11 B
12 A 12 C
13 D 13 D
14 B 14 A
15 D 15 B
16 A 16 C
17 B 17 C
18 D
19 B
20 C
21 C

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


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Answer Key

ESL Language Use COLLEGE-LEVEL MATHEMATICS


Question Question
Number Correct Answer Number Correct Answer
1 A 1 C
2 A 2 E
3 D 3 E
4 D 4 C
5 B 5 A
6 D 6 E
7 D 7 C
8 B 8 B
9 A 9 A
10 A 10 D
11 D 11 B
12 C 12 E
13 B 13 E
14 C 14 C
15 B 15 A
16 C 16 E
17 B 17 E
18 C 18 E
19 A 19 D
20 B 20 E
21 C
22 A
23 A

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


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Answer Key

Arithmetic Elementary Algebra


Question Correct Question Correct
Number Answer Number answer
1 B 1 D
2 A 2 C
3 C 3 A
4 C 4 D
5 D 5 D
6 A 6 B
7 B 7 D
8 C 8 B
9 C 9 B
10 C 10 A
11 C 11 B
12 C 12 C
13 D 13 D
14 B 14 C
15 C 15 C
16 B 16 A
17 B 17 A
18 B 18 C
19 C 19 A
20 D 20 D

© 2012 The College Board. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS


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