Testing Services

All new students entering college for the first time must take placement tests and meet with an advisor before registering for classes. Placement tests confirm your readiness to take college-level classes by determining your prior level of achievement in English/Reading and Math. High School GPA, High School Equivalency (GED), ACT or SAT scores may be used in place of the placement test. Some restrictions apply.

Placement Testing

All new students entering college for the first time must take placement tests and meet with an advisor before registering for classes. Placement tests confirm your readiness to take college-level classes by determining your prior level of achievement in English/Reading and Math. High School GPA, High School Equivalency (GED), ACT or SAT scores may be used in place of the placement test. Some restrictions apply.

 

College Placement Guide

 

Additional Information amd Scheduling

Walk-ins are also available between the hours of 8:30a-2:30p Mon-Thurs, and Friday 8:30a-1p

English Placement Exams

English placement exams must be proctored. Students will need have a picture ID in order to test. Limited online appointments are available, please email testing@prairiestate.edu to request an online option. English placement testing is free.

Math Placement Exams (ALEKS Testing)

There is a $15 fee for ALEKS testing. Students need to take at least one unproctored practice assessment at home. We recommend working a minimum of five hours in the learning modules before taking any additional assessments. If you are new to Prairie State, you can request your login credentials to sign up for math placement AFTER you have taken the English placement exam. Please email testing@prairiestate.edu with your request, and allow 1-2 business days to receive your login information.

Steps to Sign Up for ALEKS Placement Testing:

  1. Go to https://prairiestate.edu/
  2. Click on Pioneer Portal (on top of the page).
  3. Log in (same login as for email. Call 708-709-7999 if you need help with your login credentials).
  4. Click on Academics (graduation cap on left side of page).
  5. Click on "ALEKS", then "Visit ALEKS".
  6. Follow the steps to pay your $15 online with a credit or debit card (This gives students five assessments and one-year access. The current course code is RNDWJ-HJKA9. If your access has expired, or you have used your five attempts, you will need to repurchase ALEKS.
  7. Complete the survey and the tutorial.
  8. Take an unproctored, practice assessment, and complete any additional practice. The math department is allowing the use of a TI30XS for proctored assessments. Please do not use a more advanced calculator or look up answers as you complete the practice exam, as it will skew your final results.
  9. Once you are satisfied with your unproctored practice score, you can either use that score to place. Show your ALEKS practice score to your advisor. IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO ONE OF OUR SPECIAL APPLICATION PROGRAMS IN ALLIED HEALTH (i.e. Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Surgical Technology), YOU MUST TAKE A PROCTORED EXAM.

PLEASE NOTE: On this assessment you are not allowed to use any outside resources other than a calculator. In particular, you should not be looking up answers using any website, app, etc. Using unauthorized resources to get a higher score on your assessment will only be detrimental to you; if you are misplaced, you will set yourself up for failure by being placed in a course for which you are not prepared. In this situation you could be asked by an advisor or faculty member to re-take the assessment in a proctored environment.

  • You will not be allowed to complete a proctored exam UNLESS you have completed one practice test. Students will need to have a scheduled appointment and a picture ID in order to test. There are limited options for online proctored ALEKS testing. Please contact testing@prairiestate.edu for more details about online proctored testing.
  • Questions? Please contact us at testing@prairiestate.edu

Proctoring Services 

Proctoring services are available for students from other colleges or universities who live in the area and wish to have an exam proctored in person. There is a $25 fee associated with this offering. Please email testing@prairiestate.edu to schedule an exam.

Proficiency Exams (Credit for Prior Learning)

Proficiency exams are designed for students who do not have college credit and have substantial knowledge in a given area. PSC students interested in pursuing college credit, including AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), and CLEP (College Level Examination Program) in lieu of taking a class at PSC can apply for proficiency testing.  More information on proficiency tests available, as well as policies and procedures, is located in the Proficiency Testing Information Handbook.

Make-up Testing 

If an instructor allows you to make-up an exam or gives you an opportunity to take a test outside of class, you will need to schedule an appointment. The faculty member will drop off the exam with us. You will need a picture ID to take a make-up exam. Schedule the exam using the link below:

Schedule Exam

Other Testing

PSC is a testing center for PearsonVUE (https://www.pearsonvue.com/) which provides testing for GED (https://www.ged.com/) as well as the Fire Marshal Exam, CompTIA testing, Evaluation Systems exams, and IL Insurance tests.  Go to website to find testing dates and schedule exams.

 

ACT Workkeys can be taken at Prairie State College.  Email testing@prairiestate.edu for more information.

 

HESI A2 Admission Exams for Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and Surgical Technology (https://www.prometric.com/exams/elsvr) can be taken at PSC but students must be sent link to make payment for the exam.  See program information for more details.

 

Meazure Learning (https://www.meazurelearning.com/) provides testing for our medical billing and coding program as well as other medical testing.