Frequently Asked Questions about NC EMPT
1. What is an early mathematics placement test?
Most high school students that enter a NC community college, the UNC System, or
private colleges and universities will be given a mathematics placement test. This test
will determine the student's entry level for enrollment in collegiate mathematics. The
North Carolina Early Mathematics Placement Testing (NC EMPT) Program better
prepares high school students for college mathematics placement, and gives them early
warning by having them experience a test that is similar in content to the actual
placement test. The NC EMPT test includes 32 questions. The majority of the questions
are based on algebra skills. Also included are questions involving numeration, geometry,
trigonometry, probability and statistics.
Teachers may keep used test copies and use them to review placement test errors or as
additional practice exercises. A new version of the test is created each year, so security is
not an issue.
2. The NC EMPT placement test is calculator optional. Which option do we choose,
calculator or non-calculator??
None of the test questions are designed to require the use of a calculator. However, the
choice to allow a calculator or not is made by the teacher. When choosing, the following
should be considered:
2015-2016: Calculator Usage on Math Placement Tests
at UNC Institutions
Calculator MAY Be Used:
a. Four-function Calculator Only
ECU
b. Scientific Calculator Only
UNCW
c. Scientific or Graphing Calculator
ASU
ECSU
NCSU
UNC-CH
UNCP
WCU
WSSU
Calculator MAY
NOT be Used:
FSU
NC A&T
NCCU
UNCC
UNCG
UNCA does not currently use a math placement test. Incoming students will be advised about
which math class is best to enroll in. This will be based on previous math classes taken.
The
fifty-eight
North
Carolina
community
colleges were using these
math
placement
tests:
COMPASS, ASSET, and
ACCUPLACER/CPT,
and
have now transitioned to the
new
NC
Diagnostic
Assessment and Placement
(NC DAP) Test.
Multiple
measures will be used to
decide on placement in a first
college math course including
a student’s unweighted GPA,
ACT or SAT math scores,
and, if necessary, NC DAP
math score. Check with your
local community college
campus for details about
calculator usage.
.
Continued…
3. How long does it take to administer the test?
Currently, the NC EMPT test is only offered as a paper-and-pencil test. Allow 10
minutes to distribute materials, fill out information, and answer background questions.
This can be completed on a day prior to testing. The recommended time to answer the
test questions is 50 minutes. Students that have been identified by your counseling
department as qualifying for additional time for testing should follow the same guidelines
when taking the NC EMPT test. The time of day that the test is given is also flexible. If
class time cannot be spared, feel free to test before or after school. Also, teachers within
one math department do not necessarily have to test on the same day.
There is no penalty for guessing or for omitted answers. The thirty-two questions are
equally weighted and each correct answer counts as one point.
4. Who and when should we test?
The target audience includes students from North Carolina public and non-public high
schools that are currently enrolled in and close to completing Algebra II and Math III.
Students who have already completed these courses are also eligible and are strongly
encouraged to test (or retest) at any convenient time during their next math course. This
includes students enrolled in Essentials for College Math, Advanced Functions and
Modeling, Precalculus, Discrete Math, Statistics, or any higher-level mathematics
courses. It is very important that students maintain their mathematics skills and not get
“rusty” as they move up the mathematics ladder. We are very flexible about testing dates
and would like to accommodate your schedule. If your school is on block scheduling, we
test during both blocks. School calendars for high schools across the state vary greatly,
so please choose testing dates that will allow two weeks from the date you mail
completed opscans to us to the date results are received back at your school.
5. What is the cost in $$$?
There is no charge to participating schools! The State of North Carolina supports NC
EMPT in its efforts to help reduce the amount of mathematics remediation needed by
incoming freshmen. To minimize expenses, we would like to mail, at one time, all the
tests that you request for the entire school year. However, if your enrollment for the
second block semester is unknown, you may sign up a second time. We will send a
reminder of your spring testing date.
6. Who receives the testing results and how are these results reported?
For paper-and-pencil testing, completed opscan forms (answer sheets) are mailed to the
NC EMPT testing center at East Carolina University (ECU). Tests are graded quickly
and results mailed from ECU within 1-3 days of receipt. Paper results include summaries
by class period for each teacher by class/period, as well as an individualized results letter
Continued…
for each student. The results are returned to the participating teachers and students
ONLY, and will never appear on permanent school records or serve as
accountability data. The NC EMPT Program exists to provide non-threatening, helpful
advice about future college mathematics expectations.
If you have further questions or would like more information about the program, please
contact:
Ellen Hilgoe
NC EMPT Associate Director
East Carolina University
Bldg 123, 1805 Charles Blvd
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
Phone: 252-328-6418
Fax: 252-328-2166
E-mail: ncempt@ncempt.org