Below are answers to Testing Services' most commonly asked questions.
General
Students who need accommodations must have ADA documentation and make prior arrangements with the Disability Resource Center.
Yes, official ACT and SAT scores may be used for English and math placement.
The highest valid scores within the past twenty-four month period will determine course placement for students. TMCC requires official scores to be requested from the ACT and/or SAT at the links listed below.
No. Please make childcare arrangements prior to visiting the Testing Center.
Contact Helen Scott at 775-673-7111 to take an over the phone payment. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are acceptable forms of payment.
- Food and beverages are not allowed in the Testing Center.
- Personal belongings are prohibited in the Testing Center. Jackets, headwear, sunglasses, watches, and other accessory items must be placed into an assigned locker. Medical devices and religious garments are allowed.
- Electronics of any kind are not permitted.
- We will provide necessary materials for your exam (white board and markers).
- Testers are not allowed to leave the Testing Center without permission after the exam has begun.
- All exam materials must remain in the Testing Center.
All individuals taking a test through TMCC Testing Services must bring their current government or current TMCC issued photo ID.
Acceptable forms of photo identification include:
- A current driver's license
- A state approved ID
- A high school ID
- A college ID
- A current state or federal ID card
- A current passport
- A tribal ID card
- A naturalization card or certificate of citizenship
Recent high school graduate can use alternate pathways for entry level college course placement. Students can use high school course work (within the last two years prior to the application term) to qualify for college placement.
Who qualifies:
- Recent graduates with an overall unweighted GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 may enroll in ENG 101, recommended READ 135 or ENG 113, or recommended Non-Native READ 135.
- Recent graduates with an overall unweighted GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 who have completed Intermediate Algebra 3/4 (WCSD) with a grade of B or higher, may enroll in MATH 120 or MATH 126.
Students with a GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 may also enroll in alternate entry-level courses required in applied and technical fields. These alternate pathways are a supplement to existing ACCUPLACER, SAT and ACT scores.
All members of the Truckee Meadows Community College community are subject to the rules and disciplinary procedures as outlined in the TMCC College Catalog, Rules and Disciplinary Procedures for Students.
For purposes of TMCC Testing Services, the following behaviors are considered to be academically dishonest:
- Copying from another person's work during an examination.
- Allowing someone to copy from your work during an examination.
- Using unauthorized materials during an examination.
- Taking an examination for another person or permitting another person to take an exam for you.
- Obtaining or providing to another person a test or answers to a test.
- Removing or attempting to remove a test, its answers or any portion thereof from the Testing Center.
Consistent with the expectations of the rules and disciplinary procedures for members of the university community, individuals caught engaging in any of the above-described behavior will be referred to the Vice President of Student Services and Diversity and/or to their instructor for appropriate disciplinary action.
All students are encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER exam to ensure that, with the help of an Academic Advisor, they register for the correct classes. The ACCUPLACER placement test is available to all current TMCC students and who provide valid government-issued photo identification.
ACCUPLACER
The ACCUPLACER Student Portal provides practice tools and resources to help you prepare for the tests.
Applicants must contact the Testing Center at the institutions where your scores reside and request they be sent directly to TMCC's Admissions and Records department.
You can obtain a copy of your placement scores by logging in to MyTMCC. Your scores can be found in the "other academic" drop down menu in the Academics Section of the Student Center.
Or, you can visit the ACCUPLACER Student Portal website to view and print your ACCUPLACER score Report.
Lastly, you can visit TMCC Testing Services and pay a $10 transcript fee.
You will need your placement scores in order to register for your new student advisement workshop.
The average time to complete each section is one hour. However, please keep in mind the ACCUPLACER is not a timed exam, students are encouraged to take as much time as necessary to complete the exam.
Students taking the ACCUPLACER exam have seven business days to return and complete the test.
Students planning to enroll in math and/or English classes at TMCC and who do not have current ACT/SAT test scores (less than two years old), should take the ACCUPLACER placement exam. This exam is offered on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday.
CAPE Testing
No. The CAPE exam is for initial course placement only.
Yes. However, the placement restriction applies to all languages.
Taking the test should require between 20-45 minutes, but will depend on how you perform.
Students may repeat the test as many times as they would like. There is a mandatory 6-week waiting period between testing sessions.
If you have more questions regarding language placement at TMCC, please contact the Humanities Department.
It is recommended that students who are Spanish heritage speakers talk to the Humanities Department first.
HSE Examination
No. Students cannot combine scores from separate HSE exams.
TMCC's Testing Center offers both paper and computer format exams for the HiSET exam only.
Many Nevada community colleges and literacy agencies offer HSE preparation classes, including TMCC's Adult Basic Education HSE Preparation Program. If you prefer to study on your own, books are available at bookstores and your local library. Practice tests and other resources are available on the internet.
The GED has four test subsections:
- Math (115 minutes)
- Language Arts (150 minutes)
- Science (90 minutes)
- Social Studies (90 minutes)
The HiSET has five subsections:
- Math (90 minutes)
- Language Arts ~ Reading (65 minutes)
- Language Arts ~ Writing (120 minutes)
- Science (80 minutes)
- Social Studies (70 minutes)
You may take the exam if you are 18 years old or more, so long as you meet the other test requirements.
If you are 16 or 17 years old: you may test under certain conditions.
You must present the following to the TMCC HSE testing center:
- The official written permission of withdrawal from compulsory attendance from the board of trustees of a school district (or the applicable designee within the school district or your zoned school).
- A signed parental permission form.
You may also be required to demonstrate your proficiency by passing a practice exam.
Contact us to verify that you have met all requirements before you register or schedule an HSE exam.
No. You may choose to take the HSE tests in another language or accessibility version.
No. The HSE certificate does not indicate the exam language. However, your official transcript will indicate the language.
No. You must be a U.S. citizen and a Nevada resident to take the HSE examination.
Yes. Certificates of High School Equivalency are only issued to persons who reside in the State of Nevada or who are on active military duty and have attended secondary school in Nevada. Nevada's residency policy for HSE testing allows for testing certain non-residents who live near the border of Nevada in adjacent states when a testing site is not easily accessible to the non-resident. Please contact us for further information.
- ACCUPLACER
- CAPE Testing
- General
- HSE Examination