Placement Testing
Placement Testing
Testing Center
Located the first floor of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) - behind West Hall on P&HCC’s main campus. Also offered at P&HCC’s Patrick County Site in Stuart, VA.
VPT Testing Hours
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Required Materials
- Your P&HCC Student ID Number (assigned to you after you have completed an application for admission).
- A valid government-issued photo I.D. (DMV issued license, learner’s permit, photo ID, Passport, or Military ID
Other Information
- No appointment required. Tests are administered on a first-come-first-served walk-in basis. Seating is limited.
- There is no fee to take the test.
- The test is untimed, but it takes an average of two hours to complete each of the two portions. You may not take both portions of the test (math and English) on the same day.
- If you need accommodations for the placement test due to a disability or other circumstance, please contact disAbility Resources at (276) 656-0257 or disabilityresources@patrickhenry.edu.
- An application for admission must be on file in the Admissions Office prior to taking the placement test.
- Tests are computerized - not paper & pencil.
- At the end of the VPT, students will receive a printout which lists the course(s) they may take, not a passing score.
Purpose
The VPT is required of all students unless you have already completed college coursework in English and/or mathematics.
Placement testing helps to ensure your success by evaluating college-readiness level in English and math. It is not an admission test. It simply ensures you are placed in the right course(s) for you.
Other Options?
If you graduated from high school within five years of enrolling at P&HCC, you may be exempt from taking the VPT. Ask about our Multiple Measures.
VPT for English
The VPT for English consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and an essay portion, which is more heavily weighted. The student will be given two prompts, and the student must write an essay in response to one of the two prompts. Although this question is not a prompt on the actual test, the student might see something similar to “What do you consider the most important event of the last ten years, and why?”
A well-written essay consists of more than one paragraph and typically includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. Students may provide examples, tell a story, or use other means to support their main point. Computerized help tools such as spell check and auto correct will not be available when writing the essay. Students should proofread their essays for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
After completing the writing section, students will encounter 40 multiple choice questions that range from reading comprehension to choosing the best word for a sentence, to what a legitimate source would be for writing a paper.
VPT for Math
The VPT for Math covers nine math essentials or topical areas. It is a computerized test, and no personal calculators are allowed—but on-screen calculators are provided as appropriate during the test.
The VPT for Math consists of a series of math questions, but the degree of difficulty varies throughout the assessment. The first 30 questions assess college-level math skills, and they progress in difficulty as you answer each one correctly. Once you reach your optimal math ability, the test will end, and the appropriate college-level math course will be determined.
Students may retake the VPT for English, VPT for Math, or both once in a 12-month period; however students may not retake the VPT once enrolled in a corresponding developmental course. Virginia Placement Test scores are valid for five years after the date of the test. Students who intend to enroll in courses at one VCCS institution may take the VPT at other VCCS institutions.
How to Prepare for the Test
Main Campus: Walker Hall 228 | 276-656-5481 or 276-656-0311
Patrick County Site: 276-694-8778 | abrown@patrickhenry.edu
