How can students meet the City University and Baruch College’s basic skills requirements?
Students can demonstrate their competence in reading, writing, and mathematics by scoring at the required levels on the SAT or ACT examinations, New York State Regents Examinations, or Skills Assessment Tests.

1. SAT/ACT: Achieving a score of 480 or above on the Verbal section of the SAT (20 or above on the ACT) will demonstrate competence in reading and writing. Likewise, a score of 480 or above on the Mathematics sections of the SAT (20 or above on the ACT) demonstrate competence in mathematics and you are exempted from taking the first two parts (arithmetic and algebra) of the CUNY Mathematics Skills Assessment Test.

2. NY State Regents Examinations: Achieving a score of 75 or higher on the English Regents Examination will demonstrate competence in reading and writing. Likewise, you are exempt from taking the CUNY Mathematics Assessment Test (parts 1 and 2) if you achieve a score of 75 or higher on the new Mathematics A Regents Exam or the Sequential II or III Exam.

3. If you do not achieve the required scores on the SAT or Regents Examinations you can satisfy basic skills requirements by passing the CUNY/ACT Basic Skills Tests in reading, writing and mathematics.

How do the Skills Assessment Tests affect University and or Baruch’s Admission?
If you do not meet the remediation exemption requirements based on SAT, ACT, or Regents Examinations scores you are required to take the CUNY/ACT Skills Assessment Tests. The scores on these tests will determine your need for remediation. If you pass all the tests and meet the college’s other admissions criteria, you can enter Baruch College. If you do not pass any or all of the tests, you will be able to enroll in the necessary remedial areas at a CUNY community college, or in the associates’ programs at a comprehensive college, or if qualified, in a senior college’s preparatory program. You must pass all the tests before you can be admitted to Baruch or any senior college at CUNY.

What are the testing requirements for transfer students?
NON-CUNY- Transfers with 45 or more credits are exempted from taking the tests. Transfers with fewer than 45 credits are required to pass all the tests prior to transferring to a Baruch or any senior college at CUNY. (Unless exempted by virtue of SAT, ACT or Regents scores.)

If you are a transfer student whose college work was done abroad in a language other than English and you meet the University’s definition of ESL you will be scheduled to take the Skills Assessment Tests. I

CUNY – CUNY community college students are required to pass all the skills tests prior to transferring to a CUNY senior college. (Unless exempted by virtue of SAT, ACT, or Regents scores).

More information is available from www.baruch.cuny.edu/advisement, www.baruch.cuny.edu/admissions, Transfer Orientation CD Rom, and Freshman Orientation CD

What are the CUNY/ACT Basic Skills Tests in Reading, Writing and Mathematics?
The CUNY/ACT Basic Skills Tests in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics include the following components

Compass/Esl Reading Skills
Compass/Esl Writing Skills
Compass/Esl Mathematics
CUNY/ACT Writing Sample Essay
CUNY/ACT Mathematics:
Parts 1 and 2 (arithmetic and elementary algebra)
Parts 3, 4, and 5 (intermediate algebra, trigonometry, and pre-calculus)

What are the passing scores for the CUNY/ACT Basic Skills Tests in Reading, Writing and Mathematics?
The passing scores for the tests are:
Reading: a score of 65 or more
Writing Sample Essay: a total score of 7 or more
Mathematics: a total score of 25 or above on Parts 1 and 2
(Parts 3, 4, and 5 are used for placement into higher-level math courses)

What skills do each of the tests measure?
The Compass/Esl Reading Skills Test is a computerized placement and diagnostic assessment tool. It measures reading comprehension as a combination of referring and reasoning skills.

The Compass/Esl Writing Skills Test is a computerized placement and diagnostic assessment tool. It measures your understanding of the conventions of American English in three major writing skills areas: usage and mechanics (punctuation and grammar); sentence structure; rhetorical skills.

The Compass/Esl Mathematics Test is a computerized placement and diagnostic assessment tool. It measures your knowledge of mathematical concepts such as basic skills, application and analysis.

The CUNY/ACT Writing Skills Sample Essay is a pencil/paper test that measures your ability to write a college level essay. It requires you to write an essay that takes and supports a stand on a social issue. The test does not require any specialized knowledge or research, only an ability to discuss your opinions and your reasoning.

The CUNY Mathematics Assessment Test is a pencil/paper diagnostic measure designed to evaluate your knowledge of a number of topics in mathematics: arithmetic, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus.

The Baruch Mathematics Placement Test is a pencil/paper diagnostic measure designed to evaluate your knowledge of a number of topics in mathematics: elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, trigonometry, and pre-calculus.

Where can we see samples of these tests?
You can see samples of the tests on the ACT and CUNY websites

If I need special arrangements for testing, are they available?
Yes. Accommodations based on disabilities will be granted to comply with
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans Disabilities Act. You may also contact our Disability Services Office at 646 312 4590.

Who will be required to take the tests?
Initial Testing:
a. First-time applicants- Applicants who do not meet the exemption requirements by virtue of the SAT, ACT or Regents scores.
b. Transfers- Non-CUNY: Transfers with fewer than 45 credits are required to pass all skills tests prior to transferring to Baruch or any senior college. (Unless you meet the exemption requirements.) Transfers whose college work was done abroad in a language other than English and who meet the University’s definition of ESL will be scheduled to take the Skills Assessment Tests.
c. Transfers- CUNY: CUNY community college students are required to pass all skills tests prior to transferring to a CUNY senior college. (Unless you meet the exemption requirements.)

Exit Testing:
All students registered in the top-level course in Reading, Writing, or ESL will take the test at the end of the semester. Students who do not pass the tests will not be able to begin College Composition I (Freshman English) until they pass the test.

Are the initial and exit tests the same?
Yes. A different form of the same test is used to determine exit. Each time the test is administered, its purpose is to answer the same question: Is the student ready for college composition I?

How do I schedule for the Skills Assessment Test?
If you do not receive an appointment from the university’s application processing center, please call the Testing and Evaluation Center at 646 312 4305 or 4307.

When do I need to schedule for the Skills Assessment Tests?
Please schedule your skills assessment tests as soon as possible, and do not wait until the last weeks of the final registration periods.

When are the Skills Assessment Tests administered?
The Skills Assessment Tests are administered during regular testing hours. Please contact the Testing and evaluation center to obtain a schedule.

Where is the Testing and Evaluation Center located?
The Testing and Evaluation Center is located at One Bernard Baruch Way, Room 5-220, New York, New York 10010.

If I have taken my Skills Assessment Tests, how do I get my results?
If you are a new student at Baruch College, your test results will be mailed to you shortly after the administration of the examinations.

How do I know which skills assessment tests I need to take?
All students must take the skills assessment test (unless you meet the requirements by virtue of the exemption criteria.) Students who are exempt from the skills tests must take the Baruch Mathematics Placement test for placement into the appropriate mathematics and mathematics related courses. If you have already taken a college level pre-calculus or calculus course, refer to the information on the Advisement and Orientation website or the Orientation CD Rom.

How much time do I need for each skills assessment tests?
The Compass/Esl reading, writing and mathematics tests (though not timed) last about forty-five minutes each. The CUNY/ACT writing sample essay lasts one hour. The CUNY/ACT mathematics skills test lasts two and a half hours, while the Baruch mathematics placement is two hours and twenty minutes.

What items should I bring along for the skills assessment tests?
On the day of testing, you should bring a picture ID for identification purposes, you appointment ticket, two sharpened #2 pencils, and a pen.

Do you offer skills assessment testing accommodations for students with disabilities?
Yes. If you have a physical or learning disability, you should contact the Disability Services Office to make arrangements to take the test(s) under modified procedures.

Are calculators allowed during math testing?
Yes, use of calculators is permitted for both Compass/Esl and ASSET Mathematics tests. However, they are not permitted for the CUNY/ACT Mathematics Skills test.

What is the CPE?
The CPE is an assessment tool, which requires you to demonstrate competency in aspects of academic literacy which faculty considers important foe success in upper division studies. Detailed information can be accessed at cuny.edu/cunytesting/cpe

How do I appeal my test results
If you are not happy with your Writing Sample Essay results, you have the option to appeal them. You will be blocked from registering for any writing course that is not at the level of your placement results, so if you want to appeal, do so in time to register for the course you are eligible to take.

You must put your appeal in writing. You can get information about how to appeal from the Testing and Evaluation Center, the English department and your Instructor. The appeal procedure involves submitting a completed appeal package to the Testing and Evaluation Center. Appeals are handled as quickly as possible and final notifications of the appeal status are mailed to you.