Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of frequently asked questions. If you still need assistance, please call 610-796-8266 between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
Completing the Placement Assessments
- Why do I have to take placement assessments?
- When should I take the placement assessments?
- What if I don't have my login for the assessments?
- What if I need special accommodations?
- What do I need in order to complete the assessments?
- Can anyone help me during the assessments?
- When do I need to have the placement assessments completed by?
- When will I receive the results of my assessments?
- Will the results of the placement assessments allow me to "place out of" any courses?
- What if I already have credits or AP credits for English and/or mathematics?
- Who can I contact if I have other questions not answered here?
Technical Questions about the Assessments
- What are the minimum computer and Internet requirements?
- Where do I find my login ID number and password?
- I entered my login ID number to enter the assessment, but received a message saying saying "Please try again. Your entry did not match."
- I entered my login ID to enter the assessment, but I received a message that says I have reached my limit for the number of times that I can take the test.
- I received a "Page cannot be displayed" or "Application timed out" message.
- What if I get disconnected during the assessments?
- What if I have an emergency and need to stop taking the assessments before I'm finished?
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of frequently asked questions. If you still need assistance, please call 610-796-8266 between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
Completing the Placement Assessments
Why do I have to take placement assessments?
Alvernia requires placement assessments to determine your appropriate starting levels in writing and mathematics. The results of your assessments will help us build your first year schedule with courses in which you can succeed. Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT) and high school grades are useful for admission purposes but are not specific to the math and writing courses offered at Alvernia; for that reason we do not rely on them for placement purposes. Instead, we have developed assessments that directly reflect the skills students will need to learn and succeed in Alvernia University courses.
When should I take the placement assessments?
Immediately. Please log on to the testing website in a quiet area where you will have uninterrupted internet access for at least one hour for each assessment or two hours if you plan to take the assessments at the same time. Please note that once the assessment is started you may not stop and restart it.
What if I don't have my login for the assessments?
Once you confirm your attendance at Alvernia for the Fall of 2012, you are mailed Next Steps for New Students, which contains important information. Your login information is contained in Next Steps for New Students. It is a ten-digit ID that begins with the letter P. If you have misplaced it or otherwise cannot locate it, please call 610-796-8266 between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
What if I need special accommodations?
If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, please visit our Academic Accommodations page.
What do I need in order to complete the assessments?
You will need:
- Your Login number
- Scratch paper
- Pens and/or pencils
- A simple calculator (for the math portion)
- Your copy of the essay that was sent home to you in your Next Steps for New Students. One hour for each assessment, or two hours if you plan to take both the math and writing portions at the same time. Note: While you can take the math or writing assessment at different times, you must complete each test in its entirety, in one sitting.
Can anyone help me during the assessments?
Assistance of any kind during the assessments is not allowed. Dishonesty can result in your placement into courses for which you are not prepared, and also would violate Alvernia’s academic honesty policy as outlined in the Student Handbook.
Academic Honesty
All students are expected to adhere to the university’s Academic Honesty Policy, as outlined in the Student Handbook. Breaches of honesty include but are not limited to:
Copying another student’s work
Plagiarizing the published work of another
Facilitating the dishonesty of another student
Cheating on an examination
It is your responsibility to read and understand the policy; failure to do so does not excuse you from adhering to the policy.
When do I need to have the placement assessments completed by?
As soon as possible. We cannot register you for any Fall classes until you have complete the on-line assessments.
When will I receive the results of my assessments?
Your assessment results will be mailed to you, and will be included in the Course Selection Guide, as soon as your assessments are evaluated.
Will the results of the placement assessments allow me to "place out of" any courses?
No. The placement assessment results are used to determine the most appropriate courses for you to take.
What if I already have credits or AP credits for English and/or mathematics?
Some students do fulfill the writing and/or math requirements at Alvernia if they achieve the required scores. However, we must receive the official scores directly from ETS before we can determine which Alvernia course requirements have been met. For that reason, placement assessments are required of all first-year students. You will be asked to provide information about any AP exams. Your advisor will take this information into consideration when helping you plan your first semester schedule and will adjust your courses as appropriate.
Who can I contact if I have other questions not answered here?
For concerns regarding your assessment deadline or the Questionnaire, or if you have other general questions, please call 610-796-8266 between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
Technical Questions about the Assessments
What are the minimum computer and Internet requirements?
Computer Hardware
Any Mac or PC capable of running Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher or Firefox 1.0.4 or higher should be acceptable. The online assessments are compatible with all major operating systems including:
- Windows
- Macintosh
- Linux
- Chrome OS / Chromebook
Internet Connection
Almost any Internet connection provides a sufficient connection speed to take the assessments. If you do not have an Internet connection at home, other possible locations include your high school or your local library. Internet Browsers:
- Google Chrome
- Firefox 3.6+
- Internet Explorer 6+
- Safari 5.0+
- Opera
Where do I find my login ID number and password?
If you have confirmed your acceptance to Alvernia University, you should have received a Next Steps for New Students which contains information about placement assessment. Your login information is included in Next Steps for New Students. It is a ten-digit ID that begins with the letter P. Please try to locate this before calling 610-796-8266 between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
I entered my login ID number to enter the assessment, but received a message saying "Please try again. Your entry did not match."
If this is the first time you are attempting to access the assessments, you may have incorrectly entered your login ID number. Please double check your log in ID number and make sure you have entered your number exactly as it appears. If you are certain you are typing in your login correctly, please call 610-796-8266 between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
I entered my login ID to enter the assessment, but I received a message that says I have reached my limit for the number of times that I can take the test.
If you have already logged into the assessment and either did not finish or encountered technical issues, you may not be allowed back in if your time has expired. In this case for further assistance, please call 610-796-8266 between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
I received a "Page cannot be displayed" or "Application timed out" message.
This message is typically caused by Internet congestion or other connection problems your Internet Service Provider may be experiencing. Try logging in again now or at a later time.
What if I get disconnected during the assessments?
If you are disconnected before completing the math assessment, your answers to all of the questions you have completed will be saved. If you are able to immediately log back in, you may be able to complete your assessment if the timer has not expired. If you are not able to immediately log back in, please call for assistance.
If you are disconnected before submitting your writing assessment, whatever you have typed in the essay box will be lost. To avoid this, we recommend typing your response in a word processing program and copying and pasting it into the essay box when you are finished. Just beware that the timer will keep going.
If you experience difficulty logging back in, please call 610-796-8266 between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
What if I have an emergency and need to stop taking the assessments before I'm finished?
Plan to take your assessments at a time when you will not be interrupted. In the event of a true emergency (such as a sudden loss of power, a computer crash, or some dire medical issue requiring immediate attention) please call 610-796-8266 between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Your login will have to be reset and you will have to begin the assessment again.