What You Should Know About Preparing for ASSET
Advising, Counseling & Testing

Tips for Taking the ASSET

1. Relax! The ASSET tests are designed to help you succeed in school. Your score helps you and your institution determine which courses are most appropriate for your current level of knowledge and skills. Once you identify your academic strengths and weaknesses you can get the help you need to improve underdeveloped skills before they can interfere with your learning.
2. You will be able to concentrate better on the test if you get plenty of rest and eat properly prior to the test. You should also arrive a few minutes early so you can find the testing area, bathrooms, etc., and to ensure that you have time to find satisfactory seating, sharpen pencils, and gather your thoughts before the test begins.
3. Be sure you understand the directions for each test before that test session begins. Ask questions if you need to.
4. Pace yourself. You have 25 minutes to answer all questions. Note the time when you start the test and check the time periodically to keep yourself "on schedule". Questions usually get increasingly harder, so you need to allow more time for later questions.
5. Answer the easier questions first and skip over the more difficult ones. Be sure that you mark the appropriate item number on the answer sheet, so you can come back to the difficult items later. You can put a light check mark on the answer sheet next to any item you skip over as long as you erase any stray marks after you have returned to that item and answered it. Do not make marks in the test booklet.
6. Read each question carefully until you understand what the question is asking. If answering an item requires several steps be sure you consider them all.
7. Be sure to answer every item. You are not penalized for guessing. Your score will provide more useful placement information if you answer every item, even if you must guess.
8. If time is available, go back and check your work on the test after you have answered all items. Don't be afraid to change an answer if you believe that your first choice was wrong.
9. Be sure that you mark the space that corresponds to the answer you have selected for each item. Darken the space completely. If you change your mind about an answer be sure to erase any stray marks on your answer sheet.
10. If you have a problem or question during the test, raise your hand and the test administrator or proctor will help you. Although they cannot answer test questions for you, they can help you with other types of problems (e.g., a broken pencil, etc.).

YOU MUST BRING PHOTO I.D. AND YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TO THE TESTING SESSION.

ASSET Home
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