Testing Center
Montana Tech uses College Success and ALEKS PPL to assess students in writing and math.
First-year placement in math and writing courses is determined by students' ACT or SAT scores. If students don't those scores, they may take a placement exam instead. Contact an Admissions Representative with test scores, grades, in-progress schedule, or Dual credit/AP courses to determine which placement exam is needed. The Writing and Math departments offer more detailed information on placement exams and course requirements.
College Success offers practice tests for writing and math to help students prepare for their placement exam. EdReady allows them to assess their readiness for college math and/or writing and provides students with a personalized study path.
College Success exams may be taken twice with a 24-hour "cool off" period in between sessions. If students would like to take it a third time, they must get permission from their counselor or academic advisor. College Success math placement exams allow students to place into any math class from M065 (Pre-Algebra) to M121 (College Algebra). The assessment consists of 30 questions with a 60-minute time limit. Writing placement exams allow students to place into WRIT 100 or WRIT 101/121. The assessment consists of one essay question with a 90-minute time limit.
The ALEKS PPL placement test must be taken at least twice. Students will complete an unproctored attempt to assess their math skills and practice using the assessment environment. Following their unproctored practice test, students must complete the learning modules and then take a proctored assessment a second time for an official placement score. The exam consists of 30 adaptive questions with a 2.5-hour time limit. After completion of the second round, students may take ALEKS up to 2 more times if they are dissatisfied with their score, but there is 48-hour waiting period in-between sessions.
On-campus placement exams are held in our Testing Center during normal business hours of 9 am - 5pm from Monday to Friday, excluding holidays.
Virtual placement exams are taken with third-party partners. The ALEKS PPL has their own online proctoring platform, while Tech contacts with ProctorU for College Success exams. These exams can be done in any location at any time, so long as the student has a computer with a working webcam.
The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) houses a testing center to accommodate student testing needs. Students with testing accommodations or who need to make up missed exams are welcome to use our proctoring services. Faculty must submit the test requests at least 3 days in advance of the exam.
We are a certified HiSET® testing center and proctor the exam on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.
There is a one-time $25 proctor fee for placement exams. Fees can be paid in-person at our Business Office or over the phone at 406-496-4250. ALEKS PPL charges an additional $5 fee if students take their exam virtually. Likewise, ProctorU also charges a fee if students sign up to take a virtual College Success exam within 72 hours of creating an account. It is recommended that students schedule College Success exam(s) on ProctorU for least 3 days after they make an account.
The Testing Center also proctors Distance Learning exams for faculty at other institutions. Fees will be negotiated by the proctor and the student.
Shauna Goodell and Margie Pascoe
Accommodated and Placement Exams: 406-496-4428
HiSET® and Distance Learning: 406-496-4477