Testing Services

MCC Testing Center staff administer the various assessments for placement free of charge to new students planning to attend Metropolitan Community College. The placement assessments are listed below and are determined by the student's needs. If a student is not sure what placement assessment they may require they should call the Contact Center at 531-622-2400 and they will assist in determining which assessment is needed or scheduling an appointment with an Success Navigator or Academic Advisor if further assistance is required.

Prospective students that are currently enrolled in high school or home schooled will complete the Writing Sample Essay and Accuplacer Math assessment for course placement. The ALEKS math assessment may be appropriate if the student is a high schoool senior or needing a credit math course, speak to an Academic Advisor if you have questions.

• have ACT scores within the last 2 years
• have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.8 (B-) or higher
• have passed a college level English class with a “C” or higher within the last 2 years
• earned previous college level credits from other institutions

Additional MCC Math Assessment Information:

Student begin the math sequence based on a variety of placement measures. Recent high school graduates (within the last two years) with an overall GPA of 2.8 or better may place into college-level courses without taking a placement exam give the following criteria:

*No placement assessment or pre-requisite course is needed for Math 1220, 1240, or 1242 or FINA 1000.

* For Math 1300: High school completion of one year each Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry, with C or better.

*For Math 1305, 1312, or 1410: High school completion of four years of math beginning with Algebra I, with C or better

GED, ACT, and SAT scores may be used for placement with in three years.

Students who are more than two years out of high school or college may also qualify to place into a college-level course upon review of high-school and/or college transcripts by the Math Department.

Additional MCC English Assessment Information:

Students begin the English Sequence based on placement measures. The MCC English Writing Sample is the placement measure for students hoping to take ENGL classes at MCC. The Writing Sample provides the best pathway for placement in the most appropriate course. Contact Testing Center Staff to schedule an appointment to take the Writing Sample.

ACT scores and SAT scores may be used for placement with in 3 years.
Next Generation Accuplacer and Companion scores may be used for placement with in 2 years.

The Writing Sample Essay is used to identify the highest-level English class that a student may place into within MCC's English courses.

Students are allowed 2 hours to read a short article and write (type) their response to the question proposed in the Writing Sample Essay instructions. Their essay is then scored by English faculty within 3 business days. Students should take their time and read carefully. A retake is only allowed with authorization from the Dean of the English Department.

Elkhorn Valley Campus Testing Center: 531-MCC-1278
Open Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed Friday
Closed Weekends
829 North 204th St., Room 158
Elkhorn, NE 68022
Email: testingcenterevc@mccneb.edu

Fort Omaha Campus Testing Center: 531-MCC-2204
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - Noon
Closed Weekends
5300 North 30th St., Building #23, Room 311
Omaha, NE 68111
Email: testingcenterfoc@mccneb.edu

South Omaha Campus Testing Center: 531-MCC-4613
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - Noon
Closed Weekends
2909 Edward Babe Gomez Ave., Connector Building, Room 102
Omaha, NE 68107
Email: testingcentersoc@mccneb.edu

Fremont Area Testing Center: 531-MCC-3000
Hours vary, call for details
Closed Weekends
825 North Broad St.
Fremont, NE 68025
Email: testingcenterfrc@mccneb.edu

MCC TESTING CENTER rules to ensure a professional and equitable exam session:

• Please schedule your appointment at least 24 hours in advance to complete an assessment or exam.
  • You can schedule your appointment in person at the Testing Center, by phone, or by email. Testing seats are limited and by scheduling an appointment you ensure your testing priority. Please inform the Testing Center staff if you have an approved accommodation you will be using.
  • All students are strongly encouraged to call ahead prior to arriving at a testing center to take a test. This allows you to see if the testing center has received an assessment or exam for you and if it is ready for you to take. 
  • Students are held responsible to schedule their own testing appointments. Instructors are not authorized to schedule appointments for their students.
• ​A valid government-issued photo ID  is required to be presented to Testing Center staff before an assessment or exam can be administered. A  valid ID cannot be a facsimile, photocopy, digital  picture or expired. Examples of valid identification include: non-expired state issued drivers licenses and ID cards, non-expired state issued temporary driver's licenses and ID cards as well as non expired government issued passports.
• A current MCC Student ID card may be accepted as valid ID for specific assessments or exams, i.e. placement assessments.
• Children of any age are not allowed in the Testing Center or to wait on the college premise while a student is sitting for an exam or assessment.
• You may not leave the examination room for any reason without the permission of a testing center staff member. Failure to notify a testing center staff member prior to  leaving may invalidate your test upon return.
• Food and drink items are not allowed inside the Testing Center.
• Mobile/Cell phones are not allowed inside the Testing Center. They must be turned off or placed on silent mode and secured prior to entering the examination room.
• Electronic devices that not authorized for your testing or are not allowed inside the examination area include, but are not limited to:  items with bluetooth technology, ear buds or ear phones , headphones, smart watches, FitBit or fitness type devices, glasses with USB or bluetooth connect ability, cameras, flash drives and unauthorized calculators.
• The Testing Center is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
• Items not required for testing (such as backpacks or briefcases) are not allowed inside the testing room(s) or tabletops while actively taking an exam.
• Noise must be kept to a minimum at all times within the examination room.
• Cheating will be handled in a manner that is in accordance with the "Student Conduct and Discipline Procedures Memorandum."
• Testing Center staff members are not responsible for returning your homework or class assignments to the instructor.
• Testing Center staff will inform students of testing time limits for their make-up exams and/or other assessments. Students are responsible for keeping within time limits given and all testing times are documented.
• Testing Center staff are required to record all assessments and make-up exams before they can be administered. Tests may not be available to take for 24 hours once they arrive in the testing center. Students should not expect exams to be available immediately upon receipt from the academic faculty unless prior arrangements have been made. 

ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces) is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system that uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a subject.

ALEKS PPL (Placement, Preparation, and Learning) accurately measures a student's math readiness and repairs learning loss via web-based and self-paced skill building. An ALEKS PPL account is valid for one year and provides students 5 assessments (initial and 4 retakes) in an effort to improve their placement score (if necessary). All five assessments must be completed within one year from the time the student registers for an ALEKS PPL account.

ALEKS PPL Math Assessment Parameters:

• Not timed - no time limit, average completion time 1 ½ - 2 hours.
• up to 30 questions.
• No personal calculators, tablets, or cell phones allowed.

• Prospective students that are currently enrolled in high school or home schooled will complete the Accuplacer English and Math assessments for course placement.
• Next Generation Accuplacer: A computerized assessment for placement test for both English and Math. The average time to complete this test is two hours or less; however, it is not timed. This assessment is offered at all campus/center locations.
• Companion: This assessment test is only for persons needing DSS accommodations and can be given by appointment only at all testing locations. This exam is a proportionally comparable written version of the computerized Accuplacer assessment. To be eligible, students must have a documented disability and see a MCC DSS adviser for recommendation. This test is offered in a paper and pencil version, a large-print version, a braille version and an audio CD version as well. Students may take the English and the Math sections together, separately, or not at all. Testing is done using a test booklet, answer sheet, scratch paper and a No. 2 pencil. Calculators are not authorized for use with the Companion Exam when completing Arithmetic and Elementary Algebra problems unless noted in DSS accommodations. Accuplacer Companion does not have a set time limit for test completion.

• Unless noted otherwise, students will pay for proctored testing costs at a campus Student Services Cashiers window or by contacting the Student Accounts Office at 531-622-2405 during normal business hours.
• Testing Center Staff are not allowed to accept cash, charge cards, checks or money order payments for any type of testing.

Arranging For a Proctored Exam with An MCC Testing Center

Metropolitan Community College provides proctoring services for non-MCC students who require a secure and monitored location to complete an exam for an outside institution. MCC reserves the right to schedule these exams based on the availability of seating and the ability to accommodate students based on the requesting institutions' testing requirements. 

If the exam has complex instructions, course instructors should consult with a Testing Center staff member prior to the testing date to ensure that correct instructions have been documented and can be given to the student at the time of testing. Testing Center staff members are not to be held responsible for correcting, duplicating or interpreting exams. Only materials and instructions annotated on the MCC Instructor Transmittal Form for External Proctoring will be allowed. 
Students will be informed of the given time limit(s) for the exam and the Start and Stop times will be documented. However, it is not always possible to monitor a student's exam time, and that responsibility is left up to the student. 

Cost 
There is a $30 proctoring examination fee for each proctored exam. This fee must be paid in advance of taking the exam. Fees may be paid at either the Student Services Cashier Cage (cash, credit card or check) or by contacting the Student Accounts office at 531-622-2405 (credit card only). Students must obtain and present a receipt number to the Testing Center as proof of payment before testing can be initiated. 

• EXCEPTION to $30 exam fee: If a student is completing an exam for a Nebraska EDUCATIONAL institution, we do not charge the $30. 
• EXAMPLES: Nebraska high schools, other Nebraska community colleges, UNO, UNL, Creighton University, Bellevue University.

If paper copies of the exam and materials and/or the results from other types of testing must be returned to an outside organization through the US Postal Service. Then all postage, packaging and handling must be prepaid and provided by the outside educational institution or the student themselves prior to the start of any testing as well. 

Support 
If Disability Support Services (DSS) Accommodations are needed for a student to take an exam, it is the student and/or the student's home college/university DSS responsibility to provide this information in advance to the testing center prior to the examination or assessment date. Students and/or the student's college or university DSS is also responsible for making any special arrangements to have a writer, reader, transcriber, or translator scheduled to meet with the student in advance as well to meet the student's accommodations requirements. 

Procedure to schedule a proctored exam: 
Students are expected to contact the Testing Center at least 1 week prior to their exam date to schedule their proctored test. Keep in mind that MCC is closed on major holidays. Schedule your appointment as soon as possible to ensure you can complete your exam before any deadlines. 
Instructors are not permitted to schedule test dates for their students. 

The student submits the MCC Instructor Transmittal Form for External Proctoring to their instructor to submit to the MCC Testing Center they scheduled their proctored exam. The MCC Instructor Transmittal Form for External Proctoring is required to accompany each exam submitted, whether submitted online or in hard copy. Exams and transmittal forms must be received jointly and at least 48 hours (about 2 days, be aware we are not available Fridays after 12:00pm or weekends) prior to the student's appointment to test. 

Form:
MCC Instructor Transmittal form for External Proctoring Request Form 
Must be submitted to Metropolitan Community College by the Instructor, Faculty, Professor, or representative of the Institution (University, College, etc.) of the student requesting an approved proctor. The student may provide the form to their Instructor, Faculty member, or Professor but the student cannot submit the completed form to Metropolitan Community College. 

Required:

All students must have a valid original (not a picture or photocopy) government-issued photo ID to take any exam. Students will not be allowed to test if they do not have the correct identification available 

For additional information and to schedule a proctored exam for an outside institution, contact an MCC Testing Center.

If English is a student's second language, the student must first meet with an MCC Academic Advisor or Counselor located in Student Services. This meeting is to decide which type of testing is required based on student's individual needs and requirements. There are two different assessments available for ESL students:

• Accuplacer ESL: This is a computerized ESL Language Use, and ESL Sentence Meaning placement assessment program administered for English only. MCC uses the ESL Listening, and ESL Reading Skills, and ESL Language Use for English Course Placement. ESL WritePlacer (an additional short writing sample) may also be required if there is a question as to an understanding of a required skill set. The average completion time to take this placement examination is approximately three hours. There is however no actual set time limit for taking this test. Sample tests can be found using the highlighted links for ESL Accuplacer and ESL WritePlacer.
• Companion ESL: The Companion ESL placement test is only for nonnative English speaking individuals who require the ESL Companion with DSS accommodations. This proficiency exam may be provided by appointment only at any testing location. The exam is a proportionally comparable written version of the computerized Accuplacer ESL assessment. To be eligible, students must have a documented disability and see a MCC DSS adviser for recommendation. This test is available in a paper and pencil version, a large-print paper and pencil version, a braille version and an audio CD version. Testing is accomplished by using a test booklet, an answer sheet, scratch paper and a No. 2 pencil. Companion ESL does not have a set time limit for test completion. Companion ESL uses the same practice tests that are used with the computerized Accuplacer ESL exam. Sample tests can be found using the highlighted links for ESL Accuplacer and ESL WritePlacer.

The Accuplacer and Companion can only be taken twice within any given two (2) year time period. To take the examination a second time, students must contact and speak with an MCC Advisor, whom, after reviewing initial scores, can recommend, annotate and approve a students request or need for a retake in Colleague. It is recommended however that all students complete a period of review prior to taking or retaking an assessment using the Accuplacer Study Application.

All persons are required to provide a valid photo ID before any type of assessment or exam can be administered. Valid photo ID types include:

• A current (non-expired) government issued photo ID such as a current driver’s license, state ID card, military ID, or passport.
• Lockers are available for personal items at all locations.

Course placement is evaluated by the results of each student's testing abilities in the areas of Math, Reading and Writing. To obtain a more valid and accurate skill placement, all students are encouraged to complete a review (if available) of their academic skills prior to taking the placement exam.

Next Generation Accuplacer and Companion Accuplacer use the same study application which is tailored to specifically help students become more prepared to test. It can be found on the Accuplacer Study App. There are a variety of other web based test taking tools and study preparation resources available for use as well. If using an application other than the Accuplacer Study App, test preparation should only focus on reading comprehension, writing and math portions of the preparation materials. If you have any questions about accessing the Accuplacer Study App, contact any MCC Learning and Tutoring Center.

ALEKS math assessment does not have an official review source but students may visit any MCC Math Center.

Writing Sample Essay assessment does not have an official or unofficial review at this time.

SmarterMeasure is an optional assessment that measures learner readiness. It will help you prepare to be successful as a student. You are not penalized for guessing on SmarterMeasure, however, you will still need to answer every question on the assessment. Upon completion of SmarterMeasure, you will receive a score report which will not only help you understand your strengths and opportunities for improvement, but will also provide resources to help you succeed. Remember, this assessment is strictly for your benefit. Take the time to rate yourself honestly.

Elkhorn Valley Campus Testing Center: 531-MCC-1278
Open Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed Friday
Closed Weekends
829 North 204th St., Room 158
Elkhorn, NE 68022
Email: testingcenterevc@mccneb.edu

Fort Omaha Campus Testing Center: 531-MCC-2204
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - Noon
Closed Weekends
5300 North 30th St., Building #23, Room 311
Omaha, NE 68111
Email: testingcenterfoc@mccneb.edu

South Omaha Campus Testing Center: 531-MCC-4613
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - Noon
Closed Weekends
2909 Edward Babe Gomez Ave., Connector Building, Room 102
Omaha, NE 68107
Email: testingcentersoc@mccneb.edu

Fremont Area Testing Center: 531-MCC-3000
Hours vary, call for details
Closed Weekends
825 North Broad St.
Fremont, NE 68025
Email: testingcenterfrc@mccneb.edu