Student taking a test in the Testing Center

Testing

Placement testing is required for most College Now courses. To determine if a placement test or SAT scores are required for your course, go to the College Now class schedule. If a prerequisite or test score is required for your class, it will be noted in the course description.

Note: College Now high school students who have taken the SAT exam and have qualifying scores that meet the testing requirements are not required to take the COD placement test.

Prepare for the Test 

Required testing must be completed prior to enrollment. We strongly recommend that students prepare in advance by reviewing the test prep materials available. Your placement test score can have a significant impact on your eligibility to enroll.

Take the Test

The Academic Testing Center is located on the second floor of the Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 2A06. Additional testing locations are available at our Regional Centers in Addison, Carol Stream, Naperville and Westmont. 

Be sure to check testing hours before going to take the placement test as hours are subject to change. 

ID Required

In order to take the ACCUPLACER placement test, you must bring a current official photo ID, such as a COD ID, driver’s license or state ID. You must know your COD student ID number.  You will not be allowed to test without these two important identifiers.

Our Academic Testing Policies includes a list of personal items not allowed during testing. 

How to Submit SAT scores

There are 3 ways you can submit your qualifying SAT scores to COD:

  1. From SAT: Request your scores be sent to COD when you register to take the SAT test.   
  2. Student copy received from SAT: If you requested an official score report be mailed to you when you registered to take the SAT test, you may bring your original score report to one of the following offices; Testing Center, Office of Admissions and Outreach, Student Registration Services or Office of Student Records. We will not accept a photocopy or a score report printed from the SAT website as they are not considered official.
  3. From your high school: Verify with your high school that your SAT scores are on your high school transcript. If so, request a copy of your high school transcript to be sent to our Admissions Office for processing.

Alternate versions of the reading and writing placement tests are available for students with disabilities.

Prior to testing, students must submit appropriate documentation of their disability to the Center for Access and Accommodations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Placement testing is required for most College Now courses. To determine if a placement test or SAT score is required for your course, go to the College Now Courses to view course information. If a prerequisite, placement test or SAT score is required, it will be noted in the course description.  

The Academic Testing Center is located on the second floor of the Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 2A06. Additional testing locations are available at our Regional Centers in Addison, Carol Stream, Naperville and Westmont. 

Be sure to check testing hours before going to take the placement test as hours are subject to change.

Yes, we strongly recommend students prepare in advance for the ACCUPLACER test by reviewing the test prep materials available online.

In order to take the ACCUPLACER placement test, you must bring a current official photo ID, such as your high school photo ID card, COD Student ID, driver’s license, passport or state ID. 

You must know your COD student ID number. You will not be allowed to test without these two important identifiers.  Check out Academic Testing Policies which includes a list of personal items not allowed during testing.

 Yes, qualifying SAT/ACT test scores can be used instead of the placement test, to place into the following courses

Reading Placement Test

  • ACT composite score of 20 or higher. Proof of score must be provided.
  • SAT total score of 950 or higher. Proof of score must be provided. (NEW exam starting March 2016)
  • SAT verbal/critical reading score of 500. Proof of score must be provided. (OLD exam prior to March 2016)

Writing Placement Test

  • ACT composite score of 20 or higher. Proof of score must be provided.
  • SAT total score of 950 or higher. Proof of score must be provided. (NEW exam starting March 2016)

Math Placement Test

  • Math prerequisites may be met using a qualifying score on the ALEKS Math Placement Test. ACT math scores can only be used to satisfy a geometry requirement. 

Send them early! There are three ways you can send your SAT scores to us:
  1. From SAT: Request your scores be sent to COD when you register to take the SAT test. 
  2. Student copy received from SAT:If you requested an official score report be mailed to you when you registered to take the SAT test, you may bring your original score report to one of the following offices; Testing Center, Office of Admissions and Outreach, Student Registration Services or Office of Student Records. We will not accept a photocopy or a score report printed from the SAT website as they are not considered official.
  3. From your high school: Verify with your high school that your SAT scores are on your high school transcript. If so, request a copy of your high school transcript to be sent to our Admissions Office for processing.