Preparing for Placement Tests

It is very important that you study for your placement test. We recommend spending at least two hours reviewing each test area – English and math. By obtaining a better score, you will have more class options and can get a head start towards achieving your academic goals.

Durham Tech English Test 

The English portion of the Durham Tech placement test assesses a student’s readiness for ENG 111 based on content from the ENG 111 course and the skills needed to be successful in that course.

Students must earn an 85% or higher to place out of Developmental English classes and directly into ENG 111. See chart below.

Students may take the English portion of the Durham Tech placement test a maximum of two times.

Durham Tech Placement Test and ScoresEnglish Placement
English - 85% or higherENG 111
English - 75% to 84%ENG 111 and ENG 045
English - 74% or lowerENG 025


What's on the Durham Tech English Test

Grammar

MLA Style

Paraphrasing

  • Restatement of another person’s idea using your own words and structure while preserving the original meaning
  • Paraphrasing Practice

Reading Comprehension

Reading Vocabulary

  • Use of words by an author to communicate ideas directly or indirectly in a passage
  • Vocabulary Practice

Reading Analysis

Sentence Mechanics

Source Credibility

Summarizing

Using transitions

Writing Process


Durham Tech Math Test

There are two Durham Tech math placement tests:  Students must earn an 80% on each test to place into a curriculum-level course (see chart below).

Students may take each Durham Tech math placement test a maximum of two times.

Durham Tech Placement Test and ScoresMath Placement
Quantitative Literacy Placement Test - 80% or higherMAT 143 or MAT 152
Quantitative Literacy Placement Test - Less than 80%MAT 025 or MAT 035
Algebra Placement Test - 80% or higherMAT 121 or MAT 171
Algebra Placement Test - Less than 80%MAT 025 or MAT 035


What's on the Durham Tech Math Placement Test

Quantitative Literacy Test

  • Whole Numbers
  • Fractions and Mixed Numbers
  • Decimals
  • Order of Operations
  • Ratios, Rates and Proportions
  • Percents
  • Measurement
  • Descriptive Statistics
  • Geometry
  • Linear Equations 

Algebra Test

  • Real Numbers  
  • Solving Equations and Inequalities
  • Graphing
  • Exponents and Polynomials
  • Functions
  • Factoring
  • Rational Expressions
  • Radical Expressions
  • Quadratic Equations 

Durham Tech Placement Practice Tests

English Resources


Math Resources