I need to take a test to register for pre-requisites!

Nurse Ratched, RN · May 3, 2005

What test are you required to take?

mummer43, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

What test are you required to take?

They said I have to take a basic biology test. I'm not worried about the test, but the class starts on 05/16 and I would like to prepare for the test if I have to take it. Can anyone recommend a good place to brush up on basic bio. online?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

Im sure the test they want you to take is basic placement tests. Dont worry about it, just take them and get it over with. As with anyone that is starting pre-req classes they are probly required to have all students starting pre-reqs take these placement tests. Usually in math, science and english. You probly will test out of any of the remedial stuff they are looking for.

Im not implying that you do but surely you have seen and heard stories of people who dont really have the degrees they claim, claim they have graduated from something then it is found they didnt. It just the schools way of making sure you are in the class you need to be in.

mummer43, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

Im sure the test they want you to take is basic placement tests. Dont worry about it, just take them and get it over with. As with anyone that is starting pre-req classes they are probly required to have all students starting pre-reqs take these placement tests. Usually in math, science and english. You probly will test out of any of the remedial stuff they are looking for.
Im not implying that you do but surely you have seen and heard stories of people who dont really have the degrees they claim, claim they have graduated from something then it is found they didnt. It just the schools way of making sure you are in the class you need to be in.

I can understand what you are saying, but I never thought I'd have to take a placement test to get my pre-reqs. Like I said, I am taking them at a community college and hopfully going to a University next spring to start an accelerated BSN program. Penn State doesn't require a pre-test and I'd take the classes there if it wasn't 4 times as expensive.

If I do have to take it, how hard do you think it will be? The woman I spoke today said it's 50 questions and I have to get 25 right to pass.

Montessori Mommy · May 3, 2005

I'd say it's worth a few minutes to call and request that the test be waived. I'm in a similar situation, and the community college waived the test since I already have a BS.

Good luck!

Beth

mummer43, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

I'd say it's worth a few minutes to call and request that the test be waived. I'm in a similar situation, and the community college waived the test since I already have a BS.
Good luck!
Beth

The woman I spoke to in admissions, said she couldn't waive the test. She said the only person who could possibly waive it is the head of the bio. department. I am going to call them tomorrow and ask if it can be waived.

ratchit · May 3, 2005

I am going to start my pre-reqs for an accelerated BSN program this summer and when I called to register for A&P, I was told I needed to take a test.
I already have a bachelors degree and I won't be getting my degree from the community college where I want to take the classes. Does anyone think I can have the test requirement waived?

What kind of test are they asking you to take? If it is the "can you read? Can you add and multiply?" kind of test, then asking them to waive it based on your having passed college classes is reasonable. They dont have to, but it can't hurt to ask.

I looked at the websites of a couple community colleges near me. Some had A+P I as a level 1 class that only required the read/add type of test. Some had A+P as a second level Bio course that required a semester of both college Bio and college Chemistry to register. Their perogative.

If the head of the Biology department is the person to talk to about exceptions, then it sounds like they require a previous college Bio class for their program. Having an unrelated BS degree won't cover that.

For what it's worth, I've taken classes at a couple community colleges since I got my degree. I took the "can you read?" tests because I had to and was really surprised at how much math I had forgotten. These were "sign your name and pay us $20 and you're admitted!" colleges- totally noncompetitive admissions. But that only gets people in the doors- it doesn't mean they are qualified to take any class that school offers.

If they do require a previous semester of collge Biology for A+P, I think taking a 50 question test with a passing score of 25% to avoid it is a pretty sweet deal. My suggestion would be to just take the test- it will likely be faster than trying to get an exception made for you.

mummer43, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

What kind of test are they asking you to take? If it is the "can you read? Can you add and multiply?" kind of test, then asking them to waive it based on your having passed college classes is reasonable. They dont have to, but it can't hurt to ask.
I looked at the websites of a couple community colleges near me. Some had A+P I as a level 1 class that only required the read/add type of test. Some had A+P as a second level Bio course that required a semester of both college Bio and college Chemistry to register. Their perogative.
If the head of the Biology department is the person to talk to about exceptions, then it sounds like they require a previous college Bio class for their program. Having an unrelated BS degree won't cover that.
For what it's worth, I've taken classes at a couple community colleges since I got my degree. I took the "can you read?" tests because I had to and was really surprised at how much math I had forgotten. These were "sign your name and pay us $20 and you're admitted!" colleges- totally noncompetitive admissions. But that only gets people in the doors- it doesn't mean they are qualified to take any class that school offers.
If they do require a previous semester of collge Biology for A+P, I think taking a 50 question test with a passing score of 25% to avoid it is a pretty sweet deal. My suggestion would be to just take the test- it will likely be faster than trying to get an exception made for you.

I will probably end up taking the test, but I haven't had biology in a while and if I fail it, I have to take a biology class before A&P and that would mess my whole timetabe up.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

I doubt community colleges will waive any placement tests. Simply because they have so many people that want to attend for whatever reason, price usually is the biggest factor. There are a lot of people who have BS degrees who cant write a simple essay in correct form. They cant insist on one person taking placement and not others. Waiving a placement is like them taking your word for the fact that you have had enough experience that you can meet their writing criteria or science.

It probly wont be that tough, if you have a well rounded BS then you will probly be fine. Brush up on some high school level chemistry, algebra, and review basic essay composition style if you feel you are rusty in those areas. Most tests are set up so most any HS grad who has taken algebra,advanced english or chem could pass it.

Community college have lower level math, science and english classes(basically remedial classes) so students can enter the college level classes with the knowledge they need to be successful with them. This is what the college is trying to find out, if you at least are competant in basic areas to be able to move into the college level courses. Simplistic i know,, but still someone who has had a degree in Art and hasnt had to take many math or science classes for their degree, and the ones they did take were 20 years ago may in fact need to do a remedial class in algebra or science to succeed in an entry level class. It helps them meet the instructors expectation that all students in a 100 level class at community college are on the same playing field.

I just read your last post, and actually doing the remedial level classes in biology wouldnt be all that bad. It would help because the information you will need will be fresh in your mind and make the A&P stuff easier to put together. I know i very much needed the math, i remediated in algebra before i started my nursing pre-reqs, math was a degree requirement, so in order to get through the credit class i knew i had to get back to the basics to understand what i was doing.

ZootRN · May 3, 2005

I have BA and MA degrees. None of the placement tests were waived for me. I guess, it's up to particular school.

ratchit · May 4, 2005

I will probably end up taking the test, but I haven't had biology in a while and if I fail it, I have to take a biology class before A&P and that would mess my whole timetabe up.

I think their response to that would be that they expect you to have a certain competence in biology in order to keep up and be successful in A+P. If you can't pass the screening test, you really SHOULDN'T be in A+P.

Having a BS in one area doesn't mean you learned everything in all subjects that are taught at a freshman or sophomore level. Think about it this way- you must have taken senior level classes in something. Do you think someone with a Masters in a totally different subject than your BS is in knows more about your specialty than you do?

I understand and sympathize with your wanting to keep on the schedule you have planned. But I don't think you planned a reasonable schedule- maybe you should have looked at an A+P course without prereqs or started with a lower level bio class last semester. If they require more bio knowledge than you have to take A+P, I think you'll really regret taking A+P without it. A+P is a really heavy course- failing it will put you further off schedule.

Good luck.