Compass Test

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Oct 26, 2011

How fresh are you out of high school? If it's only been a couple of years, you'll do just fine! If not, just refresh yourself on basic math skills, spelling, etc. -- you may feel less stressed when you hear this...I was out of high school for almost 6 years before I took the COMPASS and passed all portions. I highly suck at math, and still passed it. At my CC, there was not a time limit, so it's very minimal stress.

This is a decent website: http://www.compass-test-practice.com/

For a lot of the sections, it's mostly common sense knowledge, so it's kind of hard and too stressful to really try to study for it.

Good luck! :)

WANT2BSN · Oct 27, 2011

Iridescent Orchid, Thanks so much for your response and the link. I've been out of high school for about 18 years, but I help my 5th and 6th grader with their math homework. This is a career change for me, I have a BSc in business Administration. Im a little nervous, but will take your advice.

mofomeat · Oct 27, 2011

My honest opinion:

Take the COMPASS test as it comes, and let the chips fall where they may. It will reveal the stuff you aren't so good at. YES this means you may have to take more classes, but it will tell you to take those classes because you NEED to.

1) If you're no good at math but cram and test your way into Chemistry, it will be a LOT harder than if you had to take an algebra 'refresher' course first.

2) If your writing skills aren't so hot, they will cost you points on papers you write. Papers you write for classes that MATTER. A low-level English course could make all the difference.

I say this because #1 above was my story. I hated math all through jr. high and high school, and did as little of it as I could. When I went back to school 17 years later, I had forgotten how bad I was at it. I thought "yeah, I have an ok grasp on Algebra, I bet I can skate through like HS", but the COMPASS called me out.

I had to take a Bonehead Algebra class, and to be honest, not only did I actually enjoy the class, I learned the stuff I needed to know for Chemistry. Without the math, I would have probably failed Chemistry.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

-J

Exhaustipated, ADN, BSN · Oct 28, 2011

I had been out of school for 25 years when I took the COMPASS test. My school recommended studying for the test and I knew math was my biggest weakness, so I started with the Cliffs Notes book Math For Standardized Tests, and then went on to watch videos and do the practices at Khan Academy. I guess it worked, because I scored high enough to go into College Algebra, which I'm currently passing with a high A.

Good luck!

WANT2BSN · Nov 4, 2011

Thanks!

I will check out the book and the links. Im not nervous, so I guess thats a good sign?

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Nov 8, 2011

Iridescent Orchid, Thanks so much for your response and the link. I've been out of high school for about 18 years, but I help my 5th and 6th grader with their math homework. This is a career change for me, I have a BSc in business Administration. Im a little nervous, but will take your advice.

You're quite welcome! I hope you will benefit in every way from changing your career to Nursing and that you may have few to no regrets! I believe you'll do just fine on the COMPASS. Breath in and breath out! It's full of lots of basics!

Best of luck and wish you a wonderful journey into your Nursing career! :nurse: