Assessment and Testing

BCC is committed to the principle that all students who enter the College should be prepared for college-level work. Unless exempted, all students are required to complete the Accuplacer assessment in reading, writing and mathematics. Students are placed in appropriate courses based on the results of this assessment, administered by the Assessment and Testing Center (K-213).

In addition to the Assessment and Testing Center on the Main Campus, skills assessment is also administered prior to the beginning of each semester (on a limited schedule) at the South County Center in Great Barrington, and at McCann Technical High School in North Adams. Contact the Assessment and Testing Center for more information at 413-236-1655 or 413-236-1656.

The Assessment and Testing Center also serves as the Berkshire County test administration site for the Massachusetts High School Equivalency Assessments (GED and HiSET). Individuals 16 or older who are not enrolled in high school and who have not earned a diploma may register to take this assessment examination. By successfully completing a battery of sub- tests, candidates may earn the Massachusetts High School Equivalency Credential. To learn more about the GED, visit www.myged.com. More details about the HiSET can be found at www.hiset.ets.org.

Students may also earn college credit for knowledge gained through life experience, work experience or independent study by taking the CLEP or DANTES examinations that are offered in more than 50 different subject areas. As an open testing site for these programs, the Assessment and Testing Center is able to serve both BCC students and individuals who wish to obtain credit at other institutions. The Center also proctors exams for individuals who are enrolled in distance learning courses, and offers a service by which faculty members can arrange for make-up testing sessions for their students.

The Assessment and Testing Center is currently the location at which students with accommodations take their classroom exams. To schedule an exam, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/drctesting.