2008 Student Survey Additional Questions about Placement Testing

On October 27th and 28th, 2008, students in all Monday 9:05 a.m. and 5:40 p.m. classes and all Tuesday 9:35 a.m. and 5:40 p.m. classes and were surveyed by the Institutional Research Department.  Of these classes, certain ones were randomly selected by division to receive an additional survey insert about placement testing.  Students were asked questions about if and when they took the placement test, if they retested and on which sections, and if they took comprehensive studies courses.  Students were also asked to indicate their level of agreement with eight statements related to placement testing on a scale of 1=Strongly Disagree to 5=Strongly Agree.

A total of 427 students responded to this placement testing survey insert.  Approximately 89% of these students (N=377) indicated that they had taken the placement test.


Results for Students who Had Taken the Placement Test

Of the 377 students who indicated they had taken the placement test, 36% took it within the past six months, and 19% took it within the past year.  Approximately 30% retested on at least one section of the test.  More specifically, 39% retested on Reading, 32% retested on Writing, and 67% retested on Math.  Approximately 37% indicated that they had taken comprehensive studies and/or developmental courses. 

The summary below presents the results for students indicating that they had taken the placement test.  For the rating questions, the percentage selecting a particular number representing the level of agreement is followed in parentheses by the actual count of student selecting that level.  Numbers in bold represent the most common answer for a given question.  The response average is calculated by multiplying the number of students who chose each response number (1=Strongly Disagree to 5=Strongly Agree) by that number, summing those, and dividing by the total number of respondents to the question.  Students selecting “DK” when they did not know how to respond to a particular question were not included in the response average.


1. Did you take the placement test?
  answered question 377
 
 skipped question
0
  Response
Percent		 Response
Count
Yes
100.0% 377
No   0.0% 0
2. If Yes: When did you first take the placement test? [Check only one.]
 answered question372
 
skipped question
5
 Response
Percent		Response
Count
Within the past six months
36.0%134
Within the past year
18.5%69
More than one year ago
45.4%169
3. After initial testing, did you retake any portion of the test?
 answered question371
 
skipped question
6
 Response
Percent		Response
Count
Yes
29.6%110
No
70.4%261
4. If Yes: On which section(s) did you retest? [Check all that apply.]
 answered question109
 
skipped question
268
 Response
Percent		Response
Count
Reading
38.5%42
Writing
32.1%35
Math
67.0%73
5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements on a scale of 1= Strongly Disagree to 5= Strongly Agree. (circle only one response per question. Circle "DK" if the question does not apply to you or you do not know.)
 answered question375
 
skipped question
2
 12345DKRating
Average		Response
Count
a. I understood when to take the placement test as part of being admitted to the College3.2% (12)3.7% (14)9.9% (37)37.9% (142)43.2% (162)2.1% (8)4.17375
b. Prior to taking the placement test, I knew my placement test scores would determine the courses I could take3.0% (11)4.3% (16)12.1% (45)36.1% (134)43.7% (162)0.8% (3)4.14371
c. Based on my placement test scores, I feel that I was appropriately placed in my English course5.6% (21)5.1% (19)10.8% (40)32.8% (122)39.2% (146)6.5% (24)4.01372
d. Based on my placement test scores, I feel that I was appropriately placed in my Reading course4.3% (16)2.7% (10)10.8% (40)33.4% (124)33.7% (125)15.1% (56)4.05371
e. Based on my placement test scores, I feel that I was appropriately placed in my Math course8.4% (31)10.0% (37)11.1% (41)32.8% (121)34.1% (126)3.5% (13)3.77369
f. I received my placement test scores in a timely manner1.9% (7)2.4% (9)10.0% (37)34.7% (128)47.7% (176)3.3% (12)4.28369
g. I understood which English and Math courses I should take based on my placement test scores4.0% (15)4.3% (16)14.6% (54)35.6% (132)38.8% (144)2.7% (10)4.04371
h. I needed assistance to understand my placement test scores28.2% (104)16.3% (60)16.8% (62)18.2% (67)14.6% (54)6.0% (22)2.73369
6. Have you taken any comprehensive studies/developmental courses (including JumpStart)?
 answered question367
 
skipped question
10
 Response
Percent		Response
Count
Yes
 36.8%135
No
 63.2%232
7. If Yes: Check all of the courses you have taken:
 answered question132
 
skipped question
245
 Response
Percent		Response
Count
MAT 010 (Basic Math)
10.6%14
MAT 010 (Pre-Algebra)
17.4%23
MAT 011
6.1%8
MAT 012
12.9%17
MAT 013
4.5%6
MAT 031
18.9%25
MAT 032
34.8%46
MAT 101
20.5%27
MAT 102
12.9%17
ENG 031
3.0%4
ENG 032
15.9%21
ENG 100
11.4%15
RDG 031
4.5%6
RDG 032
12.1%16