Accuplacer Sample Questions For Students
Accuplacer Sample Questions For Students
© 2016 The College Board. College Board, ACCUPLACER, WritePlacer and the
acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. All other products and
services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on
the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
Sentence Skills 3. To walk, biking, and driving are Pat’s favorite ways of
getting around.
A. To walk, biking, and driving
In an ACCUPLACER® placement test, there are 20
B. Walking, biking, and driving
Sentence Skills questions of two types. C. To walk, biking, and to drive
• The first type consists of sentence-correction D. To walk, to bike, and also driving
questions that require an understanding of 4. When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this is
sentence structure. These questions ask you to an example of jaywalking.
choose the most appropriate word or phrase for A. When you cross the street in the middle of the block,
the underlined portion of the sentence. this
B. You cross the street in the middle of the block, this
• The second type consists of construction-shift C. Crossing the street in the middle of the block
questions. These questions ask that a sentence be D. The fact that you cross the street in the middle of the
rewritten according to the criteria shown while block
maintaining essentially the same meaning as the 5. Walking by the corner the other day, a child, I noticed, was
original sentence. watching for the light to change.
A. a child, I noticed, was watching
Within these two primary categories, the questions B. I noticed a child watching
are also classified according to the skills being tested. C. a child was watching, I noticed,
Some questions deal with the logic of the sentence, D. there was, I noticed, a child watching
others with whether or not the answer is a complete 6. Going back to his old school, everything there looked
sentence, and still others with the relationship smaller than Don remembered.
between coordination and subordination. A. Going back to his old school,
B. When he went back to his old school,
C. To go back to his old school,
D. As he went back to his old school,
Sentence Skills Sample 7. Painting, drawing and to sculpt are some of the techniques
Questions artists such as Picasso used to express themselves.
A. Painting, drawing and to sculpt
B. To paint, to draw, and sculpting
Directions for questions 1–11 C. Painting, drawing, and sculpting
Select the best version of the underlined part of the D. To paint, draw, and sculpting
sentence. The first choice is the same as the original 8. Playing sports in school which is an activity meant to teach
sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, teamwork and leadership skills students can use later in life.
choose the first answer. A. which is an activity
B. is an activity because it is
1. Stamp collecting being a hobby that is sometimes used in C. being an activity which is
the schools to teach economics and social studies. D. is an activity
A. being a hobby that is 9. Glancing at his watch, Daniel picked up his speed.
B. is a hobby because it is A. Glancing at his watch,
C. which is a hobby B. He glanced at his watch, and
D. is a hobby C. To glance at his watch,
2. Knocked sideways, the statue looked as if it would fall. D. He glanced at his watch,
A. Knocked sideways, the statue looked 10. For a snake, shedding their skin up to eight times a year is
B. The statue was knocked sideways, looked part of a natural process.
C. The statue looked knocked sideways A. For a snake, shedding their skin
D. The statue, looking knocked sideways, B. A snake’s shedding its skin
C. When a snake sheds its skin
D. To shed its skin, for snakes
12. It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the Listening in the park,
same cannot be said of liquids.
The next words will be
Rewrite, beginning with A. no unusual noises could be heard
B. then Chris heard no unusual noises
Unlike liquids, C. and hearing no unusual noises
The next words will be D. Chris heard no unusual noises
A. it is easy to 17. It is unusual to see owls during the daytime, since they are
B. we can easily nocturnal animals.
C. solid objects can easily be
D. solid objects are easy to be Rewrite, beginning with
13. Although the sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and Being nocturnal animals,
light, it will bravely resist any force that threatens its nest.
The next words will be
Rewrite, beginning with A. it is unusual to see owls
B. owls are not usually seen
The sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and light, C. owls during the daytime are
The next words will be D. it is during the daytime that
A. but it will bravely resist 18. If I want your opinion, I will ask for it.
B. nevertheless bravely resisting
C. and it will bravely resist Rewrite, beginning with
D. even if bravely resisting I won’t ask for your opinion
14. If he had enough strength, Todd would move the boulder.
The next words will be
Rewrite, beginning with A. if I want it
B. when I want it
Todd cannot move the boulder
C. although I want it
The next words will be D. unless I want it
A. when lacking 19. It began to rain, and everyone at the picnic ran to the trees
B. because he to take shelter.
C. although there
D. without enough Rewrite, beginning with
Everyone at the picnic ran to the trees to take shelter
The next words will be
A. beginning to rain
B. when it began to rain
C. although it began to rain
D. and it began to rain
The purpose of the passage is to present The passage suggests that the wheel is an important
A. a personal observation invention because it
B. a solution to a problem A. is one of the world’s oldest inventions
C. factual information B. forms the basis of so many later inventions
D. opposing scientific theories C. can be traced to many ancient cultures
D. is one the world’s most famous inventions
Morse left the art world and helped to invent the telegraph How are the two sentences related?
because he A. They contradict each other.
A. was tired of painting B. They present problems and solutions.
B. wanted to communicate with people far away C. They establish a contrast.
C. experienced a personal tragedy in his life D. They repeat the same idea.
D. was fascinated by science
13. While most people think of dogs as pets, some dogs are bred
9. Leonardo da Vinci is not only one of the most famous and trained specifically for certain types of work.
artists in history, but he was also a botanist, a writer, and
an inventor. Even though most of his inventions were The bloodhound’s acute sense of smell and willing
not actually built in his lifetime, many of today’s modern personality make it ideal for tracking lost objects or people.
machines can be traced back to some of his original designs. What does the second sentence do?
The parachute, the military tank, the bicycle, and even the
airplane were foretold in the imaginative drawings that can A. It makes a contrast.
still be seen in the fragments of da Vinci’s notebooks. Over B. It restates an idea found in the first.
500 years ago, this man conceived ideas that were far ahead C. It states an effect.
of his time. D. It gives an example.
14. Paris, France, is a city that has long been known as a center
The author of this passage is praising da Vinci primarily
of artistic and cultural expression.
for his
A. artistic talent In the 1920s, Paris was home to many famous artists
B. intelligence and writers from around the world, such as Picasso and
C. foresight Hemingway.
D. fame
What does the second sentence do?
Directions for questions 10–18 A. It reinforces the first.
B. It states an effect.
For the questions that follow, two underlined sentences C. It draws a conclusion.
are followed by a question or statement. Read the D. It provides a contrast.
sentences, then choose the best answer to the question or
15. Studies show that the prevalence of fast-food restaurants
the best completion of the statement. corresponds with the rates of obesity in both children and
adults.
10. The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in 15 years.
Obesity is now on the rise in countries where fast-food
Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this restaurants are becoming more common.
year.
How do the two sentences relate?
What does the second sentence do?
A. They express roughly the same idea.
A. It restates the idea found in the first.
B. They contradict each other.
B. It states an effect.
C. They present problems and solutions.
C. It gives an example.
D. They establish a contrast.
D. It analyzes the statement made in the first.
8. At only 43, John F. Kennedy was the American Which best describes Eliot?
president ever to be elected. A. Boring
A. most young B. Lazy
B. more young C. Selfish
C. youngest D. Tired.
D. younger
15. Juanita rushed to her dance class and burst through the door
Directions for questions 9–15 in the nick of time.
Each problem contains one or two sentences followed by When Juanita got to her dance class, she was
a question. Choose the correct answer to the question. A. very early
B. very late
9. Elena found a tomato that was much bigger than all the C. nearly late
others in the garden. D. a little late
How did the tomato compare to the others in the garden?
A. It was the smallest.
B. It was not very large.
C. It was larger than some.
D. It was the largest.
10. When the popular entertainer canceled her appearance, the
Latin American festival was postponed indefinitely.
When will the festival likely take place?
A. Tonight
B. Tomorrow
C. Next week
D. Many weeks later