Advising and Placement Exam Information

Center for Academic Achievement

Welcome to Simmons!

This information is very important for all incoming students: traditional first years, transfers, and Dix Scholars. Please read through carefully. Any questions that you may have should be directed to the Center for Academic Achievement either via phone at 617.521.2474 or via email at caa@simmons.edu.

Click here to return to the Orientation Web page: http://www.simmons.edu/orientation.

If you have not taken the incoming student survey, please do so by clicking here: Summer Survey

If you need any of the material being sent to you converted to an alternative format, please contact our Disability Services Office by calling 617.521.2474. You can also email the Director of Disability Services, Timothy Rogers, at timothy.rogers@simmons.edu.

Placement Exams

Language Placement Exam

Students who wish to begin studying a new language do not need to take a placement exam. They may simply enroll into the 101 course in their language of choice. All students who wish to continue taking a language that they have previously studied must take a placement exam to ensure that you are in the appropriate level. Students who feel that they want to place out of the language requirement must take a proctored placement exam on campus.

Placement exams for French and Spanish are now being offered via the web throughout the summer. These exams are for PLACEMENT ONLY. Students may not pass out or exempt themselves from the language requirement by taking an on-line test. Those students who feel that they would be able to pass out or exempt themselves from the language requirement must take a proctored exam on campus. There are placement exams offered during Summer Preview Days in the summer, during Fall Orientation, and January Orientation.

Students wishing to take the French or Spanish exams can use the password included in their advisor contact email and go to this web page.

In addition to the Spanish and French exams offered via the web, exams in Mandarin Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and Arabic (all languages taught at Simmons) as well as any other requested language, are offered during the Summer Preview Days as well as at Fall Orientation. Exams for languages not taught at Simmons must be pre-ordered and will be offered at cost to the student. If you wish to take an examination for a language other than French, Spanish, Mandarin, or Italian, you will need to contact the Center for Academic Achievement to arrange for one to be ordered. Please allow a minimum of three weeks prior to the date you wish to take the test for the CAA to order the exam. In very special circumstances, students may petition the Center for Academic Achievement to take an exam by individual appointment during the academic year. For more information, contact the Center for Academic Achievement (caa@simmons.edu or 617.521.2474).

Chemistry Placement Exam

Every undergraduate student who plans to take a chemistry course, either as part of her major or to fulfill a science requirement should take this exam. Because the chemistry placement examination is more a test of aptitude than achievement, a previous course in high school chemistry is not required in order to perform well. You should complete the exam before registering for classes. If you do not plan to take a college chemistry course, you do not need to take this exam. Your placement in either CHEM 111 or CHEM 113 will be determined based on your test results. No materials other than a calculator should be used while taking this exam. You will not be excluded from any course on the basis of this examination. The chemistry placement exam should be taken online prior to orientation and registration. Your placement test results will be available to you through your academic advisor.

To log on to Simmons eLearning from anywhere:

  • Go to http://my.simmons.edu/elearning/
  • Type your assigned username
  • Type your password
  • You should be at a screen that says "my Simmons eLearning"
  • Click on "Center for Academic Achievement" to enter the course.

NOTE: If you have difficulty accessing the Chemistry Placement Exam make sure that the pop-up blockers are disabled. You must also use Internet Explorer or Netscape as the browser to access the exam. MAC and SAFARI are not supported.

Competency Exams

Mathematics Competency Exam

Every Simmons graduate must have demonstrated competency in basic mathematics and she may do so in one of the following ways:

  • Pass the Mathematics Competency Exam. You will have the opportunity to take the Math Competency Exam during orientation or during Open Campus Days
  • Achieve a score of 600 or better on the mathematics section of the SAT or a score of 24 on the mathematics section of the ACT
  • Present evidence of satisfactory completion at another accredited college of a mathematics course at the level of MATH 101 OR 102 or above to the chair of the Mathematics Department.
  • Successfully complete MATH 101 or 102 at Simmons.

Beginning in fall 2006, students must satisfy the math competency requirement during their first year at Simmons. Students who do not pass the Mathematics Competency Exam during new student orientation or who do not meet the math competency requirement in one of the other ways described above may choose to take Math 101 or 102 in their first semester, or to retake the exam in November. If they do not pass the November test, they will automatically be enrolled in MATH 101 or MATH 102 in the spring semester. Students who matriculate in January who do not pass the mathematics competency test or do not meet the requirement in one of the ways described above may take MATH 101 or 102 during their first semester, or they may retake the exam in March. If they fail the test in March they will be automatically enrolled in MATH 101 or 102 in the following fall semester.

To help students review and prepare for the Mathematics Competency Exam Study Guide can be downloaded. Another online practice question resource for the Basic Mathematics Competency Exam is at http://www.thatquiz.com/. This site offers over 200,000 graded exams.

An official Practice Exam may be downloaded here: Math Competency Practice Exam (PDF)

The Practice Exam Answer Key can be downloaded here:
Answer Key

A study guide is available at: Mathematics Competency Exam Study Guide (PDF)


iComps

What is iComps and why does it exist?
iComps stands for the undergraduate Information Technology and Information Literacy Competencies requirement. It exists to ensure that you are adequately prepared to use technology to enhance your learning experience at Simmons. As of Fall 2008, all incoming undergraduate students (first year students and transfers, and Dix Scholars) are required to fulfill a competency requirement in information technology and information literacy by their third semester.

How do I satisfy the iComps requirement?
The iComps requirement can be satisfied one of two ways.

When do I take the iComps exam?
You will be scheduled to take the iComps exam the week after you return from spring break. If you do not pass the exam you will have a second opportunity to take the exam in late April/early May. If you don't pass the second exam you will be automatically registered in an iComps approved course in your third semester at Simmons.

What is on the iComps exam?
It is a 50-question multiple-choice and true/false proctored exam taken online through eLearning. It's designed to be completed in an hour. It covers information in 5 broad areas:

  • Information Access — library resources and services, foundational research skills
  • Ethics — copyright issues, Simmons Acceptable Use Policy, ethical and legal use of information
  • Personal Computing — connectivity, operating systems, security
  • Using Simmons Systems — Everything you need to know about using Simmons computing resources
  • Applications - Microsoft Office, Browsers, iTunes

How can I prepare for the exam?
Get a jump start and prep for the exam by going to the iComps eLearning course — IT001 iComps Spring 2010. It is your primary source of information about iComps. Here you will learn the specific learning objectives for the above five areas of knowledge. There are also links to resources such as: online content from the Simmons web site, online tutorials, videos, information about workshops offered by the Pottruck Technology Resource Center (PTRC), practice activities, information about other tutorials, and information about iComps workshops to be held prior to the exam. You will also find self- assessment quizzes to help you determine if you have met the objectives. If you pass the quizzes you should be able to pass the competency exam.

Are there any specific workshops available for iComps?
Yes, there are. Workshops will be offered by the Library and the PTRC. Dates and times will be announced as they are confirmed.

What do I do next?
Log into eLearning and access the iComps site — IT001 iComps Spring 2010. Read the information in the Introduction learning module and complete the iComps agreement. Then begin your study. You are encouraged to follow the schedule outlined in the syllabus. Watch for email and announcements throughout the semester alerting you to various iComps related activities and learning opportunities , as well as the specific date and place of the spring exam.

For additional information or administrative questions contact the Center for Academic Achievement P304, 617-521-2474.

For help with iComps content (personal computing, using Simmons Systems and Applications) stop by the Technology Desk on the 1st floor of the Beatley Library Information Commons.

Site Contents

Location

One Palace Road
Room P304
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

 

Contact

Phone: 617-521-2474
Fax: 617-521-3079
caa@simmons.edu

 

Hours

Summer (May 18 - August 28) - Monday - Friday: 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. Limited services will be available on Friday's after 2:00p.m.