Frequently Asked Questions About CCRC’s Assessment Validity Studies

In March 2012, CCRC released two studies examining how well two widely used assessment tests—COMPASS and ACCUPLACER—predict the subsequent performance of entering students in their college-level courses. The studies, Do High-Stakes Placement Exams Predict College Success? and Predicting Success in College: The Importance of Placement Tests and High School Transcripts, can be found at http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu. Both studies found that assessment scores are not highly predictive of subsequent student performance and that many students are misplaced in college-level and developmental classes based on their scores on these tests. This document is intended to address some of the frequently asked questions about the studies