Ability to Benefit

TESTING FOR ABILITY-TO-BENEFIT FOR FINANCIAL AID

Federal regulations require that students who do not have a high school diploma or G.E.D. and who wish to receive Title IV federal student aid must complete basic skills tests or have a passing score on an independently administered test that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to demonstrate that they have the ability to benefit from the college education.

COMPASS is the Ability-To-Benefit (ATB) test administered by all NVCC campuses. The Secretary of Education has also recognized the non-computerized version of the TOEFL test as acceptable for non-native speakers of English.

Students who take COMPASS for ATB purposes must take the test according to the ACT guidelines, which indicate that students take all portions of the test--Reading, Writing, and Math-"in a single testing experience." If a student does not achieve or exceed all three required scores, the student must retake all three portions of the test to be eligible for ATB status.

Students must matriculate at NVCC within 12 months of taking the ATB test or take the tests again.