Types of Tests

Most U.S. students will not need to take a placement test at NOVA. Instead, they should visit the Direct Enrollment and Self-Placement site to learn more about new placement measures and to fill out an Advising Survey. This survey will help determine which college-level Math and English courses they should start with.

The ESL Placement Assessment in CANVAS is currently being given remotely. Students should reach out to NOVAtesting@nvcc.edu to request the English Placement for Multilingual Learners.

The Remote English Placement for Multilingual Learners in CANVAS has four steps:

• Step 1: Answer some questions about yourself.
• Step 2: Read 6 passages and answer multiple-choice questions. 60 minutes.
• Step 3: Write a longer response on a choice of 2 topics. 60 minutes.
• Step 4: Read a short paragraph and answer 2 writing questions. 30 minutes.

This remote assessment requires the use of a reliable internet connection as well as some piece of technology capable of connecting to the web, including but not limited to a PC, laptop, tablet, etc. You will also need to be able to log into your MyNOVA account.

The assessment can be taken one time and test scores are good for one year.

Who needs to take the English Placement for Multilingual Learners?

1. Students who did not complete high school in the United States, whose primary language is not English, and who do not have the required TOEFL/IELTS/ACT/SAT test scores.
2. Students who completed high school in the United States, for whom English is not a primary language, may take the assessment and should contact the ESL department (ESL@nvcc.edu) to speak with an ESL advisor about placement options.
3. Students who are already in the U.S. with an F1 visa or applying for one, can take NOVA's English placement test for Multi-lingual Learners in place of the other standardized tests approved for NOVA's International Student Admissions Process. The test must be taken in person at any NOVA campus Testing Center. You must first complete the online application and then visit the NOVA Testing Center with your student ID number and passport.

Reviewing for the English Placement for Multilingual Learners

• Grammar Tutorials 

Updates have been made to the prerequisites for BIO 141, Human Anatomy and Physiology I. To enroll in BIO 141, students must demonstrate mastery in chemistry, cell biology, and inheritance. Achieve this requirement through one of three options:

• Option 1: BIO 101 Completion
  Complete BIO 101, General Biology I, with a grade of C or higher. This recommended option is transferable and fulfills the science with lab requirement.

• Option 2: NAS 2, Foundations of Life Sciences
  Complete NAS 2 with a passing grade. This choice is suitable for students not planning to transfer to a 4-year institution or those not needing BIO 101 as a course requirement.

• Option 3: NAS 2 (BIO 141) Placement Exam
  Take the NAS 2 (BIO 141) Placement Exam at a NOVA Testing Center, aiming for a 75% or higher grade. This option, allowing a maximum of two attempts per semester, is ideal for students with prior biology and chemistry knowledge.

Enrollment and Preparation:
To enroll in the NAS 2 self-paced course in Canvas, click here. Review course objectives to assess your understanding of the material, utilizing course materials for exam preparation. When ready, schedule an appointment with a NOVA Testing Center to take the exam.

Ensuring you start at the right level of language learning is crucial for building a solid foundation and progressing toward proficiency. NOVA offers remote placement tests for various languages, including Spanish, French, Russian, German, Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic.

• Spanish, French, Russian, German, Japanese & Chinese Placement Tests:
  These adaptive, timed tests in CANVAS consist of multiple sections. Contact NOVAtesting@nvcc.edu to request your placement tests. You must pass each section with an acceptable score to progress to the next.

• Russian Placement Test:
  This timed Canvas test includes four language tasks and may take up to 2 hours. Request the Russian Placement Test through NOVAtesting@nvcc.edu.

• Arabic Placement Test:
  The Arabic Placement Test is currently offered in person at Campus Testing Centers. It's a paper-based test that may take one to two hours, depending on your level.

Testing Center Locations:
For in-person tests and other services, visit the NOVA Testing Centers.

Language Waiver for Native Speakers:
If you're a native speaker of a world language and hold the equivalent of a high school diploma from a non-English instructional country, explore the language waiver. Contact the Credit for Prior Learning Office at pla@nvcc.edu for more information.

VPT English is an adaptive, computerized, untimed test, although this test may take up to three hours to complete. We recommend that students not take VPT English and VPT Math on the same day.

VPT English comprises two sections - a written essay and reading passages with 40 multiple-choice questions. The multiple-choice portion contains questions on a variety of topics including, but not limited to, reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and research skills.

Who needs to take VPT English?

Students who have not completed high school or a GED must take either the VPT for English or the English Placement for Multilingual Learners for students whose primary language is not English. Only some students in certain populations, such as students using VA or TA benefits or dual enrollment students without other placement measures, are required to take VPT English. The VPT English Placement Test must be taken on campus at one of NOVA's Testing Centers.

VPT Math is an adaptive, computerized, untimed test, although this test may take up to three hours to complete. We recommend that students not take VPT Math and VPT English on the same day.

• The VPT Math contains questions like free response, matching, multiple choice, true/false, etc.
• The only calculator you may use is the one within the test program. No personal calculators nor the Windows calculator are allowed. Scrap paper will be provided.

Who needs to take VPT Math?

Students who have not completed high school or a GED must take the VPT Math. Only some students in certain populations, such as those using VA or TA benefits or dual enrollment students without other placement measures, must take the VPT Math. The VPT Math Placement Test must be taken on campus at one of NOVA's Testing Centers.

NOVA instructors may request in-person or remote Zoom proctoring of Faculty Referred Tests for those students who have missed an exam in class, students who have a NOVA Memorandum of Accommodations (MOA), or NOVA Online students (instructor permission required).

Faculty may submit a proctoring request using this online form (NVCC credentials required).

The SDV ABLE Exam is currently being given remotely to eligible NOVA students. Refer to NOVA's College Success Skills site for more information. Students should reach out to NOVAtesting@nvcc.edu to request the SDV ABLE Exam.

• The SDV ABLE Exam is a 90-minute timed test in CANVAS and includes 50 questions.
• The test requires Respondus Lockdown Browser.
• The test can only be taken one time.

Note: The SDV ABLE exam is not compatible with Chromebooks.