Types of Tests

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

Changes to BIO 141, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, have been made. Students must now show mastery in chemistry, cell, and inheritance before enrolling in BIO 141. This new pre-requisite requirement can be met through one of three ways:

Option 1: Complete BIO 101, General Biology I, with a grade of a C of higher. This option is recommended for most students since BIO 101 is a transferrable course and can be used to meet the science with lab requirement.

Option 2: Complete NAS 2, Foundations of Life Sciences, with a passing grade. This course should only be taken by students who do not plan to transfer to a 4-year institution or do not need BIO 101 as a course requirement.

Option 3: Take the NAS 2 (BIO 141) Placement Exam given at a NOVA Testing Center. A grade of a 75% or higher will be required. Students may only take this exam a max of twice per semester. Students who already had biology and chemistry may use this option to place into the BIO 141 course.  

Click here to enroll in the NAS 2 self-paced course in Canvas. Review the course objectives to determine if you have a good understanding of the material and use the course materials to prepare for the exam. When you’re ready to take the exam, make an appointment with a NOVA Testing Center.

Being placed in the correct level of language learning at NOVA is important because reaching language proficiency starts with building a strong foundation from the beginning level on to the intermediate level and beyond.

Spanish, French, Russian German, Japanese, & Chinese

The Spanish, French, Russian German, Japanese, & Chinese Placement Tests are currently being given remotely. Students should reach out to NOVAtesting@nvcc.edu to request these Placement Tests.

Spanish, French, German, Japanese & Chinese Placement Tests are adaptive, timed tests in CANVAS that each consist of multiple sections. You must pass each section with an acceptable score to continue to the next.

The Russian Placement Test is a timed test in Canvas that has 4 language tasks and may take up to 2 hours to complete.

Arabic

The Arabic Placement Test is currently being given in-person only.

The paper-based Arabic Placement Test can take about an hour to two hours depending on the level of the student and it is offered at the Campus Testing Centers.

• Testing Center Locations: NOVA Testing Centers
• Email: NOVATesting@nvcc.edu

Language Waiver for Native Speakers

If you are a native speaker of a world language, meaning you grew up in a country whose language of instruction was something other than English, and have the equivalent of a high school diploma from that country, contact the Credit for Prior Learning Office at pla@nvcc.edu to learn more about the language waiver.