Welcome To NMSU-Carlsbad's Testing And Assessment Services

The Testing and Assessment Services office provides equitable and consistent testing services to the community and for the university; administers required or needed tests to student applicants and entrants; protects the integrity of test instruments, standards, and processes as tests are administered; maintains student testing records in a confidential, organized manner; and provides a testing environment that will allow students to test in a quiet and appropriate setting.

OPERATIONAL HOURS

Fall and Spring Semester Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Summer Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Program Staff

Coordinator:
Mr. Joe Olivares, (505) 234-9322, e-mail: jolivares@cavern.nmsu.edu

Testing Services Provided

University Entry Placement Testing: The NMSU-C Placement Test is designed to identify a student's basic skills knowledge upon entry and to generate course placement recommendations based on the resultant score(s) a student achieves by test area. Academic advisors use the placement test results to place students into the appropriate class level or sequence in the areas of Reading, Math, and English. This test can be neither passed nor failed, and test results may not be used to supersede or substitute for a grade made or assigned in any particular class. Placement testing is required of all new entrants who are degree or certificate seeking as well as those who plan (or need) to enroll for English, Math, or Reading courses at NMSU-C. Also, ALL new students, non-degree students, and ALL transfer students who do not have college credit in English, Reading, or Math must take the placement test.

Placement tests are given at regularly scheduled times during the pre-registration and registration periods any semester. A student can pick up a testing schedule in Room 111 (the Student Services Office) or in Room 211 (the LAC). Any questions about placement testing can be answered by the Testing Services Coordinator at 234-9322. All students needing to take a placement test must first "pre-register" for a testing date in Room 211.

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The GED (General Educational Development) Test: All GED test candidates must meet the following criteria before registering to take the official test:

1. A student must pre-register in Room 253, Adult Basic Education Services.

2. A student must be 16 years of age or older.

3. A student must provide an Underage permission form if the applicant is 16 or 17 years old. This form can be obtained in Room 2E (Testing Office.

4. Two forms of identification are required (New Mexico Driver's License or New Mexico Identification Card and a Social Security Card).

Required fees: $35.00 for the complete test battery and $10.00 per tests for individual tests or re-testing. Fees may be subject to change from year to year.

New GED Testing Policies

I. Requirement to take a Practice GED Test: As of September 1, 2001, anyone who wants to take the GED exam must first take the GED Practice Exam. Students may take the whole GED Practice Exam or any of its individual parts. A schedule with the dates and times that the GED Practice Exam will be given is located in the Adult Basic Education Office, the Learning Assistance Center, and from the GED Preparation teachers.

II. Test Preparation Requirement for Non-Skill Ready Students: As of September 1, 2001, anyone whose Practice Exam scores (individual test or overall test battery) indicate a need for further skill review will be required to complete a minimum of 12 hours of documented Adult Basic Education classes, assigned tutorial assistance, or directed study time before GED test registration or administration will be permitted.

III. GED Pre-Registration Requirement (48 hour rule): As of September 1, 2001, no last minute "walk in" or same day" GED Testing will be permitted. Students must have completed all GED test registration requirements at least 48 hours in advance of the desired testing date, or they will not be tested on that date. Registration requirements include - completing and passing the required GED Practice Exam, paying all required test fees, and qualifying to be registered for GED testing by the Special Needs Services Coordinator (Office 2U).

IV. GED Test Fee Increase: Beginning January 1, 2005, the cost for taking the whole GED Test Battery (all tests) will be $35.00. The cost for retesting over individual sub-tests will be $10.00 (per test). Fees must be paid in advance of GED test scheduling for South Eddy County residents, and be paid on-site on GED Orientation day in Artesia and Carlsbad.

Note: Those students who cannot afford to pay the GED testing fee as a result of economic hardship or need, should contact the local Adult Basic Education Office for need identification and verification purposes in advance of GED test scheduling.

V. Request for Special Testing Accommodation: Any student requiring or requesting a special accommodationbased on a disability-testing related condition must contact the Testing Coordinator or Special Needs Coordinator at least 2 weeks before the scheduled test date to initiate the accommodation procedure approved by the Department of Education.

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Other GED Testing Sites within South Eastern New Mexico (College Name and Contact Numbers):

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell
P.O. Box 6000
Roswell, NM 88202-6000
(505) 624-7227 - Ms. Elaine Espinosa-Sims

Clovis Community College
417 Schepps Blvd.
Clovis, NM 88101
(505) 769-4015 - Ms. Dorothy Miller

NMSU-Alamogordo
2400 North Scenic Drive
Alamogordo, NM 88310
(505) 439-3720 - Ms. Dee Beck

CLEP (College Level Examination Program) Testing: The NMSU-Carlsbad (Institutional) CLEP Test is an offering that is limited to prospective students at NMSU-C. The CLEP Test is a national program of "credit by examination" which allows students the opportunity to obtain recognition for college level achievement. Before a student may register to take a CLEP test, the student should first check the college program and catalog to be sure that the credit awarded may be used or deemed acceptable by the college or a particular program of study (as applicable).

Registration Process: Any qualified student wishing to register to take one or more tests for the purpose of course exemption must call NMSU-Las Cruces Testing Programs at (505) 646-1921, Garcia Annex Room 237.

Note: Basic skill courses may not be waived and are not subject to CLEP testing or course exemption. This is determined by the college placement test only.

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Other Testing

The following types of tests are also implemented by the NMSU-C Testing Office each year - but only by advance appointment or arrangement.

Correspondence School Testing: We periodically administer students tests from other colleges or universities at a student's request (pre-arrangement required).

Basic Skills Assessment: T.A.B.E. testing (for credit and non-credit enrollees) is implemented each semester, and scores are used for Adult Basic Education and Learning Assistance Center program placement. Pre/post skills testing is always required of these program participants.

Out-of-Class Testing and "Make-up Exams": Note that this is a service reserved for Faculty members at NMSU-C. For more information about out-of-class testing procedures, contact the Learning Assistance Center at 234-9315 or the Testing Office at 234-9322.

Miller Analogies Test: This test is reserved for students enrolled in, or attempting to be admitted to, a post graduate program. Please contact the Community Service Office at 234-9444 for more information. At this time, this particular test is only applicable to graduate students attending the College of the Southwest or those seeking admission to the Education Post Graduate Program at NMSU (Las Cruces).

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