SANTIAGO CANYON COLLEGE
Reading and English Placement
Testing Information
SCC administers the College Tests for English Placement
(CTEP). This test is designed to assess students’ skills in
reading and writing. The Reading Comprehension test
consists of seven reading selections and 35 multiple
choice questions. The Sentence Structure and
Grammar test contains 30 multiple choice grammar
questions; and the Sentence and Syntax Skills test
contains 40 fill in the blank questions, which test both
grammar and comprehension.
Turn the page, read the information, and review the
sample questions.
(If you have additional questions, call Terry Flores, Santiago Canyon
College Placement Testing Office at 628-4812.)
I. READING COMPREHENSION (30 minutes, 35 questions): Sample Passage
The study of history provides many benefits. First, we learn from the past. We may
repeat mistakes, but, at least, we have the opportunity to avoid them. Second, history
teaches us what questions to ask about the present. Contrary to some people’s view,
the study of history is not the memorization of names, dates, and places. It is the
thoughtful examination of the forces that have shaped the courses of human life. We
can examine events from the past and then draw inferences about current events.
History teaches us about likely outcomes.
Another benefit of the study of history is the broad range of human experience that is
covered. War and peace are certainly covered as are national and international
affairs. However, matters of culture (art, literature, and music) are also included in
historical study. Human nature is an important part of history: emotions like passion,
greed, and insecurity have influenced the shaping of world affairs. Anyone who thinks
that the study of history is boring has not really studied history.
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Studying history helps us to live in today’s world.
B. Studying history is not just memorization.
C. The role of education is to help students deal with real life.
D. Students should study both national and international history.
2. In the first paragraph, inferences means
A. Graphs
C. Conclusions
B. Articles
D. Circumferences
3. Which method of teaching history would the author of this passage support?
A. Applying historical events to modern society.
B. Using flash cards to remember specific facts.
C. Weekly quizzes on dates and events.
D. Student competitions for most books memorized.
Answers: (1)A (2)C (3)A
II. SENTENCE STRUCTURE AND GRAMMAR (20 minutes, 30 questions): Sample Questions
Section 1: In this section, each question contains four sentences. Choose the one that
is best. Example:
A. One of the musicians who is Eric has been looking for a practice room.
B. Eric, one of the musicians, are looking for a practice room.
C. Eric who is one of the musicians who are looking for a practice room.
D. Eric, one of the musicians, is looking for a practice room.
Answer: “D” is the only choice that makes sense and is grammatically correct.
Section 2: In this section, you are given a sentence which has words left out. Fill in the
blank space and complete the sentence by choosing the correct answer from the choices
given.
Example: The workers left early and _________________ home.
A) gone
B) went
C) have dinner
D) drives
Answer: “B” is the only answer that makes sense and is grammatically correct.
Section 3: In this section, you are first given two sentences. Then you are given four
choices of how these two sentences can be combined. Choose the best answer.
Example: The traffic was heavy. I was late to work.
A.
B.
C.
D.
I was late to work because the traffic was heavy.
I was late to work, so the traffic was heavy.
The traffic was heavy, I was late to work.
The traffic was heavy: and then I was late to work.
Answer: “A” is the only sentence that makes sense and is grammatically correct.
III. SENTENCE & SYNTAX SKILLS (15 minutes, 40 questions): Sample Questions
Directions: Words have been left out of reading passages. Choose the answer that
will correctly fill in the blank. When you finish, you should have a logical and
grammatical passage. It may be useful to try to read the passage through to check
your answers. Don’t get stuck; if one blank is difficult to fill in, go on to the next one.
Example: It used to be common for dentists to have to remove teeth. However, with
modern technology, (1)_________ visits to the dentist’s office and good (2)____________
hygiene at home, most people can keep (3)_________ teeth for their entire lives.
1. a.
b.
c.
d.
the
infrequent
regular
often
2. a.
b.
c.
d.
dental
person
cleaning
tooth
3. a.
b.
c.
d.
their
his
front
cleaned
Answers: (1)c (2)a (3)a
LEVEL I
ALGEBRA READINESS TEST
TYPICAL QUESTIONS FROM COMPETENCY AREAS
Integers
Jim wrote a check for $318.00. If his balance was then $2126.00, what was his balance before he
wrote this check?
(A) $808
(B) $1,808
(C) $2,444
(D) $5,306
What number multiplied by 6 gives –18 as a result?
(A)–12
(B) –3
(C) 3
(D) –54
Decimals
(A) 0.03
(B) 0.30
(C) 3.00
(D)
30.0
Which of the following best approximates 1.147 – 114.7?
(A)
–100
(B) –10
(C) 10
(D) 100
Fractions
The ratio of winning tickets to tickets sold in the California Lottery is 2 to 5. If 3,500,000 tickets are
sold, how many are “winners”?
(A)
700,000
(B) 750,000
(A) –6
(C)
1,400,000
(C) 2
(B)
(D) 1,500,000
(D) 6
Exponents
If in the formula p = kt, k=36 and p=144, then t=
(B)
(A)
4(b+2)=
4
(C) 12
(D) 108
(A) 4b+2
(B)
b+6
(C)
b+8
(D)
4b+8
Geometry
In the figure shown, what is the length of segment AB?
(A)
(B) 5
(C) 13
(D) 19
If C is the midpoint of segment AB in the figure shown, then the coordinates of C are
(A)
(B)
(C)
What is the diameter of the circle whose area is
(A) 12
(B) 18
(C)
(D)
?
(D)
Answer key: (1) C (2) B (3) C (4) A (5) C (6) D (7) B (8) D (9) C (10) B (11) A
LEVEL II
ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA TEST
TYPICAL QUESTIONS FROM COMPETENCY AREAS
Arithmetic
(A) 0.00144
(B) 0.0144
(C) 0.144
(D) 0.24
(E) 1.44
Polynomials
One of the factors of
(A) x + 3
(B)
is:
(C)
(D)
(E) x – 6
Linear Equations and Inequalities
If 6x – 3 = 8x – 9, then x =
(B) –3
(A)
(C) 3
(D)
(E)
Quadratic Equations
What are the possible values of x such that
(B) 0 only
(A)
only
(C)
only
(D) 0 and
(E)
and
Graphing
On the number line below, which letter best locates
(A) P
Rational Expressions
(B) Q
(C) R
(D) S
(E) T
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Exponents and Square Root
If x>0, then
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Geometry and Measurement
In the right triangle shown below, what is the length of AC?
(A) 8
(B) 12
(C) 18
(D)
(E)
Word Problems
If x is to 5 as y is to 8, what is the value of x when y = 2?
(E) 5
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Answer key: (1) B (2)B (3)C (4) D (5) B (6) C (7) B (8) B (9) C
LEVEL III
INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA TEST
TYPICAL QUESTIONS FROM COMPETENCY AREAS
Elementary Numeric and Algebraic Operations
(D) c+2d
(A)
(B)
(E) c
(C)
Rational Expressions
(C) dc
(A)
(D) –dc
(B)
(E)
Exponents and Radicals
+
(A) 6
=
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Linear Equations; Inequalities, Absolute Value
If 3x + 2y = 8 and y = x – 1, then x =
(A) – 6
(E) 2
(B)
(C)
(D)
Polynomials; Quadratic equations
One of the roots of (x – 2) (3x + 4) = 0 is:
(A)– 2
(B)
(C) –
(D)
(E)
The Coordinate Plane and Graphing
Which of the following is an equation of a line with slope 3 and y-intercept – 4?
(B)y = 3x – 4
(C) y = 3x + 4
(A)y=
(D) y = 4x – 3
(E) y = 4x + 3
Functions and Logarithms
If
, then xy =
(A) 0.001
(B)1.0
(C) 10
(D) 100
(E) 1000
Word Problems
A student who correctly answered 72 questions on a test received a score of 75%. How many
questions were on the test?
(A) 54
(B) 72
(C) 75
(D) 96
(E) 104
Answer key: (1) A (2) C (3) C (4) E (5) B (6) B (7) E (8) D
LEVEL IV
PRECALCULUS TEST
TYPICAL QUESTIONS FROM COMPETENCY AREAS
Elementary Operations with Numerical and Algebraic Fractions
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Operations with Exponents and Radicals
(A)
(C)
(B)
(D)
(E)
Linear Equations and Inequalities
For what value of t does
(A)
?
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)There is no value of t satisfying this
equation
Polynomials and Polynomial Equations
If
(A)
, then P=
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Functions
If
(A)
and
(B)
, then
(C) 1
(D) 2
(E) 9
Trigonometry
If sin
and
(A)
, then tan
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Logarithmic and Exponential Functions
(A) 81
(B) 9
(C) 3
(D)
(E)
Word Problems
If
(A)
is
of
of a certain number, then that number is:
(B)
(C)
(D)
Answer key: (1) D (2) A (3) B (4) C (5) B (6) E (7) C (8) B
(E)