Compass Testing

Assessment/Placement Testing 

ACT or COMPASS, a diagnostic computerized placement and assessment system developed by ACT, scores are used to satisfy the assessment/placement requirement for admission to Gateway.  All Gateway Community and Technical College new students must provide ACT scores of 18 or above in subject areas (Mathematics, English, and Reading) or take the COMPASS test before meeting with an advising center staff member and being enrolled in classes.  Compass testing may be waived, if approved by the Program Director and the College Provost, for certain specific certificate programs and for transient students.  Students may take up to 6 credit hours in Business and Industry Training courses without having to take the COMPASS.  Each credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) maintains an entry score for coursework in specific academic plans.  Based on the COMPASS scores, a student may be placed in developmental courses or in the case of a Reading score of 43 or lower guided to other resources to elevate their academic readiness. 

Students who have earned a degree or have attended college prior to admission to Gateway may use the transfer credit procedure to fulfill the assessment/placement requirement.  Credit may be awarded to students who have a cumulative GPA of 2.0-4.0 and have earned a passing grade in a 100- level or higher course from a regionally accredited institution.  The Registrar may award semester credit(s) and exemption from one or all parts of the COMPASS if transcripts reflect courses equivalent to English 101, a transferable Mathematics course, and a Reading based course such as Psychology, Sociology or Literature.

Students who need to take the COMPASS test to complete the admissions process may schedule an appointment at either the Covington or Edgewood campuses.  Students may retest one time prior to attending their first Gateway class.  After one retest, the student may appeal to the College Provost for additional retesting, only if extenuating circumstances exist.  The highest of the two test scores will be used for placement purposes.  Students who provide COMPASS scores from another institution may elect to take one retest for placement.

Students who require other means of assessment testing may be eligible to use an alternative format.  If you are in need of such accommodations, please contact our Disabilities Services Coordinator at (859) 442-4120.

COMPASS testing is provided in the Academic Development Centers. To make an appointment or to find out the Centers hours of operation call the following:
Covington Campus 442-1180
Edgewood Campus 442- 4150


COMPASS is a comprehensive computerized placement and diagnostic assessment instrument. Calculators are allowed and testing time varies for each student from one to three hours.

COMPASS test practice packets are available from the Academic Development Centers or Student Services Offices at each campus.

COMPASS Testing Fees
Free for your first COMPASS test. Re-test are $7.00 per session. There is a $25.00 testing fee for students taking COMPASS for any reason other than placement assessment and admission to GCTC.
 

Online Application
To submit your application for admission right now, use the Online Application.

Printable
Application
To download an Application for Admission to Gateway Community and Technical College, click on the following link:
Printable Application

Contacts

Janet Samples
(859) 442-4121
Student Affairs Officer:
Highland Heights Campus
Janet.samples@kctcs.edu