Assessment Services
Assessment Services is committed to providing testing services to promote access
to education. The following testing services are available year-round at all NIC
campuses/centres:
Placement Testing
What is placement testing?
Many of NIC's courses and programs accept the English and math tests administered
through placement testing services as a way for students to show that they have
the sufficient academic skills for admission. Each program/course has a specific
reading, writing and math test that can be taken.
Who needs placement testing?
Students can either provide a high school transcript or take placement testing to
ensure that they have the English and Math skills necessary for their studies. Students
should take placement testing if their…
- high school transcript is not available
- high school grades do not meet the course or program academic pre-requisites
- high school grades are older than admissions states
- interested in knowing current English and math skills
Please Note:
-
If you have a medical condition or a disability that requires
accommodation to write your assessment, please let us know at the
placement testing information session.
-
If English is not your first language or if you have studied ESL, or
transitional English, please let us know at the placement testing
information session.
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Math Placement Test
-
The math test includes a range of math functions presented in two parts
-
Students should not try to "cram" for the math test as the math test is designed to determine a student's current understanding of mathematics.
-
Part 1 consists of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing whole numbers, fractions and decimals, ratio and proportion, percentage problems, reading graphs and metric questions
-
Part 2 consists of factoring, quadratic equations trigonometry and geometry
- The math test is not timed, but generally takes about 2-3hours to complete both parts. If additional time is needed another session can be booked with no further expense
- A calculator can be used for completing Part 2
To get ready for math testing we have made the following chapters of the Math Review
Book available to you. Begin by previewing the Study Guide for the Math Review Book.
This book is also available for purchase at all NIC bookstores or for review at
all NIC Libraries.
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English Placement Test
English Placement Testing is made up of two activities. Each test takes approximately
one hour to complete.
- a reading test includes two multiple choice sections
- Vocabulary
- Reading Comprehension
- a writing sample
- The writing test has students write an essay on one of the various topics provided
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Skills Assessment
Skills Assessment is also available for other programs, such as Plumbing and Piping,
Culinary Arts, and more. If required, the skill assessment will be listed in the
Admission Requirements of the program. Please contact a Student Advisor for more
information.
How to Book a Test or Assessment
Placement testing can be completed at any NIC campus/centre or testing can be completed
off campus. Testing usually takes place twice a week, once in the daytime and once
in the evening. We suggest you do the testing over two sessions if you need to write
both the English and the math. Please contact the NIC location closest to you for
more information
To book a placement test at your local NIC campus/centre:
- Apply to NIC
- Pay the application fee - $25.00
- Pay the placement testing fee - $15.00
- Non applicants must pay placement testing fee - $40.00
- Attend a placement testing information session. You will be told how to prepare
for the testing session and your appointment will be booked.
To book your placement test off campus:
- Apply to NIC
- Pay the application fee - $25.00
- Pay placement testing fee - $20.00 (Canadian students)
- Complete the Application for Off-Campus Assessment
form
- Contact your local community college or high school to request a counselor or teacher
to supervise the tests
- Have the teacher or counselor fill out the test supervisor section
- Return the Application for Off-Campus Assessment form
to NIC
- Include the Placement Testing fee - $20.00 - with the completed form
- NIC will send the tests to your test supervisor and the test supervisor will arrange
a testing time
- The test supervisor may charge for this servicw
- The test supervisor will mail the tests back to NIC and you will be contacted by
phone to discuss your testing results
What happens after my placement test is complete?
Once testing is complete, the student will be given the choice to book an appointment
to meet with the assessment faculty to discuss the testing results in person or
to book a phone appointment with the assessment faculty. The assessment faculty
will explain the result and
- give the student permission to register for the course/program applied,
OR,
- give the student permission to register for Adult Basic Education upgrading course(s).
Students will be allowed entrance into the program of their choice after completing
appropriate upgrading.
The assessment faculty will give the student a written summary of the results. Admissions
staff will also be informed of the results so that the student can register.
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Recognition for Prior Learning
What it is
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) is a process that allows students
to get credit for learning. Through this assessment process students match NIC courses
or program outcomes to learning that has been acquired elsewhere- courses, workshops,
employment, volunteering, etc.
Several formal assessment options are available for students to gain recognition
for heir learning. It is important to note that all assessment options require the
student to submit evidence. The evidence of the student's knowledge, skills
and abilities will be assessed for possible academic credit.
How it works
The first step is to contact either the Program Advisor or the Department Chair
for more information as to which courses are available for PLA. The following are
Programs in which course credit may be earned through Prior Learning Assessment:
- Fine Arts Diploma
- Business Administration
- Early Childhood Care and Education
- Human Services
- Hospital Unit Clerk
- Home Support and Resident Care
- Nursing
- University Studies
Not all courses within a program are necessarily open for PLAR. Program Instructors
will interview students to review documentation and to ascertain the relevancy to
current course outcomes.
Three PLA options are available: Transfer Credit, Flexible Assessment or Comprehensive
Challenge Exam. The program will determine the type of assessment used. The program
PLA advisor will work with the applicant to determine probable success through PLA
and it is the program PLA advisor who gives written authorization to proceed.
- Flexible Assessment. The Flexible
Assessment (or Portfolio Assessment) usually involves a combination of documentation,
skill demonstrations, assignments and, sometimes, tests. The program PLA advisor/Department
Chair will provide written authorization to proceed by completing the Application for Prior Learning Credit
form
- Transfer Credit. Students
who have completed course work that is equivalent to NIC course objectives can apply
to have the credit recognized at NIC. To apply for transfer credit the student will
need to provide an official transcript, and complete the Application for Transfer Credit form
Sometimes the student will be asked to provide a detailed course outline in order
to determine if the course objectives match.
- Course Challenge Exam.
A challenge exam recognizes a student's prior learning through a formal examination.
Students write an examination to prove their knowledge in an academic subject. The
course Faculty will provide written authorization to proceed by completing the Application for Prior
Learning Credit form
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How long will it take?
The average candidate ideally will complete the process within the same time span
as a regular college semester.
How much will it cost?
The cost is determined by the amount of credit being requested. Fees are calculated
at 75% of the tuition for each course. If any additional costs are required they
will be explained by your PLA advisor/Department Chair.
- PLA fees are due prior to an assessment occurring.
- This fee is payable in person at any NIC registration office along with the SIGNED
Application for Prior Learning Credit.
- There is a $20.00 fee for out of province Transfer Credit Evaluation.
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Exam Invigilation Services
Exam invigilation services are available to any individual requiring a supervised
testing facility at all NIC campuses/centres. Invigilation services can accommodate
individual or group requests for either online testing or pencil and paper test
administration.
NIC Exams
Students wishing to write a NIC mid-term or final exam should contact the local
campus Assessment Office to confirm space and time availability.
All Campus Open Exam Schedule
NIC Students: Distance Exam Information
Please Note: In order for NIC students to complete an exam off campus, that they must complete the Off-Campus Exam Application
and submit it to Assessment Services in a timely fashion.
Other Institution’s Exams
Students wishing to write another institution’s entrance exam, mid-term, final exam
should contact the local campus Assessment Office to confirm space, time availability
and fees.
Please Note: Students must contact the Institution that
is supplying the exam and provide them with NIC Invigilation Services mailing address
and contact information.
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Industry and Other Professional Organization Testing
NIC is committed to supporting the testing needs of the community. Institutions
are encouraged to contact Assessment Services directly to arrange to use us as a
testing site. Assessment Services is currently a testing site for:
Prometric Testing Center
Prometric is an online assessment and testing service offering exams that lead to
certification for many of the IT industry’s leading companies
such as Microsoft, CompTia, Apple, HP and many others.
NIC administers Prometric testing at the Comox Valley campus during regularly scheduled Open Testing.
Prometric testing is scheduled to be available in Port Alberni and Port Hardy later in 2010.
Registration is through the Prometric test site
www.prometric.com 
.
Language Proficiency Index (LPI)
The LPI is a test designed to measure an individual’s competency in English. The
LPI office is located at the University of British Columbia, Applied Research and
Evaluation Services.
NIC administers the LPI several times throughout the year. Students may register
by picking up an LPI application form at NIC Registration and forwarding the completed
form to the LPI office. Applications
can also be made online
.
General Educational Development Tests (GED)
The general educational development tests are five tests designed to measure the
areas of anguage arts writing (requires the writing of an essay) , language arts
reading, social studies, science and mathematics. The B.C. Ministry of Education
awards students the GED Secondary School Equivalency Certificate When they have
passed the five tests. This certificate is not the same as a secondary school graduation.
NIC administers the GED several times throughout the year. The GED application forms
are available at NIC registration or
online.
Supplementary Grade 12 Exams August Rewrites
NIC Port Alberni and Campbell River Campus administer the Ministry of Education
Provincial Grade 12 exams in August.
Information regarding registration,
dates and times are available online
Hours of Operation
Campbell River Campus
- Tuesdays, 8:30 am-4:30 pm
- Wednesdays, 2pm – 9 pm
- Alternate Mondays, 9 am –1 pm
Comox Valley Campus
- Mondays, 8:30 am-4:30 pm
- Tuesdays, 8:30 am-4:30 pm
- Wednesdays, 5:30 pm – 9:00pm
Port Alberni Campus
- Tuesdays, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesdays, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Except First Wednesday of the month, 12:30 pm – 8 pm
Port Hardy Campus
- Mondays, 8:30 am – 2 pm
- Tuesdays, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Wednesdays, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Thursdays, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
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