Testing and Placement Criteria

Spoon River College has established testing and placement criteria to assess reading level, math proficiency, and writing skills. This is done to ensure students are placed in courses where they can reach their potential and achieve their educational goals. All students must take either the COMPASS test or have evidence of official ACT scores. New students should take the COMPASS test after admission and before registration. Transfer students who have evidence of successful completion of reading, writing, or math courses at another institution may be exempt upon transcript verification.​

For more information about the COMPASS test, please review the Compass Test Student Guide 2011 (clickable/printable PDF file).

Spoon River College Course Placement Using COMPASS Scores

Placement Testing Accommodations

Students with a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations on the Compass test. If a student believes he/she is in need of accommodations for placement testing, he/she needs to provide current documentation of their disability prior to their testing date. Documentation requirements may be obtained by visiting the disAbility Support Services​ website, or by contacting the disAbility Services advisor in Canton/Havana at 309-649-6273, or in Macomb/Rushville at 309-833-6025.

Students placing into two or more developmental courses are required to enroll in College and Career Success (LA 103). This course provides tools for transition into college instruction for learning strategies, goal attainment, and success in college.

COMPASS Retest Policy

COMPASS scores are good for two years. If you feel your placement does not accurately reflect your ability, you may retest one time in that subject area. There will be a $5.00 per test fee assessed. You will not be charged the retest fee if you have just completed a developmental course in the subject area you wish to retest in.

Request to Have COMPASS Score Sent to Another School

If you wish to have your COMPASS scores sent to another college, please fill out the Request to have Compass Scores form and return it either:

• in person to the Student Services Department on the Canton campus,
• fax it to 309.649.6393,
• or mail it to:  Spoon River College Testing Center, 23235 North Co.22, Canton, IL 61520

Remote COMPASS Testing

SRC is a remote COMPASS testing site. If you are currently living/working some distance away from any of our campuses (either in another part of Illinois or in another state), we can help you complete your COMPASS placement testing for Spoon River College through a COMPASS remote test site nea​r your current location.

To make arrangements to complete the Spoon River College COMPASS tests at a location closest to you, please call the SRC Testing Center at 309.649.6324 or 309.833.6022 Monday- Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We will help you make the necessary arrangements in a short phone call (generally 5-10 minutes).

When you call, indicate that you would like to take the SRC COMPASS placement test at a location that is closest to your present location. Please have the zip code of your current location, your address, and e-mail address available for the call.

Our staff will check for COMPASS Remote Testing locations in your area based on the zip code you supply, indicating how close you are to a site and what the site will charge you for administering the test (ranges from $25 to $65, depending on location and tests to be completed). You will be able to decide as part of your phone call which site you wish to use. If a suitable site is located, we will enter your name and address information into the COMPASS system during the phone call.

The COMPASS system will then immediately generate an e-mail to you, containing your COMPASS remote testing registration number and specific information about your next steps for completing your COMPASS testing at the remote site. Take your e-mail message with your COMPASS Registration Number to the remote test site and show it to the testing staff when you go in for testing.

To set up your COMPASS testing at a site near you, begin the process by calling 309​.649.6324 or 309.833.6022 today.

Course Proficiency Examination

Proficiency exams are available for some occupational and transfer courses

• A proficiency exam application form, available in Student Services, must be submitted to the Dean of Instruction to obtain approval for the exam.
• An applicant must be a SRC student and a high school graduate or hold a GED certificate. Students are not permitted to repeat unsuccessful attempts on exams within a period of one calendar year.
• Credit by examination will not be permitted for a course where the student has enrolled in the course and remains in the course past the add/drop dates for that course, has taken or is currently enrolled in a higher-level course.

Proficiency Exams List as of 08/31/12

Proctoring Services (Canton campus only)

SRC offers exams proctoring services for students taking courses at other education institutions.

• Contact our testing office at (309) 649.6400 to find out the procedure of having the exam sent to SRC.
• Appointments can be made once we have received the exam. Call 309.649.6400 to schedule your appointment.
• Photo ID will be required to test.
• A fee may be required at the time of testing
• All of the testing institution directions will be followed.