Practice the Accuplacer Writing Test: Free Tests with Answers & Study Guide

For students applying to colleges and universities across the United States, there are a number of requirements. The most common criteria include holding a high school diploma, meeting the minimum GPA, and scoring well on admission tests.

One of these tests used by many colleges and universities is the Accuplacer Writing Test.

The Accuplacer Writing Test is a computer-adaptive test that assesses a candidate's writing skills and understanding of the English language. It is designed to determine which courses best suit each candidate.

This TestHQ Accuplacer Writing study guide has been created to help you understand the Accuplacer Writing Test so you can achieve a high score and start the next step of your academic journey.

In this guide, you will find practice tests and Accuplacer Writing Test answers, along with study tips to help you prepare for success.

Accuplacer tests were developed by the College Board in 1985. The most recent set of tests are the Next-Generation Accuplacer, designed in 2017. This guide covers the Next-Generation format.

What Is the Accuplacer Writing Test?

The foundational Accuplacer Writing Test evaluates a student’s ability to revise and edit written content. Colleges and universities use the test to ensure that students are matched to courses that suit their abilities.

The test results are also used to identify where a student may need additional support and resources.

Consisting of 25 questions, the test assesses skills in the areas of organization, sentence structure, grammar, and mechanics.

As the Accuplacer Writing Test is an adaptive assessment, its difficulty changes based on the candidate's performance. If the student answers a question correctly, the next question will be slightly harder. This challenges the student and allows them to showcase their potential.

It is important that you understand the types of question that can appear on the Accuplacer Writing Test, as this will help you prepare. 

You can expect questions to be on the following topics: 

• Sentence revision
• Improving sentence clarity
• Fixing grammatical errors

All of the questions on the Accuplacer Writing Test are multiple choice, except for the WritePlacer question. For this essay test, you will need to analyze and edit a passage of text. 

The purpose of the WritePlacer test is to measure your ability to write effectively. It assesses how you express, organize, and support your ideas and opinions. These skills are critical if you are to succeed in college or university, and so your performance on the test will inform which course you are placed on.

There is no time limit for the Accuplacer Writing Test, so you can focus on scoring as many points as you can.

The Next-Generation Accuplacer Writing Test

After almost 40 years of the Accuplacer Writing Test, the assessment was redesigned. The Next-Generation tests replaced the classic Accuplacer test in 2019.

The College Board incorporated feedback from institutions and teachers to develop a new assessment that is even better at making course placement recommendations.

Some of the new features included on the Accuplacer Next-Gen Writing Test are:

• More focus on a range of content areas, writing modes, and complex text
• Ability to assess rhetoric and vocabulary skills
• Inclusion of tasks such as revising and editing a wide range of texts

The classic Accuplacer writing test consists of 20 questions, while the Accuplacer Next-Gen Writing assessment contains 25 questions.

One of the main features of the Next-Generation assessment is that the content is now aligned to College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS).

The term 'CCRS' refers to the skills and knowledge that students should possess by the time they graduate from high school.

As the Accuplacer Writing Test now aligns with the kind of content candidates have already learned in school, you should feel more confident and prepared to take the assessment.

Preparation is the key to achieving a good score on the Accuplacer Writing Test. You should note that when the Next-Generation test was implemented in 2019, new study guidance was developed and published. 

When preparing for the Writing Test, make sure that you are using Next-Generation Writing Accuplacer resources made after 2019. One of the best ways to prepare is using official Accuplacer resources, as these are updated whenever there are changes to the test.

You can find helpful materials on the College Board Accuplacer website. With resources such as free practice tests and learning guides, you can prepare for success and start your college or university journey in the best way.

In the next section, you’ll find an Accuplacer Writing practice test sample set of questions to aid your preparation.

Accuplacer Writing Test Sample Questions

1. Sentence Structure

These questions test your ability to identify sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and correct parallel structure.

Example 1:

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

a) Sarah enjoys swimming, to hike, and biking.
b) Sarah enjoys swimming, hiking, and biking.
c) Sarah enjoys swimming, hiking, and to ride a bike.
d) Sarah enjoys to swim, hike, and riding her bike.

The correct answer is: b) Sarah enjoys swimming, hiking, and biking.

This sentence has correct parallel structure. The verbs "swimming", "hiking" and "biking" are all in the gerund form, maintaining consistency.

Example 2:

Which of the following is a complete sentence?

a) Although she studied all night for the exam.
b) If you want to be successful in your career.
c) Running down the street to catch the bus.
d) The teacher graded the tests and returned them to the students.

The correct answer is: d) The teacher graded the tests and returned them to the students.

This sentence is complete because it has both a subject ("The teacher") and a predicate ("graded the tests and returned them"). The other options are sentence fragments.

2. Punctuation

These questions test your knowledge of proper comma, semicolon, and apostrophe use.

Example 1:

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

a) My brother who lives in New York, is coming to visit this weekend.
b) My brother, who lives in New York is coming to visit this weekend.
c) My brother, who lives in New York, is coming to visit this weekend.
d) My brother who, lives in New York, is coming to visit this weekend.

The correct answer is: c) My brother, who lives in New York, is coming to visit this weekend.

The clause "who lives in New York" is a non-essential clause and needs to be set off by commas.

Example 2:

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

a) Its been a long day, and the dog is hungry for it's dinner.
b) It's been a long day, and the dog is hungry for its dinner.
c) Its been a long day, and the dog is hungry for its' dinner.
d) It's been a long day, and the dog is hungry for it's dinner.

The correct answer is: b) It's been a long day, and the dog is hungry for its dinner.

"It's" is the contraction for "it is," and "its" is the possessive form, used to indicate possession without an apostrophe. "Its'" is incorrect.

3. Grammar

These questions test your understanding of subject-verb agreement, verb tense, and pronoun usage.

Example 1:

Choose the correct sentence:

a) Each of the students are excited about the trip.
b) Each of the students is excited about the trip.
c) Each of the students were excited about the trip.
d) Each of the students have excited about the trip.

The correct answer is: b) Each of the students is excited about the trip.

The subject "Each" is singular, so the verb should be "is", not "are" or "were."

Example 2:

Choose the correct sentence:

a) She is the person whom is in charge of the event.
b) She is the person who is in charge of the event.
c) She is the person that is in charge of the event.
d) She is the person which is in charge of the event.

The correct answer is: b) She is the person who is in charge of the event.

"Who" is used for people, while "whom" is used as the object of a preposition or verb. In this case, "who" is correct because it refers to the subject of the sentence.

4. Sentence Revision

These questions test your ability to improve the clarity and flow of a sentence.

Example 1:

Which revision improves the sentence?

"She was tired after the long trip, she decided to take a nap."

a) She was tired after the long trip. She decided to take a nap.
b) After the long trip, deciding to take a nap because she was tired.
c) Being tired after the long trip, she deciding to take a nap.
d) She was tired, she decided to take a nap after the long trip.

The correct answer is: a) She was tired after the long trip. She decided to take a nap.

The original sentence is a run-on. Splitting it into two complete sentences improves clarity.

Example 2:

Which revision improves the sentence?

"He went to the store he bought some milk and eggs."

a) He went to the store, he bought some milk and eggs.
b) He went to the store; then he bought some milk and eggs.
c) He went to the store, and bought some milk and eggs.
d) He went to the store and he bought some milk and eggs.

The correct answer is: b) He went to the store; then he bought some milk and eggs.

A semicolon is used to connect two closely related independent clauses. The semicolon makes the sentence clearer than a comma.

5. Word Usage

These questions test your ability to choose the correct word in context.

Example 1:

Choose the correct word:

"The weather will greatly _____ our travel plans."

a) effect
b) affect
c) infect
d) defect

The correct answer is: b) affect

"Affect" is a verb meaning to influence something, while "effect" is a noun. In this context, "affect" is the correct choice.

Example 2:

Choose the correct word:

"She is the _____ of the entire team."

a) principle
b) principal
c) prinicipal
d) principil

The correct answer is: b) principal

"Principal" refers to someone in a leadership position. "Principle" refers to a fundamental truth or law, and the other options are misspellings.

6. Organization

These questions test your ability to improve the logical flow of ideas in a paragraph or passage.

Example 1:

The sentences below are out of order. Which is the best order for these sentences?

1. For example, cats often clean themselves for hours.
2. Cats are very clean animals.
3. In addition, they tend to avoid dirty or wet places.
4. They are known for their grooming habits

a) 1, 2, 3, 4
b) 2, 4, 1, 3
c) 2, 3, 4, 1
d) 4, 3, 1, 2

The correct answer is: b) 2, 4, 1, 3

The paragraph starts with a general statement about cats (2), provides a specific example of their grooming habits (4 and 1), and ends with additional information (3).

Example 2:

Which sentence is out of place in the paragraph?

1. The city has a rich history, full of cultural landmarks and museums.
2. Additionally, the city is known for its vibrant arts scene.
3. In recent years, the city has seen an increase in high-tech industries.
4. Many people visit the city to experience its historical sites and galleries.

a) Sentence 1
b) Sentence 2
c) Sentence 3
d) Sentence 4

The correct answer is: c) Sentence 3

The paragraph focuses on the city’s history and arts, so the sentence about high-tech industries is unrelated and out of place.

How to Prepare for the Accuplacer Writing Test

Understanding the key topics on the Accuplacer Writing Test is crucial if you are to achieve a high score.

If you can learn more about content areas ahead of the test, you can use the assessment time to focus on answering the questions.

Below are the key topics that you should focus on to prepare for the Accuplacer Writing Test:

• Grammar and Mechanics: In the English language, grammar and mechanics refer to the rules that tell us how to write in a coherent and standardized way. There are four main aspects of grammar and mechanics. These are word order, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
• Sentence Structure: The Accuplacer Writing Test assesses your ability to form complete sentences. To score highly in this section, you need to use correct functions and avoid run-ons or fragments.
• Organization: The key to good writing is using a logical and consistent organizational structure. Learning how to improve sentence clarity and flow will allow the reader to better comprehend your writing.
• Transitions and Cohesion: Transition words such as furthermore or however are a simple but effective way of connecting ideas together. Using transition words will help you improve the logical flow of ideas within a passage.

One of the best ways to study the four key topics is by reading official College Board guides and regularly taking an Accuplacer writing practice test.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Accuplacer Writing test?

The Accuplacer Writing Test assesses a candidate's writing skills and understanding of the English language. It is used to match students to college and university courses.

Where can I find free Accuplacer Writing practice tests?

You can find a free Accuplacer Writing practice test on the official Accuplacer website. They also provide free learning resources and sample questions.

What topics are covered in the Accuplacer Writing test?

The four key topics covered in the Accuplacer Writing Test are grammar and mechanics, sentence structure, organization, and transitions and cohesion.

What is the Next-Generation Accuplacer Writing test?

The Next-Generation Accuplacer Writing Test is the latest version of the Accuplacer Writing admissions test. It has been widely used since 2019 and has different study guidance to the Classic version, so make sure you have the right guide. 

Final Thoughts

The Accuplacer Writing Test is a necessary part of the college and university application process. It is an important test as it matches you to a course to which you are best suited.

If you are to score highly on the test, you will need to showcase exceptional writing skills. The assessment topics will be familiar to you from high school, but it will help to boost your overall writing ability. You can do this by using free resources, Accuplacer Writing practice tests, and study guides.