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8.6 Choosing Your Math Test: Arithmetic, QAS, or AAF

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ACCUPLACER Suite Study Guide Exam

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1 Chapter 1: ACCUPLACER Suite Overview & Testing Mechanics

1.1 The ACCUPLACER Testing System & Computer-Adaptive Mechanics 1.2 Placement Policies, Score Scales & Institutional Cut Scores 1.3 Test-Taking Strategies, Tool Mechanics & Pacing

2 Chapter 2: Next-Generation Reading

2.1 The Reading Test Blueprint: Set-Based and Discrete Items 2.2 Information and Ideas: Close Reading & Central Themes 2.3 Summarizing and Understanding Relationships 2.4 Rhetoric, Text Structure & Author's Purpose 2.5 Analyzing Point of View and Authorial Purpose 2.6 Analyzing Arguments: Claims, Counterclaims, and Evidence 2.7 Synthesis & Paired Text Comparative Analysis 2.8 Vocabulary in Context & Figurative Language 2.9 Passage Genre, Content Area, Mode, and Text Complexity 2.10 Answer-Choice Traps and Evidence Discipline

3 Chapter 3: Next-Generation Writing: Expression of Ideas

3.1 The Writing Test Blueprint: Passage Sets and Content Distribution 3.2 Development: Proposition and Supporting Evidence 3.3 Focus: Adding, Retaining, and Deleting for Relevance 3.4 Organization: Logical Sequence and Paragraph Order 3.5 Introductions, Conclusions, and Transitional Cohesion 3.6 Effective Language Use: Precision and Word Choice 3.7 Concision: Eliminating Wordiness and Redundancy 3.8 Style, Tone, and Voice Consistency 3.9 Syntax: Sentence Combining for Rhetorical Purpose

4 Chapter 4: Next-Generation Writing: Standard English Conventions

4.1 Sentence Boundaries: Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices 4.2 Subordination and Coordination 4.3 Parallel Structure 4.4 Modifier Placement: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers 4.5 Inappropriate Shifts in Verb Tense 4.6 Inappropriate Shifts in Verb Voice and Mood 4.7 Inappropriate Shifts in Pronoun Person and Number 4.8 Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronoun Case, and Verb Forms 4.9 Possessive Determiners, Contractions, and Confusable Adverbs 4.10 Pronoun Clarity and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement 4.11 Frequently Confused Words, Noun Agreement, and Logical Comparison 4.12 Within-Sentence Punctuation: Semicolons, Colons, Dashes, and Apostrophes 4.13 Items in a Series and Nonrestrictive Elements 4.14 End-of-Sentence Punctuation, Hyphenation, and Unnecessary Punctuation

5 Chapter 5: Next-Generation Arithmetic

5.1 Whole Number Operations, Estimation & Multi-Step Applications 5.2 Fractions, Mixed Numbers & Operations 5.3 Decimal Operations & Place-Value Conversions 5.4 Percent Calculations, Increase, Decrease, and Applications 5.5 Number Comparisons and Equivalents Across Formats

6 Chapter 6: Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS)

6.1 Rational Numbers, Absolute Value, and Order of Operations 6.2 Exponents, Radicals, and Scientific Notation 6.3 Ratio, Proportional Relationships, and Unit Conversions 6.4 Creating and Evaluating Algebraic Expressions 6.5 Linear Equations, Inequalities, and Systems of Two Equations 6.6 Linear Applications, Functions, and Graphs 6.7 Probability and Sets 6.8 Descriptive Statistics: Center, Spread, and Graphical Displays 6.9 Geometry for Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1

7 Chapter 7: Next-Generation Advanced Algebra, Quadratics & Polynomials

7.1 Advanced Linear Equations, Systems, and Coordinate Geometry 7.2 Factoring Methods for Quadratics, Cubics, and Polynomials 7.3 Quadratic Equations, Vertex Form & Parabolic Functions 7.4 Polynomial Equations, Roots, and Graphs 7.5 Radical and Rational Equations and Functions 7.6 Geometry for Algebra 1 and Algebra 2

8 Chapter 8: Functions, Exponentials, Logarithms & Trigonometry

8.1 Function Notation, Transformations, Compositions & Inverses 8.2 Domain, Range, and Interpreting Functions in Context 8.3 Exponential & Logarithmic Functions, Laws & Modeling 8.4 Right-Triangle Trigonometry, the Unit Circle, and Radian Measure 8.5 Law of Sines, Law of Cosines, and Trigonometric Equations 8.6 Choosing Your Math Test: Arithmetic, QAS, or AAF

9 Chapter 9: WritePlacer & WritePlacer ESL Essays

9.1 WritePlacer Prompt Format, Planning, and the Writing Process 9.2 The WritePlacer Scoring Rubric & 6 Core Dimensions 9.3 Reading the WritePlacer Score Scale: What Each Band Demonstrates 9.4 Essay Architecture: Thesis, Evidence Integration & Structure 9.5 WritePlacer ESL Scoring Standards & Synthesis

10 Chapter 10: ACCUPLACER ESL Placement Suite

10.1 The ESL Placement Suite: Structure, Scoring, and Score Interpretation 10.2 ESL Reading Skills & Passage Comprehension 10.3 ESL Sentence Meaning & Context Clues 10.4 ESL Language Use & Grammatical Mechanics 10.5 ESL Listening Comprehension & Spoken Contexts

8.6 Choosing Your Math Test: Arithmetic, QAS, or AAF

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

The three math tests are Arithmetic, QAS, and AAF, each 20 questions scored on the same 200 to 300 scale.

QAS targets non-STEM and undecided students; AAF targets STEM and quantitative majors.

The same 200 to 300 scale means a score is only interpretable alongside the name of the test that produced it.

Handheld calculators are prohibited on all computer-adaptive math tests; an on-screen calculator appears only on designated items.

COMPANION paper forms are 40 questions and have their own calculator rules that differ by test.

Last updated: August 2026

Three Tests, One Scale, Different Destinations

ACCUPLACER's mathematics component is not one test. It is three separate placement tests , each 20 questions, each reported on the same 200–300 scale:

  • Test Official Target Population
  • Arithmetic Students needing foundational computation assessment

Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) "Students entering many non-STEM fields of study or ... students who are undecided on a major"

Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) "Students entering STEM fields of study, as well as students entering non-STEM fields ... that require some advanced math (e.g., medicine, economics, accounting)"

The shared scale creates a trap worth stating plainly: a 265 on Arithmetic and a 265 on AAF are not comparable achievements. They describe different competencies, and institutions map them to entirely different courses. A score is meaningful only together with the name of the test that produced it.

Content Comparison

  • Content Area Arithmetic QAS AAF
  • Whole number operations ✓
  • Fraction operations ✓
  • Decimal operations ✓
  • Percent ✓
  • Number comparisons and equivalents ✓
  • Rational numbers ✓
  • Ratio and proportional relationships ✓
  • Exponents ✓
  • Algebraic expressions ✓
  • Linear equations ✓ ✓
  • Linear applications and graphs ✓ ✓
  • Probability and sets ✓
  • Descriptive statistics ✓
  • Geometry for Pre-Algebra ✓
  • Geometry for Algebra 1 ✓ ✓
  • Factoring ✓
  • Quadratics ✓
  • Functions ✓
  • Radical and rational equations ✓
  • Polynomial equations ✓
  • Exponential and logarithmic equations ✓
  • Geometry for Algebra 2 ✓
  • Trigonometry ✓

Two observations follow.

The overlap between QAS and AAF is small — only Linear equations , Linear applications and graphs , and Geometry for Algebra 1 appear on both. Preparing for one does not substantially prepare you for the other.

Arithmetic shares nothing with either. It is a distinct assessment of computational fluency, not a lighter version of QAS.

Which Test Will You Take?

Institutions handle this in one of three ways, so check your college's testing page before test day :

Institution-assigned. The college specifies the test based on your intended program. Most common.

Branching. You begin with QAS; a sufficiently high score routes you into AAF for a chance at higher placement, or a low score routes you into Arithmetic for a more precise diagnosis. Branching rules are set locally, not by the College Board.

Student choice. Less common, and it puts the decision on you.

Where you have a choice, the reasoning is straightforward:

Intending calculus, engineering, physics, chemistry, computer science, economics, or a health-science track ? Take AAF . Only AAF can place you into precalculus or calculus, because only AAF assesses functions, logarithms, and trigonometry.

Intending a humanities, social science, education, or general studies pathway , or undecided? QAS aligns with statistics and quantitative-reasoning gateway courses.

Arithmetic is generally assigned rather than chosen, and it cannot place you into credit-bearing algebra.

The asymmetry that matters: taking AAF and scoring modestly usually costs you nothing , since institutions typically also accept the result for lower placements. Taking QAS and scoring well can still leave you unable to enter calculus, because QAS never assessed the prerequisite material. Where the choice is genuinely yours and your program requires advanced math, the higher test is the safer selection.

Calculator Policy

The rules are specific and differ between adaptive and paper forms.

Computer-Adaptive Tests (all three)

The use of handheld calculators should not be allowed on any computer-based ACCUPLACER math placement tests. Questions that are configured to allow for the use of a calculator will present a calculator icon in the top right corner of the screen .

So: no personal calculator , on any of the three. An on-screen calculator appears only on designated items — those where computation is not the skill being measured. The absence of the icon is itself information: that question is testing your ability to compute, and the arithmetic will be manageable by hand.

Students with a documented disability may use a handheld calculator when it is an approved accommodation.

COMPANION Paper Forms (40 questions)

The rules diverge by test:

COMPANION Test Calculator Permitted

Arithmetic None. Some assessed material cannot be measured properly with a calculator.

QAS Four-function only. Scientific and graphing calculators prohibited.

AAF Four-function or scientific. Graphing calculators prohibited.

Preparing Efficiently

Because the content areas barely overlap, identify your test first and study its blueprint . A student assigned QAS who spends three weeks on trigonometry has prepared for questions that cannot appear.

Allocate roughly in proportion to the published question ranges:

QAS: the largest allocations are Ratio and proportional relationships (3–4) and the two linear areas (2–4 each). Those three account for roughly a third of the test.

AAF: Functions (2–4) is the largest, followed by the linear and quadratic areas (2–3 each).

Arithmetic: all five areas carry equal weight (3–5 each), so distribute time evenly.

And remember that all three are untimed . The constraint is accuracy and stamina, not speed.