Students who lack a high school diploma or GED and want to enroll in college may be eligible to do so if they pass a federally regulated Ability to Benefit (ATB) test.
This test is an option for you if (1) you were in a high school graduating class of 2003 or later but did not pass the MCAS, (2) you were in a high school graduating class prior to 2003 and did not complete graduation requirements, or (3) you are unable to obtain documentation of your graduation. By passing the ATB test, you will become eligible for admission to NSCC and academically eligible for federal financial aid.
At NSCC, the ATB test administered is called the ACCUPLACER. Students must pass all three components of this test during the same testing session. The minimum scores are as follows: Reading Comprehension - 55/Sentence Skills - 60/Arithmetic - 34. Testing is not timed but usually takes two or three hours to complete. More information about the format of this test is available at the ACCUPLACER Web site.
If You Pass
Once students have passed all portions of the ATB, they are eligible to enroll in a program of study and apply for financial aid. Students must submit their test scores as part of the enrollment process.
Retest Policy
Students who do not pass all three sections of the test on the first try may retest within two weeks for a better score. Candidates who petition for a third attempt at passing are permitted to re-test after three months and only if they can provide evidence of some instructional intervention. Instructional assistance is available at NSCC through the following resources: