De Anza College :: Department Name (do not include Department). :: Financial Aid Ability to Benefit (ATB) Test

Ability to Benefit (ATB)

What is Ability to Benefit (ATB)?

All applicants applying for Federal Financial Aid for post-secondary education must show ability to benefit from a college education.

How do students demonstrate Ability to Benefit?

Students who have earned a high school diploma or GED or equivalent are considered to have the basic skills to benefit from a college education. They do not need to take an ATB test.
Students without a high school diploma, GED or equivalent can show ability to benefit by receiving qualifying scores on an ATB test.

Which tests are administered for ATB at De Anza?

COLLEGE BOARD ACCUPLACER: Sentence Skills, Reading Comprehension and Arithmetic
CELSA (Combined English Language Skills Assessment)

Are ATB tests different than Placement tests?

De Anza College also uses College Board Accuplacer tests and CELSA for placement. Students who have taken Accuplacer or CELSA tests for placement must also meet all other ATB testing requirements. Students taking tests for ATB qualification need to inform Assessment staff when they sign-in to test. (See ATB test requirements below)

If ATB testing is needed, which test should a student take?

Students who plan to enroll in English for native speaker courses/programs must take ACCUPLACER tests. These students must take all 3 tests (Sentence Skills, Reading Comprehension and Arithmetic) during a single test session. Students who do not receive qualifying scores on all 3 tests during the test session will need to re-test on all 3 tests.
English as Second Language students who plan to enroll in English as Second Language courses (ESL) can take CELSA. Students who take CELSA for Ability to Benefit do not need to qualify on a math test.

What is the re-test policy for ATB testing?

A re-test on ACCUPLACER or CELSA for ATB is permitted after minimum of 2 weeks to allow time for study and review. The re-test does not change course placements.
Students can appeal to the Supervisor of Assessment for a 3rd test. Students taking a 3rd test are advised to wait a minimum 30 days from date of their 2nd test. They must show proof of remediation (course work, tutorial, home study...)

Are there practice tests for ATB?

For review and practice, students choose their own review books or online web sites for tutorials. One online site with ATB practice tests: http://www.lavc.cc.ca.us/math/samples

Assessment Department