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Campus Based Testing

We are available to facilitate appropriate placement in courses and programs, to coordinate or invigilate exams for other educational institutions, and to administer entry assessments for admission to TRU programs.

What we offer

  English as a Second or Alternate Language testing (ACCUPLACER)

The testing system consists of four parts:

1. Reading skills

The Reading Skills part of LOEP tests the student's comprehension of short passages. The sub-test contains brief passages of 50 words or less and moderate length passages of 50 to 90 words. There is a variety of passage content such as the arts, human relationships, physical science, history/social sciences and practical situations.

Half of the Reading Skills sub-test contains straightforward comprehension items (paraphrase, locating information, vocabulary on a phrase level, and pronoun reference). The other half assesses inference skills (main idea, fact vs. opinion, cause/effect logic, identifying irrelevant information, author's point of view, and applying the author's logic to another situation).

2. Language Use

The Language Use sub-test measures grammar and usage. It contains questions in two formats: completing a sentence by filling in a blank with the word or phrase from the choices given, and choosing a sentence that best combines two discrete sentences that are given.

The skills covered are subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, forms of irregular verbs, appropriate verb forms in structures, noun-noun agreement, noun forms, pronouns, modifiers, comparatives, prepositions, connectives, parallelism, and sentence fragments/run-ons.

3. Sentence meaning

Sentence meaning assesses the understanding of word meanings in one- or two-sentence contexts. The sentences are drawn from the content areas of natural science, history/social studies, arts/humanities, psychology/human relations, and practical situations.

The areas tested are: particle verbs (or phrasal verbs), basic and important idioms, adverb/adjective phrases, basic nouns, verbs and adjectives (particularly terms of beauty, age, greatness, size), adverbs of frequency, sequence of adverbs (before, after, during), prepositions of direction and place (from, to, at, for, etc), comparatives, connectives, and commands.

4. Writing sample

WritePlacer provides a direct measure of the writing skills of students who are not native speakers of English.For this test, examinees are asked to provide a writing sample in response to a specific prompt. Examinees have 1 hour to complete the writing sample. Each response is evaluated based on the following features of writing:

  • Vocabulary
  • Sentence Structure
  • Focus
  • Organization
  • Development and Support

An oral interview follows these written sections.

Procedure

  • Students must register to write the English Placement assessment through the Assessment Centre.
  • Testing takes place in the Assessment Centre (OM 1487) or a computer lab in the Old Main building. The exact room number is posted on the day of the test. Students are to report to the testing room at 8:45 A.M. on the testing day.

Scent-free notice: The Assessment Centre is a scent free work environment. Since many people are extremely sensitive to perfumes, colognes, aftershaves and other scented products, we request that no one wears them at anytime in the Centre. If a candidate does not comply with this policy, they will not be tested and they will be responsible for rescheduling their exam. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we need to ensure the safety of all using this space.

  • Students are to bring picture ID and student number.
  • The testing session lasts approximately 3 hours.

Testing dates

Testing takes place on Wednesdays. Please contact the Assessment Centre to reserve a seat by phone: 250-828-5470 or email: assess@tru.ca

Purpose

Assessment tool for student placement in EAP courses and programs at TRU.

Fee

$45 + GST

More Info

College Board ACCUPLACER

 Typing tests

The TRU typing test is an online proctored 5-minute typing test that assesses a candidate's typing speed and accuracy. It can be proctored virtually via Zoom.

Typing test appointments are 20 minutes to allow log in with ID, set up and three 5-minute test attempts (highest score will be used).

Purpose

Entrance requirement for:

Please note, we do not offer typing tests for employment purposes.

Sign up

Typing Test Registration

Fees

A $30 (+ GST) entry assessment testing fee must be paid when booking the test. Please note this fee is non-refundable.

Procedure

  • Schedule an appointment online to write the TRU entry assessment typing test in person or remotely.
  • Complete the entry assessment typing test on established date.

Williams Lake students

Contact us at wlassess@tru.ca to take the typing test in Williams Lake.

 Private testing

TRU provides private testing services for individuals wanting to write exams from post-secondary institutions other than TRU.

Fees

Supervison Fees:

The test supervision fee is $50 + GST per three-hour sitting, with additional fees for longer sessions. Please note this fee is non-refundable.

Postage Fees:

There is no charge if the testing material is sent via regular mail or if a pre-paid waybill is provided by the institute/agency. There is a $15 postage fee if the individual wants the material returned by courier anywhere in Canada. The fee will vary for locations outside Canada.

Procedure

  • If you require private testing services, please complete the private testing request form.
  • Once we receive this form, we will contact you via email or phone to discuss your request.
  • If it is possible for us to supervise the testing session, you will need to pay the private testing fee in advance to secure your appointment. Instructions for doing so will be sent to you via email. This fee is non-refundable.
  • Once your appointment is confirmed, you are responsible for arranging for the testing material to be sent to our office prior to the testing date.
  • The staff will notify you once the testing material arrives.
  • On the day of the test, be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment and to bring picture ID and any other testing material permitted.
  • Please report to Exam & Testing Services
  • Once the testing session is completed, the staff will return the testing material via regular mail unless other provisions are made by the institute or yourself.

Contact Information

  • Exams & Testing Services, Old Main Building, Room OM 1487
  • Thompson Rivers University
  • 805 TRU Way
  • Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8
  • Email: assess@tru.ca
  • Phone: 250-828-5470
  • Fax: 250-371-5690
  • Map of Campus
  • TRU Visitor parking
 Make up Exam Testing

General Information

We offer supervision services for TRU makeup tests on a limited basis at no cost to the department or student. Faculty members can arrange for these in-person testing sessions on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Length of Makeup test sessions

Sessions are available throughout the semester. During the first 13 weeks, most sessions are 75 minutes in length although a few two-hour sessions are available. During the final exam period, three-hour sessions are available.

Guidelines

  • Schedule in advance: All sessions must be booked at least 48 hours beforehand.
  • Paper-based exams: Exams for paper-based sessions can be uploaded when scheduling the appointment or delivered to Old Main 1487 at least one day before the exam during office hours.
  • Accommodated exams: This service is not available for any accommodated testing sessions. If accommodations are required, arrangements must be made throughAccessibility Services.

Instructions for makeup exam testing with Exams & Testing Services

  1. Approval and timing: Faculty member reviews and approves a request by a student for a makeup exam and discusses the test timing with the student.
  2. Scheduling: The faculty schedules the session using the Faculty-Only Makeup Exam Registration Form available on one.tru.ca. This form is located on the Quick Links page, under Other Links
  3. Exam day requirements: On exam day, the student reports to the Old Main 1487 at least 15 minutes in advance with a TRU issued, or government issued photo ID.
  4. Faculty availability: Faculty should be available during your exam to answer any questions unless other arrangements are made with the Exams & testing Services.
  5. Exam pickup: Faculty must pick up your completed paper-based exam within 48 hours and show photo ID when collecting the exam.
  6. Cancellations: Please inform the Exams & Testing Services staff if there are any cancellations.

If faculty have any questions about this service, they can contact Exams & testing Services by emailing assess@tru.ca. The office is in the Old Main Building (Room 1487).

 Exams for Open Learning students wanting to write at TRU
  • If you require private testing services, please complete the private testing request form. For more information about Private testing procedures please refer to the private testing above.
  • For general information about OL exams please refer here Exams for Open Learning students

    • Contact

    • Phone: 250-828-5470
    • Email: assess@tru.ca
    • Location: OM 1487
    • Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., closed on statutory holidays

    Testing at Regional Campuses

    Students can make arrangements to write the TRU Entry Assessments (ACCUPLACER and typing) at any of TRU's regional campuses. For more information, please contact the appropriate regional campus:

    Regional Campus Contact Person Email Phone Number
    Lillooet Karime Jolly kjolly@tru.ca 250-256-4296
    Williams Lake Assessment Services wlassess@tru.ca 250-392-8030
    100 Mile House Kayla Nasby knasby@tru.ca 250-395-3115
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