CLAST

CLAST

Purpose of the CLAST
Requirement to Take the CLAST
CLAST Exemption Criteria
Eligibility to Take the CLAST
CAT CLAST (Computerized Adapted Test)

Description of Subtests
     Essay
    
English Language Skills
    
Reading
    
Mathematics
CLAST Minimum Standards
Interpreting Your Scores
Retaking the CLAST
Recording CLAST Scores
CLAST Test Schedule
CLAST Registration Form
Florida Dept. Education CLAST Home Page

Purpose of the CLAST - College-Level Academic Skills Test

The College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) is an achievement test that measures the level of attainment of communication and mathematics skills expected of all students by the time they complete their sophomore year in college.

Requirement to Take the CLAST

Demonstrating attainment of basic college-level communication and mathematics skills is required for (1) the award of an associate in arts degree from a community college or state university and (2) admission to upper-division status in a state university or receipt of a baccalaureate degree from a state university.

The CLAST is one measure of students' academic proficiency. Effective January 1, 1996, s. 240.107, F.S., provides alternative ways for students to demonstrate attainment of the required communications and mathematics skills. For further information about these alternatives, contact the Dean of Enrollment Services at Chipola College 850-718-2209.

CLAST Exemption Criteria

Communications Section (Essay, English Language Skills, Reading)

     Cumulative 2.5 GPA in ENC1101 and ENC1102
                  -or-
     Verbal SAT score of 420 before April 1, 1995
     Verbal SAT score of 500 April 1, 1995 and thereafter
                  -or-
     E-ACT score of 22 on the Reading section and a 21 on the English section

Quantitative Section (Mathematics)

     Cumulative 2.5 GPA in MAC1105 and MGF1106, STA2023 or a higher
     MAC course
                  -or-
     Quantitative SAT score of 470 before April 1, 1995
     Quantitative SAT score of 500 April 1, 1995 and thereafter
                  -or-
     Math score of 21 on the E-ACT

NOTE: Students must review their records with the Dean of Enrollment Services and complete the CLAST Exemption Request form before they are exempted from any portion of the CLAST.  

Eligibility to Take the CLAST

  • First Time Taking the CLAST: If you have less than a 3.0 cumulative GPA, you are required to complete the CLAST review course for the subtests you are taking. Essay, English, and Reading subtests require ENC 2103; Math subtest requires MGF 2118. See catalog for pre-requisites to ENC 2103 and MGF 2118.
  • Retaking Essay, English Language Skills and/or Reading Subtest: Regardless of your GPA, you are required to complete CLAST review course ENC 2103 A, B, or C.
  • Retaking Mathematics Subtest: Regardless of your GPA, you are required to complete CLAST review course MGF 2119 A, B, or C.

CAT CLAST (Computerized Adaptive Test)

The CAT CLAST is an alternate version of the CLAST which is administered and scored by computer. Three CLAST subtests are available: Reading, English Language Skills, and Mathematics. NOTE: The essay portion of this exam is offered only in the paper-and-pencil format.

  • CAT CLAST Registration: The registration form for the computerized format must be obtained from the Dean of Enrollment Services (Bldg. A). The Dean of Enrollment Services or her representative must complete the authorization section of the registration form. The examinee is responsible for registering for the correct subtest(s).
     
  • CAT CLAST  Schedule: The computerized format is offered in the Testing Center (Bldg. A) each Tuesday and Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The examinee must provide a current photo ID and a completed registration form at the time of the exam. The CAT CLAST will NOT be offered during college registration dates which are listed on the Chipola College calendar.
     
  • CAT CLAST Fee: There is NO fee for the computerized format for students who are currently enrolled at Chipola College. For all other examinees the fee is $30.00 payable to Chipola College. The fee will be collected by the Testing Center staff at the time of the exam.

 

Description of Subtests

Essay:  This subtest requires the examinee to choose one of two topics and write an essay on that topic. The essay measures the ability to write a composition, providing ideas and information suitable to the purpose and audience and using effective language that conforms to the conventions of standard American English.

English Language Skills:  English language skills in the areas of word choice, sentence structure, and grammar/ spelling/punctuation/capitalization are measured by multiple-choice items. Word choice items measure the ability to choose words that convey the specific meaning required by context. Sentence structure items measure the ability to organize sentence parts so that the sentence clearly and effectively expresses the thought. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization items measure knowledge of the conventions of standard American English grammar and usage.

Reading:  The reading subtest includes multiple-choice items that measure skills in the areas of literal comprehension and critical comprehension. Literal comprehension includes items that measure the ability to read for specific information contained in reading passages. Critical comprehension includes items that measure the ability to make inferences or judgments about what is read.

Mathematics:  The mathematics subtest includes multiple choice items in the areas of arithmetic, algebra, geometry/measurement, statistics/ probability, and logical reasoning. The skills measured are included in high school and lower-division college mathematics courses.

CLAST Minimum Standards

The following minimum standards (passing scores) for the CLAST have been adopted by the State Board of Education:   

Date Essay ELS Reading Math
8/1/84 - 7/31/99 4 265  260 260
8/1/86 - 7/31/89 270 270  275
8/1/89 – 9/30/91  295  295  285
10/1/91 – 9/30/92 5* 295  295  295
10/1/92 & thereafter 295  295  295

   *In October 1991, the essay scoring scale was revised. A score of 5 on the revised scale is equivalent to a score of 4 on the former scale.

A student is required to meet the minimum standards on all four subtests in effect at the time he/she initially takes the test.

Interpreting Your Scores:  Your score report contains the following information:

  1. A rating on the essay subtest.
  2. Scale scores for the English language skills, reading, and mathematics subtests.
  3. The percentage of items you answered correctly in each broad-skill area.

To determine if you "passed," compare your rating on the essay and your scale scores on the other subtests to the minimum standards that were in effect when you first took the CLAST. You must meet the minimum standards on all four subtests.

The scale for the reading, English language skills, and mathematics scores was established in the October 1982 administration using a range from approximately 200 to 400 with a mean score of 300 on each subtest. For the 1996-97 administrations the average mean for mathematics was 303; for reading, 310; and for English language skills, 311.

The essay score is the total of two ratings assigned by trained readers. Each reader rated your paper independently using a scale from 1 (lowest rating) to 6 (highest rating); thus, the total scores range from 2 to 12. In October 1982, the mean score for the essay subtest was 4.7 on a scoring range of 2 to 8. For the 1996-97 administrations, the average essay score was 6.9 on a scoring range of 2 to 12.

The percentage of items correct is given for each of the broad-skill areas to provide you with an estimate of your strengths and weaknesses in terms of the specific skill areas tested. Since the number of items in each broad-skill area varies, these percentages cannot be averaged.

An "NT," meaning "not tested," will be printed on your score report if you did not take that subtest as part of this administration or you did not turn in a scorable answer sheet. An "OT," meaning "off-topic," is reported for an essay score if at least three readers judged that the essay did not address one of the topics that was provided. No score is assigned to an off-topic essay.

The scores you are receiving are the ones earned on this administration only. If you were retaking the CLAST, scores earned previously are not reported on this score report.

Retaking the CLAST

You may register for and retake, in any subsequent administration of the CLAST, any subtest(s) for which you have not met the passing standards. You may not retake any subtest(s) for which you already have a passing score.

You may retake an examination no sooner than the thirty-first (31st) day after any previous administration date, regardless of whether the previous administration was a regular administration, a special administration, or a computer-adaptive (CAT) administration. If you do take a subtest of the CLAST before the thirty-first (31st) day, the score(s) will be invalidated, and no score report will be mailed.

Students planning to retake any section of the CLAST must take the appropriate review course(s) before retaking the CLAST.

Recording CLAST Scores

Scale scores and the essay rating will be recorded in your permanent record. The percentage of items correct will not be recorded in your record but is provided to assist you in evaluating your performance in each of the skill areas tested.

CLAST Test Schedule

Registration deadlines and test dates for CLAST are listed on the Chipola College test schedule which can be accessed by clicking the link provided above.

 CLAST Registration Form 

Fill and print the CLAST Registration Form.  Mail it or bring it back to the Dean of Enrollment Services,  but it must be received by the Dean of Enrollment Services, Bldg. A, Room 142 by the registration deadline.

 

Last revision: October 03, 2007

 

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