Assessment services FAQ

For full details visit the How to book an assessment test page.

Please see individual assessment testing information sheets.

No. There is no cost for Douglas College students completing an assessment (the cost is included in your application and registration fee).

You may take an assessment for admission to courses and/or programs a maximum of two times within a two-year period. For most standardized tests, there is a four month waiting period before you can do a retest.

If you write the English Assessment (DCOE) and are directed to upgrading, you must wait until after the "last day to drop a course or completely withdraw from the College" in the following semester before rewriting the assessment. The purpose of this policy is to encourage you to take the opportunity to upgrade your skills before retaking the assessment.

You may attempt the English Assessment (DCOE) a maximum of twice in two years. However, if you first take the ELLA or English Upgrading assessment, without having attempted the Computer-based English Assessment, you will be eligible to take the English Assessment (DCOE) only once. The ELLA or English Upgrading Assessment counts as the first attempt, and the English Assessment (DCOE) counts as the second. If you believe extenuating circumstances exist you may contact the Registrar to request special consideration or exemption to this policy.

Please bring photo identification (driver's licence, passport or student card), your Douglas College student number and a pen and pencil. An English language dictionary in book form only is permitted for the English Assessment (DCOE). (Electronic or translation dictionaries, or thesaurus/dictionaries or synonym/dictionaries are not permitted. No dictionaries with built in sentence structure, grammar, punctuation usage, or writing styles. Please check the front, middle and back to ensure these are not included, as they will not be permitted).

Calculators are not permitted in Math Assessments with the exception of Math 11 Exemption (DCMX), and the Math Assessment (DCOM), (a scientific calculator is permitted, but a graphing calculator is not). The calculator will be enabled in your Blackboard tests if permissible. 

In-person Mathematics completed via Blackboard will be marked on the same day and results will be given to you after completion of the assessment.

Remote Mathematics Assessments completed via Blackboard  and Zoom will normally have results emailed to you and entered onto your student record 72 (business) hours after completion.

The English Assessment (DCOE) (either in-person or remote) will usually be marked the same day and results will be given to you right after completion of the assessment. In some instances your results may take up to 24 (business) hours.

You will need assessment results before you are eligible to register for courses requiring assessment prerequisite substitutions. We recommend you do your assessment testing as soon as you have submitted an application to the College and receive a student number. Students applying into a closed enrolment program need to wait to receive a letter from the Admissions Officer indicating which assessments are required. Please book early in order to meet any deadlines.

We do not have a practice test for the English Assessment (DCOE), but there is information on all testing available and some samples of the Reading Comprehension and Essay components. Please click here for information PDF's.

The (Precalculus placement) Math Assessment (DCMA) does have a practice test. Please click here for information PDF's.

Review the information sheets which explain the format and content of the assessment and provides suggestions regarding which textbooks will be most helpful. Please click here for information PDF's.

Calculators are not permitted for any of the Math Assessments with the exception of the Math 11 Exemption Test (DCMX) and Math Assessment (DCOM). Only a Scientific Calculator is permitted (no Graphing Calculators). Calculators will be be enabled in your Blackboard testing if permissible.

No. Dictionaries are not allowed.

Yes. An English language dictionary in book form only is permitted for the  English Assessment (DCOE). (Electronic or translation dictionaries, or thesaurus/dictionaries or synonym/dictionaries are not permitted. No dictionaries with built in sentence structure, grammar, punctuation usage, or writing styles. Please check the front, middle and back to ensure these are not included, as they will not be permitted).

As soon as you know you cannot make the assessment test appointment, call Enrolment Services at 604 527 5478. You will need to re-book your appointment as soon as possible. Failure to cancel your assessment with 24 (business) hours notice may result in the assessment being counted toward your four (4) month waiting period prior to being retested. Please note: some closed programs have different criteria for retesting.

All of the assessments are standardized timed tests. Please ensure you are early or on time as late arrivals are not permitted into the lab/testing room under any circumstances once the door is closed and the assessment has started. Late arrivals for Individualized Assessments may not be accommodated. Assessment offered remotely will not accept late arrivals.

Phone Enrolment Services at 604 527 5478 within 24 (business) hours prior to the assessment to reschedule an appointment at either the New Westminster, Coquitlam (David Lam) Campus or for remote online offerings.

Check to see if you have met the prerequisites (listed in the Douglas College Catalogue) for your course/program. You can do this by reviewing your high school transcript. If you have applied to a limited enrolment program, the Admissions Advisor will send you a letter informing you of all testing that will be required. You can also check with an Enrolment Services Advisor by phoning 604 527 5478.

For most tests there is a four (4) month waiting period before you can do a retest. Some closed programs have different criteria for retesting. Students will be limited to two opportunities to take a particular assessment. If unsuccessful, there is a two (2) year waiting period before a student can re-book the test. Any student who writes the English Assessment (DCOE) and is directed to upgrading must wait until after the "last day to drop a course or completely withdraw from the College" in the following semester before rewriting the assessment. The purpose of this policy is to encourage students to take the opportunity to upgrade their skills before retaking the assessment. Students may attempt the DCOE a maximum of twice in two years. However, a student who first takes the ELLA or ENGU [English Upgrading] assessment counts as the first attempt, and the DCOE counts as the second.

English Assessment (DCOE) results are good for four years. Standardized assessment test results are good for two years.

Please go to link at https://www.douglascollege.ca/programs-courses/explore-programs-courses/faculties/science-and-technology/mathematics/math-advising for all Math advice.