An ACT Program for Educational PlanningCOMPASS/ESLSample Test Questions—A Guide for Students and ParentsWriting Skills®5281_COMPASS/ESL Cover&Intro 6/25/04 12:21 PM Page 4Note to StudentsWelcome to the COMPASS Sample Writing Skills Test! You are about to look at some sample test questions as youprepare to take the actual COMPASS test. The examples in thisbooklet are similar to the kinds of test questions you are likely tosee when you take the actual COMPASS test. Since this is apractice exercise, you will answer just a few questions and youwon’t receive a real test score. The answer key followsthe sample questions. Once you are ready to take the actual COMPASS test, youneed to know that the test is computer delivered and untimed—that is, you may work at your own pace. After you complete thetest, you can get a score report to help you make good choiceswhen you register for college classes. We hope you benefit from these sample questions, and wewish you success as you pursue your education and career goals!Note to ParentsThe test questions in this sample set are similar to the kinds oftest questions your son or daughter will encounter when they takethe actual COMPASS test. Since these questions are only forpractice, they do not produce a test score; students answer morequestions on the actual test. The aim of this booklet is to give asense of the kinds of questions examinees will face and their levelof difficulty. There is an answer key at the end.5281_COMPASS/ESL Cover&Intro 6/25/04 12:21 PM Page 5© 2004 ACT, Inc. All rights reserved.1COMPASS Writing Skills Sample Test QuestionsThe Writing Skills Placement Test presents one or more passages, each containing several errors.When an error is detected in a passage, clicking on that section of the passage brings up severalalternative segments of text from which a more appropriate segment can be selected and insertedautomatically into the text. Items in the Writing Skills Placement Test assess basic knowledgeand skills in usage and mechanics (e.g., punctuation, basic grammar and usage, and sentencestructure) as well as more rhetorical skills such as writing strategy, organization, and style.Representative samples of items from these knowledge and skill areas are provided in thefollowing pages.Note that in the sample passages that follow, each section is numbered. In the computerizedCOMPASS Writing Skills Placement Test, sections are not numbered; instead, errors areidentified by moving the cursor to the section of text in which an error is identified and thenclicking the left mouse button to make the alternative text options appear.Writing Skills Placement Test Sample Items© 2004 ACT, Inc. All rights reserved.2Sample Passage #1Grameen BankBangladesh’s economy is based primarily on small-scale enterprisesran by self-employed men and women. These small-business owners, who make aliving as shopkeepers or providers of services, face a problem common to proprietorseverywhere: lack of access to credit, particularly among the early start-up phase of anenterprise. Credit, which allows people to obtain the resources and equipment he needsto make his business productive, is often, frequently unavailable to those who possesslittle collateral. Thus, many people which would benefit from credit are denied accessto it.The Grameen Bank, founded in 1976 by economist Muhammad Yunis, who was afine soccer player in his youth, provides the only unique alternative via loans toprospective business owners, whether they are given only to those who fall below acertain level of assets. Instead of putting up collateral, Grameen customers areaccountable with one another, congregating in small groups that meet as a week.134562347891011121313 14141516Writing Skills Placement Test Sample Items© 2004 ACT, Inc. All rights reserved.3If one member will fail to repay a loan, the entire group is unable to obtain creditin the future thus, group members have a strong incentive to succeed and supportothers in the group. In the last twenty years, the Grameen Bank has lent two billiondollars, and his customers have repaid 97 percent of their loans. Such results have led tothe creation of similar programs.201921211718Writing Skills Placement Test Sample Items© 2004 ACT, Inc. All rights reserved.4Item 1.A. Bangladesh's economy is based primarily on small-scaleB. Bangladesh's economy's is based primarily on small-scaleC. Bangladesh's economies' are based primarily on small-scaleD. Bangladesh's economys' is based primarily on small-scaleE. Bangladesh's economies' is based primarily on small-scaleItem 2.A. enterprises ran by self-employed men and women.B. enterprises run by self-employed men and women.C. enterprises have run by self-employed men and women.D. enterprises was run by self-employed men and women.E. enterprises had been run by self-employed men and women.Item 3.A. These small-business owners, who make a living as shopkeepers or providers of services,B. These small-business owners, who make a living, as shopkeepers or providers of servicesC. These small-business owners, who make a living as shopkeepers, or providers of servicesD. These small-business owners who make a living as shopkeepers or providers of services,E. These small-business owners; who make a living as shopkeepers or providers of services,Item 4.A. face a problem common to proprietors everywhere: lack of access to credit,B. face a problem common to proprietors everywhere: lack of access credit,C. face a problem common to proprietors everywhere: lack of access from credit,D. face a problem common to proprietors everywhere: lack of access in credit,E. face a problem common to proprietors everywhere: lack of access for credit,Writing Skills Placement Test Sample Items© 2004 ACT, Inc. All rights reserved.5Item 5.A. particularly among the early start-up phase of an enterprise.B. particularly between the early start-up phase of an enterprise.C. particularly below the early start-up phase of an enterprise.D. particularly during the early start-up phase of an enterprise.E. particularly now the early start-up phase of an enterprise.Item 6.A. Credit, which allows people to obtain the resources and equipment he needs to make hisbusiness productive,B. Credit, which allows people to obtain the resources and equipment they need to make theirbusinesses productive,C. Credit, which allows people to obtain the resources and equipment we need to make ourbusiness