Community College of Qatar to reopen student placement tests in September

The Community College of Qatar will reopen student registration for the ACT Compass Placement Test in September. Testing times will be scheduled every week for students interested in attending CCQ. All test times for this summer are full and students who wish to retake the test can do so one month from the most recent test taken.

“We are heartened by the overwhelming student response to the first-ever community college in Qatar,” said HE Mr. Saad Bin Ibrahim Al-Mahmoud, Minister of Education. “The CCQ will greatly benefit students as well as our nation,” he added.

At least 1,600 students are currently taking the placement tests at Qatar University. Although the CCQ plans to enroll 300 students in the first year, it will accommodate all applicants willing to study at the college in the future.

Notifications of acceptance to the CCQ for students already taking or in the process of taking the exam will be sent out after July 7, 2010. The CCQ plans to grow to 1,500 students to accommodate the demand.

“More students will be admitted in January and June when the CCQ begins its part time courses,” said Dr. Ibrahim Alnaimi, the CCQ project director. “An overwhelming number of students signed up to take the placement test. The CCQ will try to find opportunities for all the students who want to come for studies here.”

The ACT Compass Placement test is required for all students who wish to enroll in the CCQ.

“It is not a pass-fail test; advisors use the Compass to determine the appropriate courses for each student,” Dr. Judith Hansen, Dean of the CCQ. “The college will not turn down anyone based on their scores. Our ultimate goal is to provide education for everybody approaching us and showing interest in the college.”

For those students who plan to take the test for the first time or retake the test, the CCQ advises the following: study old math worksheets, go on-line for math tutoring, improve English skills by reading English newspapers, magazines and websites and watching more English television programs; e-mail friends and mentors in English, converse with friends and acquaintances in English; and most importantly, visit the ACT Compass website - http://act.org/compass - for practice tests.