COMPUTER PROFICIENCY TEST
WHAT IS THE COMPUTER PROFICIENCY TEST?
The computer proficiency test, if passed, will allow a student to earn credit for CSC 113 Fundamentals of Computer Systems.
MAY I TAKE THE PROFICIENCY TEST IF I AM ENROLLED IN Or HAVE ALREADY PASSED A GENERAL EDUCATION COMPUTER CLASS?
You may not earn credit through the proficiency exam if you are enrolled in or have already have credit for a general education computer class: CSC 113 Fundamentals of Computer Systems, LSC 213 Information Literacy, ENR 1123 Engineering Computer Modeling or AGR 123 Computer Applications in Agriculture.
HOW DO I REGISTER TO TAKE THE COMPUTER PROFICIENCY TEST?
Register for CSC 113P PR Fund Computer Systems (Prof Test) during course registration in Campusweb. Remember you cannot be registered in another general education computer class at the same time.
WHAT IS THE COMPUTER PROFICIENCY TESTING PROCESS?
Either during the week before classes begin or during the first two weeks of class you will take the exam in the Plaster Building Computer Sciences Lab (Room 307). You will be asked to sign in to a computer using your CofO user name and password. Using the Chrome browser, you will then navigate to the Cengage website where the test is offered. Students will create a temporary account with Cengage and sign up for the Computer Proficiency Course. Afterward, the lab assistant will enter a password, allowing the students to begin testing. The test will take approximately 3 hours. If you experience technical problems during the exam, please notify the lab assistant immediately.
WHAT DOES THE TEST INCLUDE?
The test contains two portions, the objective portion includes a set of multiple-choice questions. The skill-based portion of the test will require students to fulfill a series of tasks in a Windows-10 simulated environment.
CAN I STUDY FOR THE TEST?
Yes you can, by using a variety of on-line or purchased materials. The objectives portion of the test covers but is not limited to, the following types of information:
| Computer concepts: | You will be expected to have an understanding of systems hardware including primary and secondary storage and their capacities, the CPU, RAM, ROM, output devices, input devices, and multi-tasking. |
| Operating Systems and Windows: | You will be expected to have an understanding of Operating Systems functions including File Explorer, GUI concepts, minimizing and maximizing windows, and resource management. |
| Spreadsheet Concepts: | You will be expected to have an understanding of cells, chart types and their appropriate uses, functions, formulas, values, and labels. |
| Power Point Concepts: | You will be expected to have an understanding of presentations, transitions, animations, themes, and inserting images and videos. |
| Internet and communications: | You will be expected to have an understanding of World Wide Web, Internet, networks, modems, video conferencing, URLs. |
| Security, Privacy, and Ethics: | You will be expected to have an understanding of piracy, cookies, different types of software such as public domain, shareware, etc., Virus, intellectual property rights and infringement, authentication, defamation, slander. |
The skills-based portion of the test requires you to follow on-screen instructions using various products from the Microsoft Office suite. Tasks you might be expected to complete could include the following:
| Windows System | You will be expected to perform tasks such as file explorer searching and navigation, windows menu use, saving images using snipping tool, and navigating the desktop. |
| Microsoft Word: | You will be expected to perform tasks such as image insertion and adjustment, margin adjustment, styling, font size and paragraph spacing. |
| Microsoft Excel: | You will be expected to perform tasks in Excel and show your competence with separate sheets,formulas, functions, formatting the spreadsheet,cursor shortcuts, creating a chart with appropriate data legends and saving the spreadsheet per specific instructions. |
| Microsoft Power Point: | You will be expected to perform tasks in Power Point such as transitions, themes, animations, and inserting images and videos. |
| Microsoft Access: | You will be expected to perform tasks such as creating a new column and entering a record of data. |
| Microsoft Outlook: | You will be expected to perform tasks such as attaching documents onto e-mails, filtering your inbox, and scheduling events with multiple recipients. |
WHAT VERSION OF MICROSOFT OFFICE WILL I BE USING?
You will be using the latest version of the Microsoft Office 365 suite.
MAY I USE ANY RESOURCES DURING THE TEST?
You may not use any outside or internet resources during the test. Any use of unauthorized resources will be reported to the Dean of the College.
WHAT IS THE PASSING SCORE FOR THE TEST AND WHEN WILL I RECEIVED THE RESULTS?
You will need to receive a score of 70% or above on both the skills portion and the objective portion of the test to pass the test. You will be able to see your objective score immediately after completing a section.
WILL I RECEIVE CREDIT HOURS FOR PASSING THE TEST?
You will receive three credit hours for CSC 113 Fundamentals of Computer Systems. This will meet your information and technology management general education requirement.
Note: Some majors require completion of a specific information and technology management course. Check with your academic advisor if you have questions.
CAN I TAKE THE TEST AGAIN IF I DO NOT RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE?
No. The proficiency test may be attempted once.
Questions?
Contact cstas@cofo.edu.