Competency and Placement (CAP) Testing and its advantages

Boland College is committed to your success.  The Competency and Placement Test (CAP) is a very important part of this commitment.

This test will be completed by all National Certificate Vocational (NCV) applicants that would like to further their studies at Boland College. The outcome of this test will help place any prospective student at the correct level. In short it will help evaluate at what level these prospective students can be placed.

It is a career assessment tool for any student that wants to further his studies at Boland College.

The test has three parts:

1. The English Competency Test
2. The Math Competency Test.
3. The Career Interest Questionnaire

1. The English test

• Identify the outcomes of the Grade 9 English Second language syllabus that you may have not yet mastered.
• We then know how to best support you.
• How to prepare for this test:  This is not an entrance test and there is no pass mark.  So, there is no specific work that you should study.  But if you want to be better prepared, you could revise the following outcomes of the Grade 9 school work:
  

2. The Math test

• Identify the outcomes of the Grade 9 Math syllabus that you have not yet mastered.
• We then know how to best support you.
• How to prepare for this test:  This is not an entrance test and there is no pass mark. So, there is no specific work that you should study.  But, if you want to be better prepared, you could revise the following outcomes of the Grade 9 school work:

3.     The Career Interest Questionnaire

• Gives you more information on the NC(V) programs offered by the FET college
• Gives you more information on different careers that you can follow and
• It identifies the three courses that you are most interested in

LPCAT TESTING:

The Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive (LPACT) test. This test is done after the CAP Test if the student did not achieve the minimum requirements as stipulated by the CAP test. The test is adaptive and acts as another tool to evaluate the level of education and reasoning the student is capable of.

The word LPCAT explained:

• Learning potential
  ( Measures how fast the student learns new concepts, ideas and facts and what the argumentative reasoning of the student is at a specific level of learning.)

• Computerised
  (The test is done on a computer.)

• Adaptive
  (The difficulty of the questions that are answered adapts to the level of the student.)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) on CAP

Who should take the CAP Test?

Any person that wishes to enroll at an FET College in South Africa should complete the CAP test before registration.

What if I've taken a placement test at another college?

The CAP test is being used at all 50 FET Colleges in South Africa. If you wrote the test at one college, just take your report along should you wish to enroll at another college.

How long are my scores valid?

Your CAP results will remain valid for one year.

What kinds of questions appear on the CAP Test?

The CAP Test measures Reading Comprehension, your knowledge of English Grammar and your skills in Mathematics. All of the questions are multiple choice questions. There are also 70 questions relating to specific career fields.

When can I take the CAP Test?

Colleges do the test on appointment. Some Colleges do placement tests during August month. Contact your nearest Boland College Campus to make an appointment to write the test.

How long will it take?

The test takes about two hours to complete.

What if I've never used a computer?

The test is available as a computerized test, and as a pen-and-paper test. You do not need experience with a computer to take the test. Testing staff will explain how to enter your answers, and the test provides clear instructions. Testing staff will be available to support you with the computer test throughout your test. 

What if English is not my first language?

The English Competency subtest is written for English Second language speakers.

What does it cost to write the test?

The test is free of charge.

What happens after I completed the test?

You will receive a copy of your CAP test results after completing your test. If you have any questions, please contact the Student Support Officer at the campuses.  Because of the confidential nature of your scores, CAP test results will not be mailed or given to you by phone.

Can I fail the CAP test?

No, the test is used as a tool to help you to be placed on the right career path for your future studies. Therefore the test is a vital evaluation and placement tool.

What if I think my scores are wrong?

You may re-write the test once.  Contact the Student Support Administrator to book your place for a re-write. 

What happens if I do not meet the minimum requirements?

After the student has completed the test and do not adhere to the requirements as indicated on the results of the CAP test, the student will then be able to do the secondary LPCAT testing in order to see if he/she will be able to master the chosen programme content.

For any further information please visit www.captesting.com