A student applying for New York State financial aid (e.g., TAP, Excelsior, NYS Scholarships, APTS, AIMS) for the first time and earned a high school diploma or equivalency outside of the United States.

Please note:

• Passing the ATB exam does not guarantee financial aid eligibility. You must also meet all academic, financial, and residency requirements.
• If you have earned a U.S. high school equivalency diploma (GED/TASC) you do not need to take the ATB exam. Be sure to upload your diploma to CUNYfirst to confirm eligibility.

Important Deadlines:

• You must take and pass the ATB exam within the add/drop period of the semester to be considered for aid that term.
• If you do not pass all sections, you may retest after 14 days.

Exam Structure
The ATB exam includes 3 sections:

• Reading – 233
• Writing– 235
• Arithmetic – 230

What to Know:

• You must pass all 3 sections to complete the exam
• If you do not pass a section, you will only retake the section(s) you did not pass
• Once you pass a section, it is complete and does not need to be retaken

Next Steps

• To find out if you need to take the ATB exam:
  Email: testing@qc.cuny.edu
• Complete the ATB Testing Survey included in the automatic reply

Important:
If you see “ATB Testing Required” in your CUNYfirst To Do List, you must contact Testing and Placement to confirm your requirement.

Resources for Accuplacer ESL (English as a Second Language) 

Download the ACCUPLACER Study App and review the tests: 

• Reading Skills 
• Language Usage 
• Listening 
• Sentence Meaning 

 Learn about and review a sample of the Accuplacer ESL writing test: 

• WritePlacer ESL 
• Ability to Benefit (ATB) Sample Questions 
• Arithmetic Sample Questions 
• Reading Sample Questions 
•  Writing Sample Questions 

For more information and test preparation resources, click here: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/testing/test-preparation-resources/   

GENERAL  

Acceptable forms of ID 

• Driver’s license 
• High School or College ID 
• State or federal ID card 
• Military ID card  
• Passport (with western characters) 
• Tribal ID card 
• Naturalization card or certificate of citizenship 
• Accuplacer official Id form 

 Can I take the test at a private testing center or outside of CUNY and import the scores? 

• No, because CUNY cannot verify the validity of any scores taken outside of a CUNY institution. 

 Can I take the ATB and/or ESL tests virtually?  

• No, the ATB and ESL tests are in person only. 

 Can I use my calculator for the Arithmetic section? 

• No, students are encouraged to use provided scrap paper. The Accuplacer exam also provides a screen-based calculator for the arithmetic section for some, but not all, Arithmetic questions. 

 How do I become a resident or prove New York state residency?  

• Please refer to the Office of Admissions page for more information and application/documentation to be submitted. In general, students must have been living in New York for the preceding 12 months and have permanent resident status or other eligible status 

 I have a questions, what should I do? 

• ESL and ATB Test Inquiries: email testing@qc.cuny.edu   
• Residency Status: email admissions@qc.cuny.edu 
• Financial Aid: email FinancialAid@qc.cuny.edu 

ESL 

Is the ESL test required in order to register or take classes at Queens College? 

• Yes, the ESL test is required for students with an ESL testing hold to register for courses at Queens College. It is recommended that you take the ESL exam as soon as possible so that you can register for classes. 

ATB  

Is the ATB test required in order to register or take classes at Queens College? 

• No, the test is not required, and students can freely register for courses without taking the exam.  
• If you take the test and do not pass, you can maintain your enrollment but should seek guidance/support around your financial need. 

Where can I find more information about NY State financial aid and the ATB exam? 

• For more information, please see HESC’s website here: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/financial-aid-professionals/financial-aid-professionals-resources/financial-aid-professionals-2/ 

What is the process to apply for the U.S. High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma instead of taking the ATB test? 

• If you have 24 U.S. college credits (including required subject areas), you may apply for a U.S. High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma instead of taking the ATB exam. 

What You Need to Do 

Step 1: Complete Form J (Part A Only) 

• Fill out Part A of Form J  
• Leave Part B blank (completed by the Registrar) 

Step 2: Request Your Official Transcript 

• Order your transcript through Parchment using this link 
• Select Queens College Registrar  
• Upload Form J with your request (Part A only)  

Important:
When prompted, send your transcript to: 

New York State Education Department
High School Equivalency (HSE) Office
89 Washington Avenue, EBA 460
Albany, NY 12234 

Step 3: Upload Your HSE Diploma 

• Once you receive your diploma, upload it to CUNYfirst  
• Follow instructions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYMiwiRnRrI 

Timeline & Important Note 

• This process can take 10–15 weeks or longer  

If you are within 8 weeks of the start of the semester:
It is strongly recommended that you take the ATB exam instead to avoid delays in financial aid. 

Need Help? 

• You can follow up with the Registrar by submitting a support ticket