Frequently Asked Questions - Senior Exit Exam
*******Required for Graduation*******

What is the Senior Exit Exam?

Why is it given at APSU?

Is it different from other standardized tests?

Should I guess?

Do I need to study?

What to bring on test day?

When and where do I take the Senior Exit Exam?

Registration Form

What is the Senior Exit Exam?

The Senior Exit Exam we are currently using is the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress (short form) designed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  It is intended for use by colleges and universities in assessing the outcomes of their general education programs to improve the quality of instruction and learning.  The test focuses on the academic skills developed through general education courses rather than on the knowledge acquired about the subjects taught in these courses.  It does this by testing college-level reading, writing, critical thinking, and mathematics in the context of humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

The Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress assumes that students have completed most or all of the general education or core curriculum requirements at their institution.  The questions have a broad range of difficulty; some are quite easy, others are more difficult.  It is an objective test using a multiple-choice format.  The short form consists of 36 questions to be answered in 40 minutes. 

***Please note that the Senior Exit Exam is NOT the same exam as the Major Field Test that is also required of all graduating seniors. Contact the Department Secretary for your major for dates and times.

Why is it given at Austin Peay?

Students, faculty, and administrators are committed to the common goal of academic excellence at Austin Peay, and an exit exam provides standards by which our progress toward excellence is measured. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission requires that all state universities administer a Senior Exit Exam (the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress has been chosen for use at Austin Peay over the next 5 years).

Test results help us in curriculum design and high scores bring additional state funding to further improve our programs. You, as a student, play a crucial role in this process of assessment at Austin Peay. Your participation is required so that other students, faculty, and administrators can benefit from your knowledge and experience.  Group scores are reported and evaluated to satisfy state requirements and to provide us with research data.  Individual scores will be kept confidential and will not be recorded on transcripts. 

Is it different from other tests?

The Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress is a multiple-choice test similar to other standardized tests you have taken in your educational career.  Click here for sample questions similar to those that will appear on the test.

This is a separate test from the Major Field Test given by each Department later in the semester. Contact the Department Secretary of your major for dates and times of the Major Field Test.

Should I guess at the answer?

This test is scored based on the number of questions answered correctly.  There is no penalty for guessing, so you should try to answer every question.  It is better to guess at an answer than not respond at all because there is a chance of getting some questions right.  If you have some knowledge about a question and can eliminate one or more of the answer choices as wrong, your chance of selecting the right answer is improved.

Do I need to study for the Exit Exam?

At this time, there is not a published study guide for the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress.  The ETS website includes a downloadable brochure, as well as an information booklet containing sample questions.   

What do I need to bring to the Exit Exam?

Please bring a picture ID for test check-in. On test day, dress comfortably.  Pencils will be provided.  You may bring a Four-Function Calculator but Scientific, Graphing, or Cell Phone Calculators are NOT permitted.

You are NOT allowed to use scratch paper, dictionaries, books, compasses, rulers, pens or papers of any kind--only the test booklet, answer sheet, pencils, and four-function calculators will be allowed on top of your desk during the test.

Food and Drinks are NOT permitted. No children are allowed in the exam room during the administration of the test.

If you have any hearing, visual or motor handicap, please notify our office at 221-7307 so we can accommodate your needs.

When and where do I take the Exit Exam?

The dates for the Senior Exit Exam are listed above. These will be the ONLY dates offered during this semester so please plan ahead.  To sign up, click on the Registration Form.

The Exit Exam is offered several times EACH semester and a new test schedule is set up at the beginning of each term. In order to accommodate students' varied schedules, the test is administered several times.  The schedule is very flexible and it includes weekend sessions.