Notice2025-09313
List of Approved Ability to Benefits Tests
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 27, 2025
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
This notice updates the list of Ability to Benefits (ATB) tests approved by the Secretary.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 100 (Tuesday, May 27, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22272-22274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09313]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
List of Approved Ability to Benefits Tests
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
[[Page 22273]]
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice updates the list of Ability to Benefits (ATB)
tests approved by the Secretary.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Washington, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone:
(202) 987-0911. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#226343504d4c0c7543514a4b4c45564d4c6247460c454d54"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eaab8b988584c4bd8b998283848d9e8584aa8f8ec48d859c">[email protected]</span></a>.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: There are no changes to the June 14, 2024,
list of currently approved ATB Tests (89 FR 50584). This notice is a
technical update to the effective dates for the Wonderlic Basic Skills
Test under the heading ATB tests that are no longer approved. The
Department updates the effective dates from July 1, 2015, through March
31, 2023 to October 25, 1996 through March 31, 2023.
In order for a student who does not have a high school diploma or
its recognized equivalent to be eligible for title IV program
assistance, the student must successfully complete one of the ATB
alternatives (listed below) and be enrolled in an eligible career
pathway program (ECPP) \1\ pursuant to section 484(d)(1) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ A student that enrolled in an eligible program at an
eligible title IV institution prior to July 1, 2012 does not have to
enroll in an ECPP. While this will be a very rare occurrence, please
see DCL GEN 12-09 for more guidance. <a href="https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/dear-colleague-letters/2012-06-28/gen-12-09-subjecttitle-iv-eligibility-students-without-valid-high-school-diploma">https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/dear-colleague-letters/2012-06-28/gen-12-09-subjecttitle-iv-eligibility-students-without-valid-high-school-diploma</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ATB alternatives are--
* Passing an independently administered ATB test approved by the
Secretary;
* Completing at least six credit hours, or the equivalent
coursework (225 clock hours), that are applicable toward a degree or
certificate offered by the postsecondary institution; or
* Completing a State process approved by the Secretary.
With respect to the ATB test alternative, there are specific
requirements for students whose native language is not English, and who
are not fluent in English. Those students must comply with one of the
three following options to qualify for title IV program assistance:
1. A student who is enrolled in a program that is taught in the
student's native language must take an approved test developed in the
student's native language pursuant to 34 CFR 668.153(a)(1). Currently
there are no approved ATB tests in a language other than English.
Therefore, these students must use one of the remaining two ATB
alternatives to qualify for title IV aid;
2. A student who is enrolled in a program that is taught in English
must take an ATB test designed to measure the English language
competence of a non-native speaker. Students who are enrolled in such a
program that has an ``English as a Second Language'' (ESL) component
and who are enrolled in the ESL component, must take an approved ATB
test specifically for a student whose native language is not English
and who is not fluent in English, pursuant to 34 CFR 668.153(a)(2).
Similarly, students who are enrolled in an ESL only program must take
an approved ATB test specifically for a student whose native language
is not English and who is not fluent in English, pursuant to 34 CFR
668.153(a)(2);
3. A student who is enrolled in a program that is taught in English
without an ESL component or does not enroll in the ESL component of the
program, must take an ATB test in English that assesses secondary
school verbal and quantitative skills, pursuant to 34 CFR
668.153(a)(3).
List of approved tests and passing scores: The Secretary lists
below all approved ATB tests and their passing scores. As noted above,
there are no changes to the June 14, 2024, list of currently approved
ATB Tests (89 FR 50584).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test publisher
ATB test Passing scores contact
information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Combined English Language CELSA Form 1 (97), Association of
Skills Assessment (CELSA), CELSA Form 2 (97). Classroom Teacher
Forms 1 and 2 Effective Date: Testers (ACCT),
November 1, 2002. 1187 Coast
Village Road,
Suite 1, #378,
Montecito, CA
93108. Contact:
Telephone: (805)
965-5704. Fax:
(805) 965-5807.
Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#68090b1c1c280b091818091b1b070b01091c0d1b460b0705"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8d9dbccccf8dbd9c8c8d9cbcbd7dbd1d9ccddcb96dbd7d5">[email protected]</span></a>.
ACCUPLACER Computer-adaptive Reading Test The College Board,
tests and COMPANION ACCUPLACER (233), Writing 250 Vesey Street,
Forms J and K: Reading Test, Test (235), New York, NY
Writing Test, and Arithmetic Arithmetic Test 10281. Contact:
Test. (230). ACCUPLACER
Program.
Telephone: (800)
607-5223. Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7c1d1f1f090c101d1f190e3c1f131010191b191e131d0e1852130e1b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d0c0e0e181d010c0e081f2d0e020101080a080f020c1f0943021f0a">[email protected]</span></a>.
* * Texas Success Initiative Reading Placement ..................
(TSI) Assessment--Computer- Test (336),
adaptive tests and COMPANION Writing Placement
TSI Forms T and V: Reading Test (345),
Placement Test, Writing Mathematics
Placement Test, Mathematics Placement Test
Placement Test. (326)..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Note: As provided in 34 CFR 668.153(a)(2), the CELSA test is approved
as the additional ATB English language proficiency test that must be
taken by students whose native language is not English and who are not
fluent in English if the academic program includes an ESL component.
* * Note: TSI remains a provisionally approved test and can continue to
be used to establish title IV aid eligibility. If the Department
denies full approval, we will provide notice of the denial through
publication in the Federal Register, pursuant to 34 CFR 668.150(c)(3).
List of ATB tests that are no longer approved: The following tests
are no longer included on the approved list of tests that may be used
for the purpose of determining a student's eligibility for title IV
program assistance. Please note the effective dates for each test.
1. Test: The ACT Career Programs Assessment test (CPAt)--Forms B
and C.
Effective Dates: November 1, 2002, through June 30, 2015.
Passing Scores: Language Usage (42), Reading (43), and Numerical
(41).
Publisher: ACT, Inc., 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA
52243-0168.
Contact: <a href="https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html">https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html</a>.
2. Test: The ACT WorkKeys test--Reading for Information--Forms
A01AA, A02AA, C01AA, & D10AA; Applied Mathematic--Forms A01BB, A02BB,
C01BB, & D01BB.
Effective Dates: May 19, 2006, through June 30, 2015.
Passing Scores: Reading for Information Forms A01AA (76), A02AA
[[Page 22274]]
(75), C01AA (77), & D10AA (77); Applied Mathematics Forms A01BB (73),
A02BB (74), C01BB (73), & D01BB (73).
Publisher: ACT, Inc., 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA
52243-0168.
Contact: <a href="https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html">https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html</a>.
3. Test: The College Board DTLS and DTMS Forms M-K-3KDT and M-K-
3LDT tests.
Effective Dates: November 1, 2002, through April 27, 2007.
Passing Scores: Reading Comprehension (108), Sentence Structure
(9), Conventions of Written English (309), and Arithmetic (506).
Publisher: The College Board, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York
10281.
Contact: ACCUPLACER Program; Telephone: (866) 630-9305. Email:
<a href="https://form.collegeboard.org/f/send-message">https://form.collegeboard.org/f/send-message</a>.
4. Test: ASSET: Basic Skills Test (Reading, Writing, and
Numerical)--Forms B2, C2, D2, and E2.
Effective Dates: November 1, 2002, through October 31, 2015.
Passing Scores: Reading (35), Writing (35), and Numerical (33).
Publisher: ACT, Inc., 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA
52243-0168.
Contact: <a href="https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html">https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html</a>.
5. Test: COMPASS Subtests--Prealgebra/Numerical Skills.
Passing Scores: Prealgebra/Numerical (25), Reading (62), and
Writing (32).
Effective Dates: November 1, 2002, through October 31, 2015.
Publisher: ACT, Inc., 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA
52243-0168.
Contact: <a href="https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html">https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html</a>.
6. Test: COMPASS ESL.
Passing Scores: Grammar/Usage (64), Reading (70), and Listening
(70).
Effective Dates: May 19, 2006, through October 31, 2015.
Publisher: ACT, Inc., 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA
52243-0168.
Contact: <a href="https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html">https://global.act.org/content/global/en/global-programs/contact-us.html</a>.
7. Test: Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST) Verbal Forms VS-1 & VS-
2, Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2 Paper and pencil versions and online
versions.
Effective Dates: October 25, 1996, through March 31, 2023.
Publisher: Wonderlic, Inc., 400 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 200, Vernon
Hills, IL 60061.
Contact: <a href="https://wonderlic.com/contact-us/">https://wonderlic.com/contact-us/</a>.
8. Test: Spanish Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (Spanish WBST) Verbal
Forms VS-1 & VS-2, Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2 Paper and pencil
versions and online versions.
Effective Dates: July 1, 2015 through March 31, 2023.
Publisher: Wonderlic, Inc., 400 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 200, Vernon
Hills, IL 60061.
Contact: <a href="https://wonderlic.com/contact-us/">https://wonderlic.com/contact-us/</a>.
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To
use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091(d).
Signing Authority
This document of the U.S. Department of Education was signed on May
20, 2025, by Christopher J. McCaghren, ED.D, Acting Assistant Secretary
Office of Postsecondary Education. That document with the original
signature and date is maintained by the U.S. Department of Education.
For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements
of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned has been
authorized to sign the document in electronic format for publication,
as an official document of the U.S. Department of Education. This
administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this
document upon publication in the Federal Register.
Tracey St. Pierre,
Director, Office of the Executive Secretariat, Office of the Secretary,
U.S. Department of Education.
[FR Doc. 2025-09313 Filed 5-23-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 27, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.