Important Notes:
- Students must be granted departmental approval before registering for any stand-alone BIOL 2401 course.
- Completing BIOL 1308 or another non-majors biology course does not automatically qualify you for BIOL 2401. Students may submit their transcript if they have previously completed BIOL 2401 or other college-level biology coursework through the Transcript Review Request Form.
- Permission to register is valid for one academic year (three consecutive registration periods).
- The A&P I (BIOL 2401) Assessment Test will only be available in ACC Testing Centers during designated testing dates. Requests to take the A&P I Assessment Test, request proctoring, or submit transcript reviews will only be accepted within those testing windows.
- Students may also choose to enroll in a paired BIOL 2401 and BIOL 1308 section—no assessment required. To learn more about paired courses, please visit this page.
Why is there an Assessment Test?
The A&P I Assessment is designed to help students determine whether they are ready for BIOL 2401 (Anatomy and Physiology I), a fast-paced course that requires prior knowledge of basic biology and chemistry concepts. This course does not include a review of foundational material, so students are expected to begin the semester with a solid understanding of those subjects.
The assessment evaluates a student’s understanding of high school-level biology and chemistry and helps ensure they are prepared to succeed in BIOL 2401. It is not meant to be a barrier, but rather a tool to help students make informed decisions about when to take the course.
Department data shows that students who enter the course without a strong background in biology and chemistry often face greater difficulty. Those who meet the assessment requirements typically feel more prepared, perform better in BIOL 2401, and continue to succeed in future science courses.
What is covered on the Assessment Test?
The A&P I Assessment Test is a 50-question multiple choice exam. The A&P I Assessment covers the pertinent state-wide objectives of high school biology and chemistry. The test is completed on the computer at a testing center. Students are allowed one piece of scratch paper.
A&P I Assessment Test Objectives
Who has to take the Assessment Test?
Passing the A&P I Assessment is required before any student can enroll in BIOL 2401.
There is no assessment for A&P II. Successful completion of A&P I with a “C” or better is required before any student can enroll in BIOL 2402 – A&P II.
How do I prepare for the Assessment?
Review the objectives for the assessment (see the links above.) Need additional help? Test Preparation
When do I take the Assessment?
You take the Assessment Test in the testing period preceding the semester you wish to register. For example, if you want to take A&P I (BIOL 2401) during the Fall semester, you will need to take the Assessment Test during the Summer testing period before the Fall semester begins.
Upon passing, you will have permission to register for three (3) consecutive semesters. If you need to register beyond this you will have to retest for additional permission to register. Attempts are limited to three (3) per testing period.
Students taking the A&P I Assessment Test have the option to test multiple times in a day, but the Biology Department does not recommend this approach. Regardless, only their first three (3) attempts will apply per testing period, any additional attempts beyond the first three will be considered invalid.
Where do I take the Assessment?
At any ACC assessment/testing center. For locations and hours of assessment/testing centers please click here.
*Please note, students do not need to schedule an appointment to take the assessment.
What is the cost and how to pay?
The A&P I Assessment is $10 per attempt beginning March 19, 2018. The fee must be paid before the student will be allowed to take the test, all fees can only be paid online using ACC’s Assessment Marketplace Store. Students can either bring a printed copy of their receipt or their confirmation email to the assessment/testing center to show that the fee has been paid.
Find more information at ACC Assessment/Testing Centers
2.) Scroll to the middle of the page and select “ACC Assessment Testing”



