Mission Statement
The mission of the Testing Center is for trained and certified test administrators to provide national standardized testing services for members of the university and the surrounding communities.
National Testing Programs
Not all tests are given throughout the year; publisher requirements may restrict administration of some tests to a certain range of dates. Contact our office at 809-6848 to register. You can register for some of the tests online. Check the test publisher's website.
Many of these programs require pre-registration several weeks before the test can be taken. Consult your advisor for more information on which tests you may need to take.
Some tests are given in our offices in Room C105 of the Oakley Applied Science Building. Other tests are given at locations noted on the admission ticket for that test or in other information provided by the test publisher or our office.
Please arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time to allow time for check-in procedures to be completed. We ask that you schedule your appointment well in advance as we may be fully booked as much as 30 days in advance.
Tests Given Prior to Admission to the University
- American College Test (ACT Test)
- Residual Version of the ACT (ACT-R)
Results may be used at Murray State University only. The test is given at various times throughout the year. Contact the Office of Recruitment for more information.
- Registration through the Office of Recruitment at Murray State University is required prior to testing.
- For information on accommodations available on the ACT-R, contact the Murray State University Office of Student Disability Services, Velvet Wilson, Director, at 270.809.5737.
- Individuals wishing to use the ACT-R for purposes other than admission to Murray State University are advised to contact the agencies to whom scores would be sent to determine if ACT-R scores would be accepted; generally ACT-R scores may not be used for other purposes, such as NCAA eligibility.
- IMPORTANT NOTE:
For dates and registration forms, Download a Registration Form. For other ACT-R questions, contact the Office of Recruitment at 270.809.2999
- Compass
- The Compass test is an alternative admissions test administered on a limited basis. For general eligibility policy and test information, please consult the Undergraduate Bulletin. To take all three sections of the Compass test you should allow approximately three hours. You can access sample questions at the following website: http://www.act.org/compass/sample/index.html
- The Compass test is administered by appointment only. If you would like to schedule an appointment for the Compass test, or if you have questions, please call 809-6851. Compass Test fees are $20.00 for the standard three-test battery; $7.00 for single tests.
- You must contact the MSU Office of Admissions (809-3741) for verification of eligibility to take the Compass in place of the ACT. The Testing Center must receive this verification before registering you for the Compass Test.
- For dates and registration forms, call the Counseling Center at 809-6851
- Download registration form
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- Current Listing of AP Credit accepted by Murray State University
- To be considered for credit, an official score report must be mailed directly to the Registrar's Office from the specific testing service's national headquarters.
- Testing credit may not be used to repeat a course taken previously and will be awarded only to students enrolled at Murray State.
- Although Murray State accepts each of the AP tests listed, credit will not be awarded for two or more that have significantly similar subject content.
- For information on scheduling a test or for submitting fees, contact the Testing Center.
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- Current Listing of CLEP Credit accepted by Murray State University
- Murray State University recognizes that a number of students gain advanced competency in specific subjects prior to enrolling in college courses. Students are encouraged to complete any national tests for credit before enrolling. An enrolled student may take a CLEP testonly after obtaining official written permission.
- Download a Murray State University CLEP Approval Form if you are currently attending or have previously attended classes at Murray State University (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
- Download a CLEP Registration form (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader). This is required of all CLEP registrants.
- To be considered for credit, an official score report must be mailed directly to the Registrar's Office from the specific testing service's national headquarters.
- Testing credit may not be used to repeat a course taken previously and will be awarded only to students enrolled at Murray State.
- The fees are $77.00 payable to CLEP and $15.00 payable to MSU. Please submit fees and completed forms to the Testing Center.
- For information on scheduling a test or for submitting fees, contact the Testing Center.
For information on the acceptance of testing credit and for information on retest policies, contact:
Jennifer Husemann, Coordinator of Credit Evaluation
Transfer Center, 311 Lowery Center
270-809-3342
email: jhusemann@murraystate.edu
Tests Given for Admission to Various Professions and Graduate Schools
The linked publisher sites contain useful information. Content varies but may include online registration information, accommodations of special needs, sample tests, downloadable study materials and registration bulletins, forms and bulletins often used by test takers, and information regarding admissions to graduate and professional schools. Paper bulletins for some of these tests are available at the Testing Center. Often, the websites have request forms for free paper bulletins sent out by the test publisher.
Praxis Examination
More information -
Kentucky Information
Tests at a Glance, Bulletins
Registration Information(Praxis I-PPST)
Registration Information(Praxis II)
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
Bulletin, CBT Info, Study Materials
Register Online
Fee Waiver Information
GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test)
Register Online
LSAT (Law School Admissions Test)
Register Online
MAT (Miller Analogies Test)
Call us at 809-6848 for information. Payment of test fees is required in advance of scheduling and administration. See reschedule policy below.
Candidate Bulletin
MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test)
Register Online
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Score Reports
TOEFL Online Study Materials
Test fees for the Compass and Miller Analogies Test are due in full, payable by cash or check or money order payable to Murray State University, at the time of registration for the test. This fee is non-refundable. One transfer of the fee to another date will be made if the Testing Center is notified at least three working days prior to the test date. Do not send cash through the mail.
Information, requirements, and content of links on this page are subject to change without notice. Links to test publishers take you out of the Murray State University Web Site. Murray State University assumes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of these sites.
DSST/DANTES Testing
Contact the Office of the Registrar at 809-3754 for information regarding MSU acceptance/non-acceptance of DANTES credit. The test series is offered occasionally. To register for DANTES at Murray State University, call the Testing Center to confirm fees and testing dates. The test is computer-based. A non-refundable fee of $15.00 must be paid to the MSU Testing Center to secure a date. On the day of the test, the balance of the fees (currently $80.00, but fees are subject to change without notice) will be paid online with a credit card.
Dantes informational website
Departmental Challenge Tests
Some academic departments at Murray State offer local Departmental Challenge Examinations that permit a student to test out of a specific course for credit. For more information, contact the department in which the specific course is taught.
Testing at Sites Other Than Murray State University
The CLEP test series is a national program. If Murray State University awards credit for a particular course (see list above), you may, if it is more convenient, take the national CLEP test at a center closer to your location and have the scores sent to Murray State University. The following link to the College Board website will allow you to search for other centers. When you take the test, be sure to specify Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, as the score report recipient. We must receive an official copy of scores from the College Board in order to award credit. Candidate-supplied documents will not be accepted.
Click here to find other test sites.
Kentucky Standard Acceptable Scores for National Exams Table (Revised January 31, 2012) Data provided by Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education