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Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) Testing Requirements for State Financial Aid

Important Update (6/11/2020)

The NYS Board of Regents recently approved the following emergency amendment to Section 145-2.15(e)(1) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education permitting the remote administration and proctoring of the Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) tests approved by the Regents for purposes of eligibility for New York State student financial aid: 

A new subparagraph (iv) is added to read as follows:

(iv) where testing centers and institutions are unable to administer and proctor the test at such locations identified in subparagraphs (i), (ii), or (iii) of this subdivision due to the State of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to an Executive Order for the COVID-19 crisis the test may be administered and proctored remotely provided such remote administration and proctoring is in accordance with federal requirements.

This allowance is in effect as long as federal guidance allows it and the NYS emergency exists.

For a full list of approved ATB tests in NYS, please see the list provided below.

A student seeking State financial aid (including TAP) for the first time, beginning with the 2007-08 academic year, must pass a federally approved ATB test identified by the Board of Regents if the student does not possess a U.S. high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. (Section 661 of the Education Law, as amended by Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2007)

Note:  to learn more about acceptable U.S. High School diplomas and their equivalents, please see our ATB questions and answers.

The purpose of this and related ATB requirements is to ensure the effective use of financial aid funds and to help align admission requirements, level of curricula, and academic support.

Required Institutional Statement on ATB Tests

As part of the amended ATB requirements, all degree-granting and non-degree public vocational institutions must submit the Statement on Ability-to-Benefit Tests (NYSED ATB Form 1) by July 1, of each year, to identify the following:

  • the approved ATB tests the institution will use for students without U.S. high school diplomas or the equivalent and who wish to qualify for State student aid;

  • minimum passing scores on those tests, consistent with admissions criteria, curricula and academic support; and

  • how the institution will administer the tests.

The following six tests have been approved by the Regents for ATB purposes:

  • Test: Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST), Verbal Forms VS-1 & VS-2 
    Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2. This is a paper and pencil test.
    Effective Date: July 1, 2015
     
  • Test: Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST), Verbal Forms VS-1 & VS-2 
    Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2. This is an online version of the tests.
    Effective Date: July 1, 2015
     
  • Test: Spanish Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (Spanish WBST), Verbal Forms VS-1 & VS-2
    Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2. This is a paper and pencil test
    Effective Date: July 1, 2015
     
  • Test: Spanish Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (Spanish WBST), Verbal Forms VS-1 & VS-2 
    Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2. This is an online version of the tests.
    Effective Date: July 1, 2015
     
  • Test: Combined English Language Skills Assessment (CELSA), Forms 1 and 2
    Effective Date: November 1, 2002.
    Note: The CELSA test is approved as provided in 34 CFR 668.153(a)(2) 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 English as a Second Language (ESL) component.
     
  • Test: ACCUPLACER (Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic)
    Effective Date: July 1, 2020.

The minimum passing score an institution sets on an approved ATB test must first be approved by the Board of Regents. Determinations about minimum passing scores on approved ATB tests should be strongly linked to the institution’s admission and financial aid policies, as well as with the level of curricula and academic support provided to students.

Annual Certification

Beginning in 2011, each institution that offers ATB tests to qualify students for financial aid will certify annually, by July 1, that its procedures meet the requirements of Section 145-2.15 of Commissioner’s Regulations, which implements the amended ATB requirements.

Questions and Answers

Please review our ATB questions and answers for additional guidance.

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