Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI)
Questions? Contact Us.
DMACC
Testing Center
testingcenter@dmacc.edu
1-800-362-2127
What Is LASSI?
The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) is a survey that aids students, advisors, and instructors in understanding college-ready study habits, comprehension skills, and motivation characteristics. Weinstein, Palmer, and Acee pull those areas into the characteristics of “skill, will, and self-regulation” (2016, p. 6). Learning is more than academic—It involves your ability to persist, be confident in your knowledge, and manage your studies effectively.
What does this mean? LASSI is a survey that helps you understand more about what learning skills are areas of strength and what you could improve. If you work with an advisor, counselor, instructor, tutor, or peer mentor to improve your skills, you are likely to improve them.
LASSI Frequently Asked Questions
- You have likely sent your ACT composition scores to the college, and if you have, then you could take LASSI so that you and your advisor could gain additional insight to your learning needs.
- If you need to take the ACCUPLACER® Next Generation assessment, then you are encouraged to take LASSI, too.
- If you sent in ACT scores and would like to take LASSI to help you and your advisor to decide what writing class to take, too.
If you do not plan to take Composition I (ENG 105) to meet the communication requirement for your degree, then you should NOT take LASSI. To clarify, if you plan to take Communication Skills (COM 703) or Business English (ADM 157), then you do NOT need to take LASSI unless your instructor guides you to complete it for an assignment.
You must be a DMACC student to take LASSI. If you are, then you can click the button below, which requires you to type in your DMACC username and password.
When you click the above button, a pop-up will request your username and password. You'll be directed to the protected LASSI page. If you don't remember your sign-in credentials, please contact Tech Support via form or call them at 515-965-7300.
Any student with a documented disability who requires reasonable accommodation should contact the Disability Services Coordinator at 515-964-6850. For more information, visit the Disabilities Services site.
No, taking LASSI is optional until we have finished piloting LASSI. You will be asked whether you would like to take it, and you can refuse to take it. However, it is a pretty neat tool to use to gain insight about your study skills.
- Scores below the 50th percentile are areas that would benefit from some attention.
- Scores between the 50th and 75th percentile have room to grow but are probably assets to your learning.
- Scores above the 75th percentile are strong, but there is always room for improvement.
- In what areas are my numbers the highest? (This means they are strengths.) Why are those numbers high? What do I do that makes those areas strengths? Why do I do that?
- In what areas are my numbers the lowest? (This means they possibly weak areas that can be improved upon with awareness and practice.) Why are those numbers low? What do I do (or not do) that makes those areas weak? Why do I do that?
- What areas are similar in score and in concept? Are those scores high or low? Why?
- What areas do I need to work on? Can you use any of your strengths to improve weaknesses? Which ones can you use to improve which weaknesses? How can you use them? Make a plan of action to work on those areas.