Student FAQ

To assist you in understanding how the testing process works, we put together the following topics. As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We're here to help!

In what order will my courses be sent?

Courses are generated and sent out by the University’s computer system in a pre-selected order. If you have a special need to complete a particular course or discipline (i.e. general education, core courses, or electives), please contact the Student Services Department and we will send you the course you want to complete.

How do I know that I have received the right courses?

Always double-check your Academic Plan to make sure the courses you received are a part of your program.

How many courses should I receive?

One course is sent at a time. When the grade is recorded for the course, you will be sent the next course. You may have a maximum of one course out at any one time. 

Do I have to get my textbook through California Coast University?

You do not need to rent your textbooks through the CCU Rental library. However, the library maintains the correct edition for the current version of all courses. If you use an outside source to receive your textbook, please make sure you are matching the revision and the ISBN.

Before I start my examination, what should I look for?

Once you have your examination and the textbook, make sure that you are using the correct textbook for the course. All test questions are based on materials contained in a specific edition of the textbook. For this reason, you need to make sure that the ISBN number of your book matches the one on the cover of your course materials.

What if I am mailing in my answer sheet, and the revision date on the test and the revision date on the answer sheet do not match?

Make sure that the revision dates on your answer sheet and examination match. If they do not match, please contact the Student Services Department for an updated answer sheet.

I used a pen on my answer sheet, and I want to change an answer. How should I do that?

Use white-out to completely cover the answer you wish to change, and then enter the correct answer. You will then need to mail your exam for grading.

When I am completing my examination, what if I can’t find material in the textbook to answer a test question?

First, double check the ISBN of the textbook you are using and make sure that it is the right text for the course. If so, check the index and glossary to help you locate the material. If the material is not included in the text, you may challenge the question by using the procedure described in the Challenging Examination Items section.

How do I submit my exams?

Multiple choice unit examinations and challenge examinations can be submitted one of three ways: online, by fax, or via regular mail. Students can log into the Coast Connection student portal, go to “My Academic Plan” and follow the instructions for submitting an examination, or they can fax completed unit and challenge examinations directly to the Grading Department at 714-547-1451. Examinations can also be mailed directly to the University:

California Coast University
925 N. Spurgeon St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Please note that final examinations can be submitted online, by fax, or regular mail.
Please review the provided instructions for additional information.

How do I submit Writing Assignments?

Writing assignments must be typed and can be submitted online, via regular mail, or via email submitted as a Word file to [email protected]. For online submissions, please log into the Coast Connection student portal, go to “My Academic Plan” and follow the instructions for submitting a writing (essay) assignment.

As a reminder, students should ALWAYS KEEP A COPY of all examinations and writing assignments for their own records.

What if I’m not sure that my fax went through?

The University recommends submission of unit and challenge examinations through the Coast Connection student portal at https://connect.calcoast.edu/. Faxed examinations can cause a delay in grading. If you fax an examination, please allow 24 to 48 hours for grading (please allow more time for processing if faxing on a Friday or over the weekend). Faxed examination scores will appear on your online Academic Plan within 24 to 48 hours. If grades are not posted within 48 hours, then please contact our grading department at [email protected] or phone student services at 714-547-9625.

How long will it take for me to find out my grade on an examination?

The University uses a computerized grading system, and exams are processed on a daily basis. After your exam is scored, your grade report will be mailed or emailed to you. If you do not receive your test results within two weeks (or three weeks if you challenged exam items), you may contact us and we will send you a duplicate grade report.

Can I check my grades online?

Students may check their grades online by logging into the Coast Connection student portal at https://connect.calcoast.edu/ and by clicking on the “My Academic Plan” link. This allows students to view their entire educational program and grades for each completed exam.

Can I get my test results by phone?

To ensure privacy, students requesting grades by telephone will need to provide additional identifying information.

Can I get feedback on the test items I missed?

Feedback will be provided in the form of grade reports and essay evaluations.

Why do I need to have a proctor for my final exam?

A proctor is there to confirm that you are indeed the person taking the exam. Proctors can be any reputable person other than an immediate family member, someone that resides with you, or a current/former student of the University. Immediate family is defined as the following: Spouse, Parent, Child, Sibling, Grandparent and/or Grandchild. Your final Examination will be sent to your proctor using the same method in which you receive coursework. If you are unable to complete your Final Exam in one sitting, then your proctor must keep all testing materials until your next session. Once your Final Exam is complete, your proctor must sign his or her name at the bottom of your answer sheet.

When will I get my Final Exam?

Final examinations are not automatically sent; they must be requested by the student. Please note, the following requirements must be met before requesting a final examination:your four unit examinations have been graded and posted to your online Academic Plan, all writing assignments have been received by the University, and you have been enrolled in the course for a minimum of two weeks. Once these requirements have been met, your final examination request will be processed. If you are completing your work online, you will see a prompt after the unit examination and writing assignment boxes. If you are completing your work by mail, you can request your final by filling out the Final Examination Scheduling Form (last page in your study guide) and mailing it or faxing it to the University.

What if I do not do well on an examination or course?

As noted previously, students have the option of repeating the unit examination or course to achieve a better grade.

• Each unit examination within a course may only be repeated once. For each course, students can repeat one unit examination free of charge.
• The cost for each additional, repeated unit examination will be $90. Payment must be paid in full prior to repeating the exams. Requests to retake a unit examination will only be honored if the final examination has NOT been sent.
• If an undergraduate student does not receive a passing course grade of "A", "B" or "C", then the student must pay the current cost of tuition to repeat the entire course.
• If a master’s or doctorate student does not receive a passing course grade of "A" or "B", then the student must pay the current cost of tuition to repeat the entire course.

How do I contact the Testing Department?

If you have comments or questions about testing, you may contact us by phone, fax, or email. The Testing Department is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays.