Another badly worded question. The Field is always directed away from the point charge. The question is the direction towards q or away from it and that's not much of an improvement.
Formula
E = k * q / r^2
Givens
k = 8.99 * 10^9 Nm^2/c^2
q = ??
E = 8.6*10^-2
r = 1.7 m
Solution
8.6*10^-2 * 1.7^2 / 8.99 * 10^9 = q
0.24 / 8.99 *10^9 = q
q = 2.8 * 10^-11
A but the wording is so bad that you have to guess what the question means. q is positive because the charge is going to the right away from the test charge.
