Math Placement Exam
The Math Placement Exam is required of all undergraduate students. This test replaces the previous Algebra and Calculus Placement Exams. Students are exempt if they have:
- already taken and passed one of the prior placement exams;
- have already taken all of the math course(s) that are required by their major;
- have transferred in a Math course from another institution that was accepted to cover what is required by their major.
Students who do not know what math courses are required for their program should contact their advisor.
Students who score less than 40% on the exam must take MATH 095 and earn an S (Satisfactory) before they can register for any higher-level courses.
Requirements
Students who score at least 40% on the test may register for the following Math courses:
| MATH 130 | Mathematics for Contemporary Society | 3 |
| MATH 155 | Statistics for Behavioral/Social Science | 3 |
| MATH 160 | Analysis of Functions (pre-Calculus) | 3 |
Please note that MATH 120 does not require a minimum score on the Math Placement Exam.
Students who score between 40% and 74% and whose curriculum requires any of the Calculus courses must take MATH 160 and earn a C or better in order to register for MATH 170 or MATH 211.
Students who score at least 75% on the test may register for:
The Math Placement Exam is an online exam that students may choose to take it at any time. Students are allowed to take the test only once and must finish within 90 minutes. Students must complete the exam independently, WITHOUT a calculator, and without the use of other online aids. Topics covered in the exam include:
Percentages
Rounding
Functional notation
Factoring
Basic arithmetic of integers, fractions, and real numbers in general, absolute values, interval notations;
Rules of exponents and scientific notation;
Proportions, ratios, and word problems involving ratios and basic algebra;
Basic geometry, including area, perimeter, and volume of simple shapes;
The coordinate system (xy-plane), distance between points;
Equations of lines and circles, and related concepts such as slope, x- and y-intercepts, center and radius;
Intersection of lines;
Solving linear equations and inequalities, including ones with absolute values;
Polynomial operations and factoring;
Solving quadratic equations through factoring or using the quadratic formula;
Solving linear systems of equations (two by two);
Functions and related concepts, such as function composition, inverse functions and graphing;
Identifying graphs of common functions;
Identifying horizontally/vertically translated function graphs;
Logarithmic expressions and rules of logarithms;
Exponential functions and logarithmic functions, including the natural exponential function and the natural logarithm function;
Solving simple equations involving exponential and logarithmic functions;
Trigonometric function definitions, trig. function values at special angles, the unit circle;
Identifying trigonometric function graphs and their horizontal/vertical translations;
Using trigonometric function concepts and identities to find trigonometric function values.
Students’ scores will be sent to the Registrar's Office and will be accessible to the student and their advisor on the MarywoodYou portal.