Mathematics Placement Test Information
Basic information
The Mathematics Placement Test is not a
pass-fail test!
updated June 2, 2010
The placement test gives a measure of a student's mathematical skills
at
the time, and the results are used to advise students on the
appropriate
mathematics course in which to enroll in order to complete the
mathematics
requirement for a particular program of study.
The entry-level mathematics courses at UMCP require the permission
of
the department before students may register. Statistics indicate that
the
majority of students who enroll in a math course beyond that indicated
by the placement test either withdraw from the course or earn D's or
F's.
The entry-level mathematics courses: Math 003, 010, 011, 013, 015,
110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 130,
140,
220 and Stat 100 are placed on a horizontal scale as shown below.
Students
may register for the course that they place into or any course that is
to the left of their placement.
003-010-013-011-015-110-112-113-Stat100-111-115-220-130-140
Except for Math 003, 010, 011, 013, 015, any of the courses on
the
list will serve to
satisfy
the University's Fundamental
Studies Mathematics requirement. Math 003 is a non-credit course
which
serves as preparation for credit courses, and has a special fee.
Math 010 prepares you for Math 110 and becomes Math 110 after 5
weeks. The same is true for Math 013 becoming Math 113, Math 011
becoming Math 111, and Math 015 becoming Math 115. These too have
a special fee. Math 110 is an applications course requiring a
strong Algebra I background. Math 113 requires a strong Algebra II
background
and is a preparation for Math 220. Math 111 is a noncalculus
introduction
to probablity, required for statistics courses in some other
departments.
Stat 100 is a noncalculus introduction to probability and statistics.
Math
115 is a precalculus course which requires a very strong Algebra II
background
and is a preparation for Math 140. Math 220 is a calculus course for
non-science
majors. Math 140 is a first course in calculus for science and
engineering
students. Math 130 is a calculus course for life science majors.
What happens if a student doesn't place into the course that they
need
for their course of study? A student may retake the placement test to
improve
a placement. However, a student may take the placement test only once
during an academic year semester and is allowed to retake it only once
during the summer. Any retake should be preceded by careful review and
preparation (see below).
There are also course sequences which will take a student from
his/her
current mathematical level to the target program of study. There are
advisors
at orientation to help students plan an appropriate sequence of courses
once the placement test results are available. For instance, suppose a
student needs Math 140 for a major but places into Math 110. Since Math
110 is not a preparation for Math 140, the student has several options,
including the following: study independently over the summer and retake
the placement test; take Math 003, followed by Math 115 and then Math
140;
or take Math 015 and then Math 140. The last type of option, involving
the courses Math 010, 011, 013 and 015, is discussed on the Developmental
Math Program web page.
How To Prepare For The Test
The Mathematics Placement Test consist of 67 questions covering four
main areas: arithmetic, algebra I, algebra II, and trigonometry. Topics
include: simplification of expressions, exponents, linear equations in
one and two variables, slope, systems of equations, inequalities,
absolute
value, quadratic, cubic, exponential, and logarithmic functions, roots
of polynomials, composition of functions, and trigonometric functions.
To prepare for the placement test, you can go to the on-line
course syllabi of the mathematics department, and use the syllabus
of the course you wish to place out of as a study guide. Other
resources
are described in the section below on retaking the placement test.
It is recommended that students take a sample
placement exam and review topics when necessary.
Only students planning to take Math 140 need to demonstrate knowledge
of
trigonometry.
Go on to the sample
placement
exam.
Preparing to retake the Math
Placement Test
FACT: You will save at least one semester of taking math by
taking
the time to do a careful review and placing in a course required for
your
major.
FACT: Just retaking the Placement Test is VERY unlikely to
place
you in your desired math course. Experience has shown that students who
do not have a substantial review before retaking the test seldom change
their original placement. A word to the wise ...
REVIEW!
REVIEW!
REVIEW! REVIEW!
You received four scores from your Placement Test.
The topics associated with PART I - Arithmetic - are the following:
- Basic artithmetic oeprations including order of operations
- Fractions, decimals, percents and ratios
- Exponents
The topics associated with PART II - Elementary Algebra - are the
following:
- Operations on polynomials, including factoring
- Linear and quadratic equations in one variable
- Linear inequalities
- Systems of first degree equations
- Functions
- Graphing of first degree euations, inequalities and functions
Topics associated with PART III - Intermediate Algebra - are all topics
in Elementary Algebra plus the following:
- Absolute value
- Rational equations
- Laws of exponents/fractional exponents
- Formulas - solving for one variable in terms of other variables
- Composition and inverses of functions
- Radical expressions/equations
- Exponential Functions
- Logarithmic Functions
- Conic sections
(Mastery of all of the above topics would likely place you into a
credited
math course.)
Topics from PART IV include the following:
- Basic Trigonometry
- Trigonometric Equations
- Periodic Functions
(Knowledge of these topics is needed for placement in a calculus
sequence.)
BOOKS, SOFTWARE, VIDEOS TO USE FOR REVIEW
You have a sense of the topics that you know and the ones that you have
forgetten. As you use the following resources, pick the topics you need
to review. For example, if you obtain an Elementary or Intermediate
Algebra
text, go directly to the chapters with the topics you need to review.
Similarly,
if you use software, videos and web pages you may want to go directly
to
the portion covering topics you need to review.
You don't need to (and should not try to) use all the resources
below.
They provide different presentations of the same mathematics, and no
matter
how many resources you assemble, in the end there is no escaping the
work
of studying the mathematics. Use what works best for you.
Books:
- For Elementary Algebra:
Schaums Outline Series, College Algebra, Murray, Spiegel and Wagner. - For
Intermediate Algebra:
Schaums Outline Series, College Mathematics, second edition, Ayres
and Schmidt. - Check your local library for other elementary and
intermediate
algebra
resources.
Review Courses:
- Algebra Brush-up courses may be available at your local high
school or
community college.
Tutorial web pages:
Search the WEB for Intermediate Algebra Review Material. Much is free
and self-help. Below are listed a few.
- General math:
- Help for every level - algebra through calculus
- Algebra
Videos:
- Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra and Pre-Calculus are
located
in
LAS-2201 Shoemaker Building and Hornbake Library, Nonprint
Media
Room.
The references above are suggestions. A change in your placement will
depend
primarily on the amount and quality of the review you do.
You may also want to take the sample
placement exam.
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