Mathematics Placement Assessments

Note: The information given below in the "Description and Guidelines" and "Preparation" sections should be accurate. However, some information in the "Taking the Assessments" and "Other Course Options" sections may have changed.

• Description and Guidelines (what are they, who needs to take them?)
• Preparation (sample exams)
• Taking the Assessments (when and where?)
• Other Course Options (Summer, Distance Education, and non-ISU classes)

Description and Guidelines

Before taking any lower division mathematics classes, ISU students must demonstrate their current mathematical ability. This is done by taking one or more of the Mathematics Placement Assessments, or by using ACT or SAT scores, if available. Students can then take courses in accordance with the guidelines listed below.

Three - 30 minute each - math placement assessments are offered: algebra, trigonometry, and calculus.
Math Department requirements are as follows:

• If you want to take Math 104, 140, 141, 142, 151, 160, 165, or 181, you must take the algebra placement assessment or have sufficient ACT or SAT math scores. Your score in one of the first three columns allows you to take the corresponding course(s) in the last column.
  

  ACT Math Score	SAT Math Score*	Placement Score	Math courses you may take
  less than 20	less than 480	less than 10	10
  20 or 21	480 - 519	10-11	104, 105 or 150
  22 - 25	520 - 599	12-15	140, 141, 142, 151, 160, 181
  26 or more	600 or more	16 or more	165

  
  *SAT scores will be used only when ACT scores are not available.

• If you want to take Math 165 or 166, you must take the trigonometry placement assessment.
  • A score of 9 or more is needed for Math 165 or Math 166.
• If you want to take Math 166, you must take the calculus placement assessment.
  • A score of 12 or more is needed for Math 166.

Note that you will need to take two exams if you want to take Math 165 or 166. In addition, your own department and/or college may have additional requirements (for example, see the College of Engineering requirements).

Transfer students
Transfer students will generally be placed in courses sequential to the appropriate transfer courses indicated on the Transfer Credit Evaluation prepared by the ISU Admissions Office. Your advisor can help you determine if you need to take any placement assessments, but in general, the following applies:

• If you have college credit for the equivalent of Math 140, you do not need to take the Algebra Placement Assessment.
• If you have college credit for the equivalent of Math 141 or 142, you do not need to take the Trigonometry Placement Assessment.
• If you have college credit for the equivalent of Math 165, you do not need to take the Calculus Placement Assessment.

Advance Placement Credit will be accepted for Math 165 and Math 166. In this case, you do not need to take any placement assessments.

However, note that your own department and/or college may have different policies regarding Transfer and AP credit (for example, see the College of Engineering requirements).

What if my score is too low?

• If your Algebra Math Placement Assessment score is too low, you will need to take Math 10 or Math 140, depending on your score and your desired courses. See your advisor for details.
• If your Trigonometry Math Placement Assessment score is too low, you will need to take Math 141 or Math 142.
• If your Calculus Math Placement Assessment score is too low, you will need to take Math 165.

You may take these courses at ISU, or you may want to consider Distance Education or non-ISU options, especially during the Summer.

Preparation

Prior to taking the Math Placement Assessments, students should study the samples provided through the links below and review prior course work in math. Students are allowed to take the placement assessments only once. Also, note that calculators are not permitted on the placement assessments.

Sample Math Placement Assessments
These assessments and answers are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for free through http://www.adobe.com.

• Algebra
  • answers
• Trigonometry
  • answers
• Calculus
  • answers

Taking the Math Placement Assessments

• You can take the Math Placement Assessments online prior to Summer Orientation through WebCT. The letter you receive confirming your orientation reservation will have instructions on how to complete the assessment.
• Students with a documented disability should contact the Disability Resources Office to make alternative testing arrangements.

Other Course Options

Most students who do not score high enough on the Math Placement Assessments must take either Math 10, 140, 141, or 142. Besides the ISU classes during the regular academic year, you may want to explore these other options for lower division math classes.

Summer:

• ISU offers Math 10, 140, 141, and 142 during one or both summer sessions.
• ISU offers self-paced online (web-based) versions of Math 140, Math 141, and Math 142 through the Extended and Continuing Education office.
• Your community college may offer math classes equivalent to Math 10, 140, 141, and 142.
• Your local high school may offer math classes equivalent to Math 10, either during the day or at night.

Distance Education:

• ISU offers self-paced online (web-based) versions of Math 140, Math 141, and Math 142 through the Extended and Continuing Education office during the Summer and during the Fall and Spring semesters.
• ISU offers Math 165 over the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) during the Fall and Spring semesters.