Students who plan to enroll in the first course of a Calculus
track (MAT270, MAT265 or MAT251 as well as APM 265 at the Polytechnic campus)
without the Precalculus prerequisite MAT 170 or equivalent
must take a Calculus Placement Test prior to
registering in order to assess their algebra and trigonometry
background and be placed in the appropriate course (Calculus or Precalculus).
Students who do have the prerequisite coursework are strongly
encouraged to take the (free) test as well to assess their readiness
(a student may have the prerequisites, i.e., a passing grade in
Precalculus MAT170 or its equivalent, or AP or CLEP credit, but still
be unprepared for the class, because of the specific topics covered in
Precalculus at the originating
institution or simply because of a lapse in the student's
curriculum). Students
in MAT 265 and MAT 270 during fall semester 2007 who passed the
placement test succeeded at a 2 to 1 ratio to those who didn't take it.
The placement test is a
- 60 multiple choice questions
- paper-pencil
- 90 minute
exam which must be taken either during
orientation (for new students, at the Memorial Union building)
or during scheduled times throughout the year (typically
Friday afternoons at 2:30pm) at University Testing Services.
The Calculus placement test covers algebra and trigonometry questions a
student should be able to answer correctly prior to the
first day of a Calculus class. This exam was initially developed and
later refined by and for the UC and Cal State systems in California. It
is also widely used by Community colleges in California, the University of
Arizona, and by some high-schools in the Tucson area.
Here are some guidelines to familiarize yourself with the conditions
under which the test will be taken and help you prepare for it:
- general
information sheet
- information
sheet for students taking the placement test during orientation
- a Web-based practice test
similar (but shorter) to the actual Calculus Placement Test is
available at the California Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project
site. Keep in mind that the actual test is 60 questions long, not 40 as
in the practice test. Make sure you score high on this practice exam before taking the Placement Test
in order to increase your chances for success.
Note that calculators are not allowed.
If you are a little weak in any of the areas it is YOUR responsibility
to review the material prior to taking the test at University Testing
Center the day of
your orientation or the day you selected.
If you do not pass the Test (at least 36 out of 60 questions answered
correctly, i.e. 60%) you have two options:
- retake the test at a later date (at a scheduled time = once
per week in the UTS office on Friday afternoons at 2:30pm beginning
January 26, 2007) sufficiently prior to the add/drop deadline in the
semester during which you want to register (depending on available
seats), or
- be placed in one of our MAT170 - Precalculus sections.
More questions?
Undergraduate
Math office for
questions about test content (algebra & trigonometry)
University Testing
Services for questions related to the administration of the test.
Check in particular the MATH PLACEMENT - CALCULUS page at UTS.
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