Math Placement Testing

THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT USES ALEKS PPL for PLACEMENT, PREPARATION, AND LEARNING

 

What is the Math Placement Exam (MPE)?

The Math Placement Exam, simply put, is a tool to satisfy the prerequisite requirement of a math course for which you are otherwise not eligible to take due to prerequisite requirements. It is a way to demonstrate proficiency of that material, enabling you to move on to a higher level math course.

You may use this test to place into math courses that either your ACT, SAT, or AP scores do not support, to demonstrate proficiency in a course that you did not receive a "C" or better in, or to demonstrate proficiency in a subject that a transfer credit from another college was not accepted here at UW. Courses that you may use the MPE to test out of include the following: Math 900, Math 0921, Math 0925, Math 1000, Math 1400, Math 1405, or Math 1450 (unless otherwise stated in degree requirements).

If you are transferring math course(s) from another college, and they are accepted for transfer credit here at UW, and this course meets the prerequisite of a course you wish to take, then you would not need to take the placement test and can safely disregard the Math Placement Test  item on your incoming student check list. (The check list is created, often times, before your transfer transcripts have been received and loaded.) 

More information on the Math Placement Exam:

All incoming freshmen and transfer students will be required to take the MPE unless you qualify for one of the following exemptions: 

• The student took a college level math course, while in high school, via a dual or concurrent enrollment program and the course will be accepted for transfer credit by the University of Wyoming and the student received a grade of “C” or better; or
• The student took a college level math course and the course will be accepted for transfer credit by the University of Wyoming and the student received a grade of “C” or better; or
• The student has taken AP Calculus and has taken one of either the AB or BC exam and received a score of 3 or higher; or
• The student took International Baccalaureate (IB) and received a score of 4 or higher on the examination.
• The student took either an ACT, SAT exam within the last 3 years and scored the required minimum score, see table below. 

If one of these exemptions applies to you, then you may safely disregard the incoming student "Check List" item.

How do I know what math course I should take?

Each UW graduate will be required to take a minimum of one college level math course before graduating. You should discuss which course will meet your degree requirements with your academic advisor. 

What is a prerequisite?

Prerequisite is a term for "You have to take this, before you can take that". Prerequisites are common in math course work and help to identify the path necessary to get from point A to point Z.

Course prerequisites are identified in the course description and are part of the course catalog description. We have also created an easy to follow reference card, below, for most of the common math courses for incoming students. 

Prerequisite and MPE Cut Score reference chart:  

Course Number	Course Title	MPE Cut Score	MPE Level	ACT Math	SAT
900	Pre-Algebra	0-15	0	<21	≥ 500
921	Algebra 1 (PREQ Math 0900)	16-29	1	21	≥ 500
925	Algebra 2 (PREQ Math 0921)	30-45	2	21	≥ 530
1000	Problem Solving (PREQ Math 0921)	30-45	2	21	≥ 530
1100	Number and Operations for Elementary School Teachers (PREQ Math 0921)	30-45	2	21	≥ 530
1123	Math, Music and Acoustics (PREQ Math 0921 AND MUSC 1030)	30-45	2	21	≥ 530
1400	College Algebra (PREQ Math 0925)	46-60	3	23	≥ 560
1405	Trigonometry (PREQ Math 1400)	61-80	4	25	≥ 600
1450	Algebra and   Trigonometry (PREQ Math 0925)	46-80	3	23	≥ 560
2200	Calculus I (PREQ Math 1405 or Math 1450)	81-100	5	27	≥ 640
2350	Business Calculus (PREQ Math 1400 or Math 1450)	61-75	4	26	≥ 620
2355	Math Applications for Business (PREQ Math 1400 or Math 1450)	61-75	4	26	≥ 620
	"Q" USP requirement satisfied without taking a math/stats class		4	≥26	≥ 620

THIS IS IMPORTANT!

The Cost?

The ALEKS PPL test pack costs $15 via credit/debit card and includes 1 assessment, online tutoring, and up to 4 retake opportunities.

Your ALEKS Math placement score is good for 1 calendar year.

 

Please read the information and instructions carefully:

TESTING INSTRUCTIONS:       

The following rules apply to the Math Placement Exam:

Guided Learning  and re-take opportunities:

If you are not happy with your initial assessment score you may use the guided learning opportunity included with your assessment pack purchase. To access the guided learning and re-take option you simply need to log back into the ALEKS account you created when you took your first assessment.

Based on your assessment score, you may select one of the tutoring modules recommended, see chart below. Once you have completed the required in product tutoring you may use one of your re-takes.

• You must wait a minimum of 48-hours between the initial assessment and each re-take, AND
• You must complete the minimum number of hours of guided learning required by each re-take.
• We accept the highest score of any assessment test, it can't hurt you to try.

Choose…	… to get into
Prep for Beginning Algebra	Math 0921
Prep for Intermediate Algebra	Math 0925, 1000, 1100, 1123
Prep for College Algebra	Math 1400, 1450
Prep for Pre-Calculus	Math 1405, 2350, 2355; Stat 2050, 2070
Prep for Calculus	Math 2200

 

 

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