Mathematics Placement Testing

What is a mathematics placement test?
A mathematics placement test is a test to help us and you measure how much you can remember about the use of the mathematics you learned in high school mathematics courses. It is important to remember that you will begin a college mathematics course with what you know on the first day of college, not what you once knew, or what you once had in high school. Thus, the placement test is designed to help measure what you know now.

Why is the math placement test given?
Placement tests are given so that the University of New Haven can place you into a mathematics course that is appropriate for your major and for your current level of mathematical ability. The test is used to help us and you find the correct course at the correct level of difficulty for you to begin your college career.

What is the UNH mathematics placement test like?
The test is administered online and all questions are multiple choice. Each question you are given depends on your responses to the previous questions. Calculators are not permitted. You will be given one or two tests. Whether or not you are given the second test depends on the results of your first test. The first test, Elementary Algebra, contains 12 questions; the second test, College Level Mathematics, contains 20 questions. There is no time limit on either test.

Are calculators permitted on the placement test?
You are not permitted to bring a calculator to the test. On some questions the use of a calculator may be helpful, but in those cases a calculator will pop up on the screen. All other questions can and should be answered without aid of a calculator.  You will be given scratch paper to help with necessary calculations.

Who has to take the mathematics placement test?
Every new first year student and any transfer student who has not successfully completed a college mathematics course. An exception is made for students with Advanced Placement credit for calculus.

When is the mathematics placement test given?
Students take the test during their summer SOAR sessions.

If I have AP credit for Calculus I and/or Calculus II, do I have to take the mathematics placement test?
If you come to the SOAR program prior to having received your AP score, you should take the placement test. Once UNH has received your AP results, we may adjust your mathematics placement. If you receive a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus AB exam, we will award you UNH credit for Calculus I; if you receive a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus BC exam, we will award you UNH credit for Calculus II.

Should I study for the placement test?
Samples of the two mathematics placement tests can be found here . The answers to these sample tests can be found here .  If you have significant mathematics in high school and plan to major in a field that is heavily science oriented, it will help you to take these sample tests and to review those areas of high school mathematics in which you feel you can use some preparation. In the sciences, you will want to complete the first level of mathematics courses as quickly as possible since often courses in your chosen field depend heavily on these mathematics courses.

Can I fail the mathematics placement test?
A placement test is not about passing or failing. The goal is to help us and you find the appropriate beginning level of college mathematics for you. If you start too low, you will not be challenged and you will be wasting valuable time; if you start too high, you will be frustrated and will probably not succeed.

How soon will I know the results?
Because the UNH mathematics placement test is online, your score and appropriate math course are available immediately after you finish the test. Normally we will supply you with a printout of your results before you leave the testing site. When you register for courses, your academic advisor will also have the results.

Why can't I take the course I want, regardless of my placement test scores? I had good grades in math in high school.
As noted above, the placement test measures what your mathematics skills are when you start college, not what your mathematics skills were at some time in the past. Your college mathematics instructors will assume you know the necessary prerequisites for the course you register fore; there will be almost no review of past material. We have found that students who take courses for which they are not prepared, even if they have had good grades in high school, inevitably do not succeed.  It is much better for your future progress to start at the level for which you are currently ready.

Suppose I place into a certain course but feel that I need more review before I take the course. Can I drop back and take a lower level course instead?
Yes you may. You may decide at the time of registration that you would prefer to take a lower level course than the placement test indicates. Further, if you find that during the first few days of a class the class seems too difficult, you may change to a lower level course. It is better to take your time and build a strong background than to start in a course that you feel is over your head. The UNH Department of Mathematics will be happy to help you with any adjustments.


Sample Mathematics Placement Test and answers
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