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Department of Mathematics & Statistics


Mathematics Placement Examination

Frequently Asked Questions.
Please read before contacting us.

University policy states that to be admitted to an entry-level mathematics course (0301-1350, 1420-1430, 1451, 1550, 2300), a student must meet one of the following prerequisites:

  1. Students who have a sufficiently high SAT Mathematics score or ACT Mathematics score (see below for scores required for particular courses) may enroll in any of these entry-level courses.

  2. Students who have collegiate credit for the appropriate prerequisite course from an accredited community college, junior college or university may enroll in the sequelled entry-level mathematics course.

  3. Students who satisfactorily pass the Mathematics Placement Examination may enroll in the appropriate entry-level mathematics course.

For many students, achieving a satisfactory score on the Mathematics Placement Examination is the most direct and effective way to satisfy one of these prerequisites. The placement examination has one goal: to place the student in the course which best matches the student's university major and the student's skill level. The examination directs the student (i) to the course he or she wishes to take or (ii) to a course which develops the necessary prerequisite skills for the required courses in his or her degree program.

Review
The following resources are available for students needing a review.

Calculator Usage
A calculator may be used while taking the placement examination. The primary focus of the Mathematics Placement Examination is on assessing arithmetic and algebraic manipulative skills and not on calculator or computer proficiency. The examination is structured so that while calculator proficiency may help a student with some of the questions assessing arithmetic skills, successful completion of the exam will reflect how well a student has retained his or her algebra skills.

Examination Schedule
The examination may be taken more than once subject to the following restrictions:
  1. it may be taken at most once on any given day;
  2. on-line, over the internet, it may be taken at most twice.
The Mathematics Placement Examination is administered in one of two formats:
a.   on-campus in a proctored setting, according to the attached schedule;
b.   on-line, over the internet prior to summer orientations and during the Christmas break.

Questions about the Mathematics Placement Examination may be directed to Dr. Robert Byerly at robert.byerly@ttu.edu or (806) 742-2566.

Administration
Students matriculating to the university in a Fall semester will typically take the Mathematics Placement Examination on-line, prior to their new student orientation or else on-campus during their new student orientation. The on-campus examination is administered on the first day of each orientation.

Students matriculating to the university in a Spring semester or a Summer term will typically take the Mathematics Placment Examination on-line, prior to coming to Texas Tech or else during the open registration prior to the start of the Spring semester or Summer term, respectively.

Students whose placement score do not match their expectations may retake the mathematics placement examination during the period of open registration prior to the beginning of each semester or term. The retakes of the placement examinations will be administered by the Department of Mathematics. Students desiring to retake the placement examination should consult the administration schedule for testing times and locations.

Initial Mathematics Placement and Course Prerequisites
Possible courses to which a student may be directed as a result of taking the placement examination are:

Math 0301 -- Essential Mathematics

This is a remedial course which DOES NOT carry credit toward any degree at Texas Tech.

Math 0302 -- Intermediate Algebra

This is a remedial course which DOES NOT carry credit toward any degree at Texas Tech.

Entrance requirement:

Students who successfully complete Math 0302 with a grade of A or B will be automatically eligible to enroll in either of the credit college courses Math 1320 or Math 1330. Students who exit Math 0302 with a grade of C or lower will be required to retake the placement examination and/or retake Math 0302.

Math 1300 -- Contemporary Mathematics

Entrance requirement:

Math 1320 -- College Algebra

Entrance requirement:

Math 1321 -- Trigonometry

Entrance requirement: A typical high school preparation for this course is Algebra I, II, and Geometry.

Math 1330 -- Introductory Mathematical Analysis

Entrance requirement:
  • Code 3 (or higher) on the Mathematics Placement Examination, or
  • A score of at least 610 on the SATM or
  • A score of at least 26 on the ACTM or
  • A grade of "B" (or higher) in Math 0302 or
  • A grade of "B" (or higher) in TSI 0302 or
  • A grade of "C" (or higher) in a college level mathematics course.

Math 1331 -- Introductory Mathematical Analysis

Entrance requirement:
  • Code 4 (or higher) on the Mathematics Placement Examination, or
  • A score of at least 610 on the SATM or
  • A score of at least 26 on the ACTM or
  • A grade of "C" (or higher) in Math 1330 or Math 1430.

Math 1420 -- College Algebra with Review

Entrance requirement:

Math 1430 -- Introductory Mathematical Analysis with Review

Entrance requirement:

Math 1451 -- Calculus I with Applications

Entrance requirement: A typical high school preparation for this course is 8 semesters of mathematics, including trigonometry and analytical geometry, with an average grade of B or better.

Math 1550 -- PreCalculus

Entrance requirement:

Math 2300 -- Statistical Methods

Entrance requirement:

Administration,   Examination Schedule,   On-line Exam