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We use placement exams, in conjunction with the previous academic record, to place students in the appropriate course. You will need to choose whether to take the Level 1 or Level 2 placement exam. This choice will be based on the level of mathematics course which seems appropriate for your start. (If you guess wrong don’t worry—we’ll just retest you).
How to Decide Which Placement Exam to Take
Level 1 exam:
If you would like to start with College Algebra (Math 115), Modeling with Algebra and Statistics (Math 114),
or Investigations in Modern
Mathematics (Math 112), you will need to pass the Level 1 Placement Exam. The Level 1 exam covers the material
in an intermediate algebra course (usually the second year of high school algebra). We have
Sample Level 1 Exam Questions on-line so that you can know what to expect on this exam.
The exam takes 45 minutes.
If you do not do well enough on the exam to place into Math 112, 114, 115, we offer Intermediate Algebra (Math 90)
as a review course, or you could take a similar course at a community college. To take Math 112, 114, or Math 115 at USD you must
either pass the Level 1 Placement Exam or pass Math 90 at USD with a C-. We do not accept any kind of transfer credit at the
Math 90 Level.
Students taking this exam will be given two different results: preparation for Math 150 based on the entire exam, and preparation for Math 130 for which the trigonometry questions are not counted. If you do not do well enough on the exam to place into Math 130 or Math 150, you should take the Level 1 Placement Exam to see if you are prepared to take College Algebra (Math 115) as a review course before you take Calculus.
We have Sample Level 1 exam questions on-line so that you can know what
types of questions to expect for this exam. In addition, useful online mathematics review materials can be found at:
We have Sample Level 2 exam questions on-line so that you can know what
types of questions to expect for this exam. In addition, useful online mathematics review materials can be found at:
A student may take the exam in Serra 205 any time the lab is open to take
the placement exam, except between 12pm-2pm and 7pm-9pm. To allow
time for the student to complete the exam before the lab closes, a student
may begin an exam no later than 1.5 hours before the lab closes for the evening.
You do not need a reservation to do this; just tell
a Lab Assistant at the front desk that you want to take a Math Placement Exam. Click
here to find out when the lab is open.
You should bring your USD student ID and a pencil or pen with you to the
exam. You will be given scratch paper at the exam if you like. You may
not use your own scratch paper and you may not use a calculator.
You will be given your password when you arrive to our computer
lab to take the exam. If you have taken this exam before, you will be given
the same password that you used earlier, but you will still be forbidden
to access the exam until
you have checked in with a Lab Assistant at the front desk of our
computer lab.
Incoming freshmen and transfer students have one chance to take the exam from their
home computers. You will receive your login information and instructions for
taking the exam via email.
There are only 4 ways to do this:
If you have taken a class at another university which satisfies your math
requirement, and you don't intend to take a math course at USD, then you
do not need to take the placement exam. Contact the Math Department's
Executive Assistant at (619) 260 4706 if you want to see if your math
class will transfer.
Each year is divided into two periods, as described above. You may take the exam at most two times in any one period of the year.
Also, you may take the exam at most one time in any 24 hour period.
Exam Preparation
You do not have to do well on all topics to pass the exams, but of course you will want the exams to show what you do know, and
being a little rusty may cause you to miss questions you might have had correct.
Further, since the exams test your readiness to take a particular course, you will want to be sure you are comfortable with all the
topics on the placement exam before you begin the corresponding mathematics course. If you have not just finished
a mathematics course, we expect you to review for the exams so that what you do know is fresh in your mind.
Level 1 Exam Preparation
Level 2 Exam Preparation
Frequently Asked Questions
No. But any other course with course number 112 and above will satisfy
this requirement.
Email
mathplacement@sandiego.edu if
you have questions.