PLACEMENT
TAKING THE PLACEMENT EXAM
Initial placement into courses is done through a placement that is administered by the Testing Office (Room 1108). Contact them for more information on testing times. 206-587-6913. You can also visit their website. There is a fee to take the exam and strict regulations on when you can repeat the exam, so make sure you are prepared the first time!
Check Your Placement: Use this link to explore our courses to help you determine if your placement is appropriate.
How to Prepare for the Exam: Use this link to prepare for the exam. We strongly recommend you spend some time reviewing before you take the exam.
Placement Wizard: Use this link for step-by-step directions on preparing and checking your placement test score.
PLACEMENT THROUGH COURSE GRADES
If you do not place into a course with a placement exam, many of the courses in the department carry specific grades in a qualifying course. These grade prerequisites are generally not waived, and only the instructor may do so (at their own discretion).
For more detailed information on prerequisites, see the course outlines in the Courses Link.
PLACEMENT WITH TRANSFER CREDITIf you are transferring coursework from another college or university, you will need to have your transcripts evaluated so that you will be properly placed into your next mathematics course. Contact the Registrar's Office for more information on transfer credit.
CHECKING YOUR PLACEMENTIf have already taken the placement exam, then your next step is to take a look at one or more of the following links. Find the class into which you placed and explore the diagnostic link(s) provided. If you think that the material you see is beyond your current abilities, we strongly recommend you enroll for a lower course or review before classes begin to help insure your future success. On the other hand, if you think you have been placed too low, then you should use the Placement Preparation Page to prepare to take the placement exam again.
Note: The pre-tests on this site intentionally do NOT have the answers to the questions. We want you to be able to make an accurate self-assessment of your current math knowledge without the answers there to serve as a "crutch." If a problem you see looks unfamiliar or you are not very sure that you can do a problem, it probably means you need to review that material before taking the placement exam or registering for your math course.
Into Which Class Did You Place?
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You Placed Into MAT081Here is the kind of material you will learn in MAT081
If this material looks very familiar you are probably ready for 084 or beyond. If you placed in 081, you can retake the placement after visition the Preparation Page.
MAT081 Martin-Gay Textbook Website - Great resource of quizzes, warmups, etc. Check it out.
You Placed Into MAT084You are expected to know the material covered in MATH081...
Here is the kind of material you will learn in MATH084
If this material looks very familiar you are probably ready for 085 or beyond. If you placed in 084, you can retake the placement after visition the Preparation Page.
MATH084 Blitzer Text Web Page - See Chapters 1-5 online for more information and review materials.
Chapter 1 - Real Numbers
Chapter 2 - Linear Equations in One Variable
Chapter 3 - Problem Solving
Chapter 4 - Linear Equations in Two Variables
Chapter 5 - Systems of Equations
You Placed Into MATH085You are expected to know the material covered in MAT081 and MAT084...
Are you ready for MATH085? (Paper test)
Are you ready for MATH085? (Online Quiz)
Sample Final Exam from 084
Sample Final Exam from 081Here is the kind of material you will learn in MATH085
If this material looks very familiar you are probably ready for 098 or beyond. If you placed in 085, you can retake the placement after visition the Preparation Page.
MATH084 Blitzer Text Web Page - See Chapters 6-10 online for more information and review materials.
Chapter 6 - Exponents and Polynomials
Chapter 7 - Factoring Polynomials
Chapter 8 - Rational Expressions
Chapter 9 - Roots and Radicals
Chapter 10 - Quadratic Equations
You are expected to know the material covered in MATH081-MATH085...
Are you ready for MATH098?
Sample Final Exam from 085
Sample Final Exam from 084Warning: MATH084 Material is important for 098...take an online quiz of 084 material now...
Here is the kind of material you will learn in MATH098
Material you need to get into MATH&141 and MATH116
Intermediate Algebra Topics (Outside Link)If this material looks very familiar you are probably ready for a higher level course. If you placed in 098, you can retake the placement after visition the Preparation Page.
You are expected to know the material covered in MAT081-MAT098...
Are you ready for MATH116? (This file is also used for MAT&141 since both 116 and 141 have MATH098 with a 2.5 or better as a prerequisite.
You Placed Into MATH&141You are expected to know the material covered in MAT081-MAT098...
You Placed Into MATH&142You are expected to know the material covered in MATH081-MAT&141...
You Placed Into MATH&151MATH&151,152,153 Course Description
You are expected to know the material covered in MATH081-MATH&142