What is the purpose of the placement exam?

Most students pursuing technical majors such as engineering or physics will want to start their college mathematics experience with the first semester of calculus. However, our experience shows that many students entering college for the first time are not sufficiently prepared for the rigors of freshman calculus and require a semester of precalculus. Our first semester of calculus for technical majors is called MATH 131, and our precalculus (college algebra and trigonometry) course is called MATH 119. In order to help us determine the appropriate course for entering freshmen, we have a placement process that includes a review SAT and/or ACT scores, a review of all mathematics courses taken, both at the secondary school level and at the college level, evaluation of any AP, IB, or transfer credit, and an online placement exam covering the basics of algebra and trigonometry. The purpose of this exam is to help us place you in the appropriate mathematics course, either MATH 119 or MATH 131.