Assessment/Testing

Which Math Assessment should I take?

You will choose from among four math assessment, each designed for placement into different levels of math.

Work the problems on the math practice assessments by clicking on Assessment #1, #2, #3 or #4, below.

These practice questions, your math background and the math course you wish to enroll in all help in determining which of the four assessments you will take.

Make your decision regarding which assessment to take (#1, 2, 3, or 4) prior to assessing.

Students who plan to take Assessment #3 or Assessment #4 are strongly encouraged to visit the MDTP website (http://mdtp.ucsd.edu/onlinetests.shtml) to take an online practice assessment to verify readiness for the assessment.

Please Note: If the questions on Assessment #1 are too difficult, you may elect to begin at Math 360 without assessing - you must notify Assessment if this is your choice.

If your score on any math assessment is too low to accurately place you, you may need to take a different assessment to determine proper placement. You may retake the Math Assessment “ONCE” with the Assessment Center's permission per semester. This is dependent upon diagnostic data from the original assessment.

Please read the information below for assistance in determining which math assessment is appropriate for you. You will let us know which numbered assessment (1,2,3 or 4) you will be taking at check in on the day of your scheduled assessment:

• Assessment #1       Algebra Readiness:
• Take this assessment if you took a math class a long time ago or are not sure what your math skills are. This assessment will evaluate your math skills for placement into either:
• Arithmetic (Math 360)
• Pre-Algebra (Math 351)
• Beginning Algebra (Math 261)

• Assessment #2       Elementary Algebra Diagnostic:
• Take this assessment if you have successfully completed one year of high school algebra.  This assessment will evaluate your math skills for placement into either:
• Beginning Algebra (Math 261) or
• Intermediate Algebra (Math 263)

• Assessment # 3     Intermediate Algebra Diagnostic:
• Take this assessment if you have successfully completed two years of high school algebra. This assessment will evaluate your math skills for placement into either:
• Intermediate Algebra (Math 263)
• Math for General Education (Math 10)
• Statistics (Math 16)
• Pre-calculus (Math 13)
• Finite Math (Math 17)
• Business Calculus (Math 18)

• Assessment #4       Pre-calculus Diagnostic:
• Take this assessment if you have successfully completed two years of Algebra, one year of Geometry, AND Pre-Calculus (including trigonometry) or Math Analysis in high school. This assessment will evaluate your math skills for placement into either:
• Pre-Calculus (Math 13)
• Calculus I (Math 20A)