<p>Does anyone know how the math placement exams work? Is there a test just for Math 3 credit, or is it a general calculus exam that is primarily for placement purposes? Was the test hard? Any studying advice? Memorize identities, formulas etc? Thanks so much.</p>
<p>I want to know about this Math placement exams things also. I took Multivariable Calculus in high school and I really really really dont want to take it again in college.</p>
<p>If you have not received math 3 credit through your AP scores, you can take the placement test to be placed out of math 3 into math 8, 11 or other math course.</p>
<p>Astudent,</p>
<p>here is the link to the math 3 syllabus. Look through it and decide for your self if you want to take the placement test to be placed out of math 3</p>
<p>When I first arrived at Dartmouth, I worried about taking the Math 3 Placement exam until I realized that I never had to take math again. If you are 100% sure that your major won't involve math (believe me, I was), you really don't need to take the test. Government, Econ and some other majors can fulfill the 'math' requirement (aka QDS) by taking any '10' class (like Govt 10, Econ 10), which is basically a statistics class with some kind of slant depending on what department it is offered through. People also fill the QDS requirement by taking courses like Linguistics. </p>
<p>The Math 3 Placement test is really only for people who are trying to figure out what level of math course they should be in. Most of these people either need to take math for their major or just plain enjoy it. </p>
<p>If there's any chance that you will be taking a calculus-focused course at Dartmouth, you should take the exam. If you never want to see an integral again, skip it! If you still aren't sure, there's an info session about the placement exam you can attend during orientation.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. D took a look at the syllabus and will give the test a try. Several courses she's interested in have Math 3 as a pre-req. And if the test doesn't go well, she'll have plenty of company in Math 3!</p>
<p>BigGreenJen:</p>
<p>According to the math dept. website: "Mathematics 3 is a prerequisite for many economics courses. An exemption from Math 3 is generally not considered sufficient to satisfy the prerequisite of the economics department. Credit in Math 3 is required."</p>
<p>The Econ website is notes that Math 3 is a prereq for the major, but it maybe substituted with Econ 10 (aka Stats) with permission of the Dept chair. Question: how difficult/flexible are the Department Chairs?</p>
<p>Question 2: If the placement test is passed for Math 3 CREDIT, will that count as one of the 35 required courses?</p>
<p>blue,</p>
<p>I believe that the placement test are just that, placement and not credit. Placement being that you have a sufficient background to take this course or a higher level course (or in some cases a lower level course).</p>
<p>However, you could get math *** credit*** through the AP process by obtaining a score of 4 or 5 on AP Calc AB or AP Calc BC (this course will give you credit for math 3 and 8).</p>
<p>Now if you got math 3 credit through the AP process, I do think it would lower the overall number of courses you need to graduate. </p>
<p>Using your econ question as an example, if you got AP credit for math 3 and you need to substitute with Econ 10 inorder to fulfill the prereq for the major, I am quite sure the department chair woud be amenable to granting you permission.</p>
<p>sybbie:</p>
<p>from the math dept website (perhaps old info?):</p>
<p>"During orientation week, students have the opportunity to take calculus placement exams offered by the department. These exams may be taken by those who did not take a standardized placement exam, or by those who wish to upgrade their placement (e.g. from exemption to credit). As mentioned in the information mailed to you over the summer, it is in your best interest to review for these exams, since placements based upon them are not negotiable. By the way, you cannot receive a lower placement by taking the department's exam, so you are encouraged to take it if it is at all germane to your situation."</p>
<p>According to the dept website, an AP score of 3 will earn exemption from Math 3, but a student can upgrade to a credit via a the orientation test, or am I misreading? </p>
<p>btw: I just figured out how to bold. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Blue,</p>
<p>reading the link from the math department it says 2004 and 2005 in the same sentence. So yes, the info is a little old. </p>
<p>Keep this in mind, in order to get math 3 credit you must be proficient in what is covered in the math 3 syllabus, which brings us full circle; If you can handle the math 3 syllabus, take the exams that have been given and do well, then go for the exemption. </p>
<p>If not, take the course, if you need the math class as a foundation to build upon other stuff (where I would not look at an ugly pass by te skin of your teeth as still being a pass), I would not recommend skipping it (jmho).</p>
<p>sybbie:</p>
<p>I agree that its not necessarily a good idea to skip a class one in which one is not proficient, particularly if the material will be needed later.</p>
<p>But, how 'bout a little optimism for the OP. Perhaps 1ofeach can score a 105% on the Math 3 test (earning five bonus points for a creative question that s/he creates and answers brilliantly). Would that type of score (and obvious proficiency) earn class credit?</p>