There’s not much information on it except for this link: https://www.college.upenn.edu/math-exam
Does anyone know what the exam covers and whether all freshmen have to take it?
3 years ago it was just a 24 question multiple choice test that covered a wide range of topics from basic algebra/trig to stuff that you’ve likely never seen before. It’s used just to give you a recommendation on what math class you should take when you get to Penn, but it’s not that important (when I spoke to my advisor before coming to Penn, that never even came up in our conversation). I think you have to take it, but don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal.
I think the diagnostic exam is used as reference information for you and your Faculty Advisor. However, some students will want to retake a class and others will want to move ahead a class. As long as you can convince your FA that this is a reasonable decision, it should not be a problem.
Also remember that if you start in level X and after a couple weeks, you decide that the material is either too hard or too easy, you can go back to your FA and change that to the right level for you. DD did this, and it was not a problem.