Math Placement Exam & Chemistry Placement Exam

Hi, wondering if anyone else’s child is struggling to pass the UConn Math Placement Exam. My DS got a 710 on the math portion of the SAT and isn’t even able to get a 17 on this test yet. I think he has forgotten everything. Stressing. He hasn’t even dealt with the chem test yet. Sigh.

What do you mean by “forgotten everything?” What’s his major?

This would probably be better posted on the UConn forum.

MODERATOR’S NOTE:

Agreed. So I moved it.

SAT Math and the placement tests cover two different things.

If he’s not doing so hot on the placement test maybe that means he should start from PreCalc. (If he even needs to take Math.)

https://placement.uconn.edu/what-is-the-mpe/ is the UConn math placement exam page.

17 is the score threshold to enroll in precalculus, while 22 is the score threshold to enroll in calculus.

What math has he taken in high school?

Yes, it would be fine if he starts with PreCalc, but he didn’t get a score of 17 on his first attempt. He is planning to take the exam again this weekend. Sigh. I am hoping for at least a 17 so him an move on to the Chem Placement Exam.

What math did he take in High School? If he has been taking higher level classes, it’s possible he is no longer as good at the lower level skills because he hasn’t been using them. Is he taking his time on the exam, or is he rushing through thinking he knows everything? How many times has he taken it - if he hasn’t taken it 3 times, tell him to spend some time reviewing basic concepts before he takes it again, and then take his time and review his answers before he submits.

my son is handling, and also a Math major, so no issues, except him being quirky and qualifying for Calc the fist time (I’d hope so or he needs a new major) and taking it 3 times to get the one or two he missed. All this said, it isn’t a pass/fail thing, it’s an assessment and if he is not able to get through the threshold, would you want him to struggle in Calc his first semester in college? I think that it’s pretty common to repeat Calc as a freshman if it’s not your strong suit. Are math and chem both required freshman courses? My husband is more involved with the academic piece. I’m in charge of making sure he has the supports and the social opportunities.

He is taking preCalc now. His grade ranges in the B+ to A-. He has taken the MPE once, and he received an 11. He was rather shocked, and he had his confidence shaken at the same time. He is going over the study modules now. I know he is now becoming stressed over this… thanks for you advice.

I would be fine with starting his freshman year with preCalc, but as of now, he has not scored the 17 that is need to take that class. That is why we are all extremely nervous.

Better to stress now and review than be put in the wrong class and struggle then.

What is the high school’s track record of students’ math placement at colleges?

If it is typical for students earning B+/A- in precalculus in that high school to be placed in math courses below precalculus in college, then that says something uncomplimentary about the high school’s math department. Students who finish high school with precalculus should be ready for calculus – if they are not, the high school is not doing its job.

Note that if he needs to start in a lower math course, and his major is math dependent, he and you may have to plan for extra semesters or summer sessions beyond the usual eight semesters to graduate.

Well, his high school is rated 18th in all of CT. So, I would think it’s a pretty decent school. I’m thinking he forgot a lot of his earlier math. I hoping he can figure this out.

Do the study modules have practice tests? If not, it may be a good idea to sign up for one month subscription to aleks. They have a prep for calculus module with adaptive testing, so you review only what you need to. My kid used it to review his precalc and found it useful. He said it helped him get to calculus placement.

I don’t believe that the study modules have practices test. Who did you sign up with for the subscription to aleks? Thanks so much for your help!

Oh, I found aleks link. Thank you!

Here are some free math placement tests from other colleges. He may want to try them and use them to determine which topics he needs to review:

http://www.math.buffalo.edu/rur_index.html
http://math.tntech.edu/e-math/placement/

Would like to say that once the placement tests are all done and they start in the fall, tell your sons or daughters to take advantage of the office hours whenever they can or when they are feeling unsure and especially before a test. My son is going into junior year and I will tell you that this has been no walk in the park, in fact it has been brutal!! Calc and Chem are two of the toughest classes. So far he has had to tackle Calc 1, 2, 3 and 4 Chem, Physics, Biology, and the list goes on and on…I never would have imagined it would be this way when we sent him off to college. Stressed is putting it lightly. Don’t want to scare the new parents sending their child off for the first time, but shocking to see what they go through, especially the STEM majors…