Math placement exam

<p>I understand that there is a math placement exam online that freshmen must take before their nsc. Does everybody have to take it? I know my major requires the exam, but can I be exempt if I met TSI requirements or have already taken the Accuplacer? Any help would be appreciated :)</p>

<p>You don't if you are going into Liberal Arts, but do if your major is General Studies, Science, Math, Engineering or Ag/Life Sciences. If you are an engineering major, there are no exemptions at all. If you aren't, then you can get out of it by having scored well on an AP, IB or CLEP or by taking a class for dual credit. But if it turns out you really do have to take it according to those criteria, it seems like having taken the Accuplacer should be all they need- I mean that's the test they would give you anyway. Is your score recent?</p>

<p>yes, I took the accuplacer sometime in the winter. I am a science major and have snooped around the tamu testing website but there are really no definative answers as to who is exempt from testing. I guess I might have to make some phone calls. Thanks for answering</p>

<p>Oh, that's so silly if they make you do it again. I hope it goes ok- let us know how it turns out!</p>

<p>ok, here is what the website page says:</p>

<p>Testing at Your New Student Conference
Math Assessment Requirements and Exemptions (Freshman ONLY)</p>

<p>Students in the following colleges (majors where listed) and programs are required to take the math assessment test prior to their scheduled New Student Conference. The Math Assessment is available online at Math</a> Assessment Test</p>

<p>Additional information pertaining the Math Assessment (including directions on how to access the assessment) will be sent to freshmen in their New Student Conference Confirmation packet. </p>

<p>• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (agricultural engineering, biochemistry, biological systems engineering, genetics, and plant and environmental soil science majors only)
• College of Architecture (visual studies majors only)
• Dwight Look College of Engineering (all majors)
• College of Geosciences (all majors)
• College of Science (all majors)
• General Studies Program (potential engineering, math and science majors only) </p>

<p>This examination is important in that it determines which mathematics course you should take in your first semester. The exam can be repeated up to three times before the conference. Calculus credit by examination is earned through a different test. The math assessment test is a multiple-choice examination. Subject areas include functions and their graphs, linear and quadratic equations, polynomials, trigonometric functions, and exponential and logarithmic functions. Calculators are not permitted. </p>

<p>The information below does not apply to engineering students as there are no exemptions for the Dwight Look College of Engineering or the College of Science. </p>

<p>Even if you are in one of the Major/Colleges listed, you may be exempt from the math assessment test if you have: </p>

<p>• successfully completed or are currently enrolled in a calculus course that awards college credit.
• previously earned credit through one of the following examinations:
• College Board Advanced Placement (AP):
Calculus AB (score 4 or better)
Calculus BC (score 3 or better)
• CLEP: Calculus with Elementary Functions
• International Baccalaureate (IB): Higher Level Mathematics (score 4 or better)
• Texas A & M University departmental credit by examination in calculus </p>

<p>Scores from these examinations must be on file at Texas A & M before your conference, or you will not be exempt. AP Calculus scores from May will not be received by Texas A & M before July 1. You will not be permitted to register for any math course until you have either provided test scores or attempted the math assessment test. If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact the Math Department at <a href="mailto:mathassessment@math.tamu.edu">mathassessment@math.tamu.edu</a></p>

<p>Texas Success Initiative (formerly TASP)</p>

<p>All students who are not exempt must take the THEA, ACCUPLACER, ASSET, or COMPASS test. Non-exempt students will be blocked from registering for all classes during the New Student Conference until one of the above tests have been taken and scores are on file at Texas A&M University. If you have further questions concerning the Texas Success Initiative, please contact the Student Learning Center (formerly Center for Academic Enhancement) at (979) 845-2724 or visit the website. An ACCUPLACER* test is available for students who have not met the Texas Success Initiative requirement. It will be administered by Measurement and Research Services at 1101 General Services Complex, corner of F&B and Agronomy roads.</p>

<ul>
<li> Students need to register for the test prior to the test date at 1101 General Services Complex, corner of F&B and Agronomy roads or by contacting Measurement and Research Services at (979) 845-0532.</li>
</ul>

<p>Credit By Exam Testing
Credit By Exam Testing is available on testing days throughout the year. Please contact Measurement and Research Services at (979) 845-0532 to schedule additional examinations. </p>

<p>......</p>

<p>Ok, so I obviously am not exempt because I am a science major and I did not meet the exemption requirements. However, it says towards the bottom that those not exempt must take one of those four tests. I already took the Accuplacer, so can I send my scores in? Or does that just pertain to TSI requirements? I will try to make some phone calls or send an e-mail and I will let you know what they say.</p>

<p>Don't worry too much about it. If you had good math in high school and did well on the SAT, the placement exam should be no problem. You don't need a calculator. There was no calculus on the exam when I took it. I was homeschooled and took Saxon math eighth through twelfth grades (no AP, CLEP, or IB stuff at all), and I got every question correct. (I'm a math major, so math's my best subject, which probably didn't hurt, though)
My advice is to just take it. You'll probably do fine. It's a placement test anyway, so if you don't do well, you NEED TO KNOW THAT so you don't get in over your head in calculus next fall. It's much better to take an extra math class than to get a bad grade in a class that's above your level. </p>

<p>Texas A&M is an engineering/math/science type school, and they don't pull any punches with the math classes. Take the exam, see how you do, and don't be ashamed to take an easier math class before jumping into calculus.</p>