<p>Right now I'm being told that I can take the math placement exam at UTSA for the ability to register for precalculus and calculus classes. I'm a little confused--MUST I take this exam? It says that I need to "determine my math placement" before I attend orientation. I took precalculus my high school senior year and got...decent grades in it, I guess, so I may have to take it again? </p>
<p>I want to get to the earliest orientation possible to get the best choices when it comes to classes, so I want to take the correct action as quick as possible. </p>
<p>Does UTSA use ALEKS? UT does. This is secondhand info, but with ALEKS you take a test at home, see your score, then have the chance to do some review units and then take the test again. It gives you a chance to brush up on math you have forgotten, in other words. </p>
<p>They indicate on their website and through academic advisors that they are necessary to evaluate what math level each student is at. I personally made a 720 on Math on SAT and a 5 on AP Calculus exam so I was frustrated to have to take so many tests. Online and additional at orientation. I scored 91 on Aleks and 97 at Orientation on 2nd half so it worked out. I would have probably been a little more upset if I had performed poorly. However, if I had performed poorly, it would have meant taking an additional course in Math. I personally could have opted out of Calculus based on my Advanced Placement score but opted to take course based on recommendation of my Academic Advisors. I already have 22 credit hours from AP tests so I’m in a pretty good place but since I wont be taking the 4 credit hours for calculas, I will have 19 credit hours.</p>
<p>UT realizes that no matter what the high school transcripts say, all high schools are not created equal (especially in math). So to ensure everyone gets into the right math class or sequence, they require this test. It doesn’t affect your acceptance status, it just determines if you can take the 2 semester CALC sequence or the 3 semester CALC sequence (a little slower). People who qualify for the 2 semester sequence (80+ on ALECS) can still opt to take the 3 semester, but not visa versa. For example if you are in McCombs they do not require the 2 semester sequence but engineering does. So why take the accelerated if you don’t have to. If you really bomb it UT will make you take a pre-calc course.</p>
<p>Alright, I’m signed up for it and studying, thanks guys. Will I need to bring a calculator to the test or do they provide some? I’m thinking of buying a new graphing calculator tomorrow.</p>
<p>I’ve been studying for it but I want to ask anyone who might have taken it–how difficult would you say the test is? Studying has reminded me that I’ve forgotten a lot of the precalc stuff I learned in my Senior year already (though it’s coming back to me).</p>