<p>I think it’s more than just placing in the “right spot”. Another consideration is that if your kid doesn’t do well, you are paying college rates for high school math and I don’t think they get any credit(s). I am not suggesting that I would push my kid into a class they cannot handle but I think you want them to do well because it shows they are ready for a college level math class. As to the score, my D said she did horribly on the practice test and that she will review before taking the real exam – she is in pre-calc and getting A’s.</p>
<p>What would you rather do? Have a student take a non-credit “remedial” course to prepare them to be able to succeed in a credit granting course or have them placed in a course they would really struggle with and possibly even fail (which would not look good on a students transcript). I did not say students should not not try to do well on the exam (and I certainly believe parents need to be supportive of this) but you do need to keep in mind the purpose of the exam, which is as I stated. I also stated that a brief review might be helpful for some students, but I believe pushing students to intensely cram for the exam will just make most students more anxious and is not very likely to significantly improve their score (you can’t study all of math up to pre-calculus in a week or two). My D also thought she did terribly on the practice exam but following the actual exam she was placed in pre-calculus (for credit), which she did very well in. She then completed calculus which she also did very well in. Again best wishes to all as they take the exam.</p>
<p>mwall, I couldn’t agree more, I have had kids in the wrong level class in the past and it’s nothing but misery. i’m thinking mine might need a pre calc class and it she needs it I’ll be fine with it. I wonder how many kids do pass the test? It’s funny because almost every other school she applied to a placement test in math was not needed due to her ACT scores in Math. (28) but I still have doubts as to how well she would do in a calc course. oh well, she’ll have some free time this weekend as our schools got a 5 day weekend so I guess we’ll know soon enough! :)</p>
<p>There really is no passing or failing on the test. UD offers many college level for credit math courses starting out with Intermediate Algebra, several other Math courses, and Pre-calculus (with special sections for Scientists and Engineers). The overwhelming majority of Freshman take one of these Math courses, not calculus, their first semester. From the UD course selection site there appears to be only around 550 open slots for entry level calculus (so you can see with a Freshman class of nearly 4000 most do not take calculus their first semester). Calculus is a tough course at UD and even many students who have taken AP Calculus in HS can be very challenged by it. Based upon the numbers noted above it appears that most students take Pre-calculus prior to taking calculus. So if you end up being rated for Calculus your first semester, be forewarned. Don’t expect to coast thru it. Again best wishes to all. One should not perceive it as a failure if one is not matched with calculus their first semester. In fact UD might really be doing you a favor.</p>
<p>^^ exactly. Calc 1 according to my daughter was her entire AP calc in about 5 weeks it moved that fast.</p>