<p>Ok so this test is made availbale in June. And we take it. Does it require any preparation?? My high school mathematics came to an end on March 8th so if I just take test without preparation it would be close to three months without any practice. </p>
<p>So are you supposed to actually study for this?</p>
<p>Also , I know the results are used to ascertain to you which level courses to take but how does this process take place? Are your grades sent to an advisor or what? </p>
<p>Bit in the dark here , having just received the International Freshman Checklist and realising that I have only one around 15 items done.</p>
<p>A brochure that I just got for orientation said that placement in a math class depends on the online test score, your ACT or SAT math portion, and your GPA. Also, you can discuss with your advisor about your placement. So honestly, it probably doesn't matter a whole lot, although I'm not exactly certain.</p>
<p>The math placement test doesn't do that much in terms of placement. If I remember the test right, it's mainly basic algebra and symbolic manipulation. The only thing this test determines is if you're capable of attempting a calculus course (115 or higher), or if you need to be placed into a remedial course. </p>
<p>If you pass the test, you will still need to talk to your advisor about your math background and educational plan to determine which math classes you need to take, and which ones you're currently qualified to take. Sometimes advisors will tell you to take a class slightly lower than what your transcript says you're capable of taking, citing various semi-plausible reasons. Almost always these reasons are actually crap, and you should ignore your advisor. The lower calc classes tend to be weeder courses that are intentionally made tricky and difficult to get a wide spread of grades, so you should avoid taking them if at all possible.</p>
<p>My opinion on this is biased as I'm a math major (so somebody back me up...), but I think the stuff on the placement test is basic enough that if you truly needed to study to do well on, you should probably be in the remedial course anyways. There is a sample exam that you can go through before you take the one that actually counts, so you can see the format and what material will be covered.</p>
<p>I scored a 5 on the AP Calc BC test, and by using this credit I plan on not taking any more math classes in college (I am a pre-admit to pharmacy.) Is there a reason for me to take this seeing as I shouldn't be placed in any math class?</p>
<p>Technically, you're required to take it. I can't remember if they actually take any action against you (like not allowing you to register) if you don't take it. Quite honestly, I think it's just a lot easier for them to require everybody to take it before they get here than deal with issues that arise from granting exceptions on a case-by-case basis.</p>
<p>If you got a 5 on Calc BC, you should be able to ace the test in under half an hour. It's a lot quicker to just take the damn test than go through the effort of trying to get out of taking it.</p>
<p>If one is doing something like an English major and passes out of the remedial math courses, will they still be required to take a math class or will the placement test allow them to be done with it altogether?</p>
<p>You don't have to take math, period. Taking a math class at Michigan is one way to meet part of distribution requirements, but there are many other ways. Since your only requirement for math would be through distribution, you wouldn't be able to apply AP credits to it anyways.</p>
<p>Thanks dilsky . I have gone through that site but still had questions regarding the difficulty of the test. Thanks for clearing that up. </p>
<p>Dont listen to your advisor? First time I'm hearing that. Although I have heard that the lower calculus classes are tricky? Lower calc include both Calculus 1 and Calculus 2? Because freshman dont exactly have mich choice then.</p>
<p>Sometimes students who have AP/dual enrollment credit and should be able to get out of Calc I or Calc II are told to retake classes they shouldn't have to. My roommate did AP calc in high school and was told he should retake Calc I because "it's more difficult at Michigan", or something like that. He hasn't learned a single new thing all semester.</p>
<p>At orientation, if you haven't taken the test, they make you go into a room and take it. And that probably sucks.
You have a better feel for what you want to / should take than what your adviser says. I basically made a schedule to make my adviser happy at orientation and then switched to more interesting, higher level classes afterwards.</p>
<p>As far as the advisor/orientation situation: do they enroll you in the classes you discuss right there on the spot? Or do they advise you which to take and you enroll by yourself?</p>
<p>FWIW, you have a lot less oversight crap to deal with if you're in Honors. I worked out my schedule with my advisor on the second day**, and then registered the third day. The only people around then were non-advisor people whose main purpose was to issue overrides if necessary.</p>
<p>** I actually already had my schedule picked out, my advisor just said that I should do 18 credits instead of 14, and knock off some distribution requirements. If you read over the list of requirements in the LSA bulletin and go through the course catalog, it's not that hard to come up with a schedule on your own.</p>