General Information

Incoming students are placed in their first mathematics course based on their selected major.

For the following majors, these students will be enrolled automatically into MATH A102 or A103.

• Communication
• English
• Fine Arts
• History
• Music Ed.
• Political Science
• Undeclared

For all STEM majors (College of Sciences and Engineering), majors in all professional schools (e.g. School of Business Administration, School of Education, School of Nursing), and Sociology majors, these students will be placed into MATH A108 (Applied College Algebra) or a higher math course. The determination of the particular course in which a student is placed will be based on submitted ACT or SAT standardized test scores. If a student does not submit a standardized test score during the application process, that student will be placed into MATH A108.

If placed into MATH A108, students may choose to take the Math Placement Test (MPT) to place higher than the MATH A108 level. This could greatly benefit the student’s progression in the major and reduce the number of math courses needed for a particular major. For students that would prefer a higher math course, they must either submit a standardized test score that places them into a higher math course or take the MPT and place higher than the MATH A108 level.

New Math Placement chart

(effective Fall 2019)

Placement Test Exemptions

AP Calculus

Students who have scored a 3, 4, or 5 on the Calculus Advanced Placement (AP) Exam will not need to take the mathematics placement test. A student with AP Calculus AB will be placed into MATH A142 (Calculus II) and a student with AP Calculus BC will be placed into MATH A241 (Calculus III).

Transfer and Graduate Students

A transfer or graduate student who has already earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college does not have to take the mathematics placement test.

A transfer student who receives transfer credit for MATH A108 or higher (excluding MATH A170, MATH A221 and MATH A222) does not take the placement test and may proceed to the next mathematics course required for his/her major. Courses that transfer as statistics courses with the STAT prefix do not qualify as mathematics courses for placement purposes.

Test Instructions

Only students in select majors where the College Algebra track (MATH A108) is required AND those that would like to place higher than the MATH A108 course level should take the Math Placement Test (MPT). For these students, the results of the MPT will be compared to the student’s ACT or SAT scores. The highest score on either the MPT or ACT/SAT will be used for placement. First, you must establish your blackboard account before accessing the math placement test.

Instructions on Using Blackboard

The Mathematics Placement Test consists of two parts: Algebra Test, and Trigonometry Test. The Algebra Test has three portions, you must obtain a sufficient score on each portion before being allowed to begin the next portion. If you successfully complete one portion, you may choose to take the next portion immediately or at a later time. If you successfully complete Algebra Test Part I and Part II, you may take the Trigonometry Test. You are allowed 60 minutes for each portion of the Algebra Test, and 90 minutes for the Trigonometry Test.

Calculators are not permitted! All answers are multiple-choice. Answer each question as it appears and click the right arrow button to go to the next question. Do not use the browser’s Back button to navigate to previous questions. Instead, use the left and right arrow buttons to move backward or forward in the test. The amount of time remaining to complete the test is displayed along with each question. Click the submit button only when you are completely finished. You may pause between tests if you take more than one test.

After you have submitted your test, your results will be displayed.

If you are not satisfied with your score on a test, you may retake the test any time after your first attempt. You may retake any portion of the test only once.

All students begin with Algebra Test Part I. Please click the following link “Take me to the test” to log into blackboard. Once you log in, under My Organization, click USCA Math Placement Test. Carefully read all instructions on the Announcement page before beginning the test.

Take Me To The Mathematics Placement Test

What does my score mean?

USCA Math Placement Test Score Interpretation on SSC

Students with MPT Code 4 whose major requires MATH A141 (Calculus I) should also take Trigonometry Test.