Overview of Mathematics Placement

In order for students to successfully complete mathematics classes, having the right background knowledge before beginning the class is essential. The Mathematics Department groups introductory and lower level classes into four placement levels corresponding to different amounts of background material students need to have mastered before taking a class. A student’s placement level needs to be determined before they will be able to enroll in an introductory or lower level math class. Placement levels may be determined any of three ways:

i. provisional placement on admission,

ii. college credit for prerequisite courses, or

iii. an ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score.

Based on high school class rank and standardized test scores, new freshmen are provisionally placed in a default placement level when they are admitted to UNT. New freshmen wishing to enroll in a math class at a higher level than their provisional placement may do so by taking the ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test and receiving an appropriate placement score.

Years of experience have shown that placement test scores are not a valid indicator of a student’s success in a math class if the test is taken too long before the student takes the class. Mathematics Department provisional placement is valid for two long semesters after admission and the department only accepts ACCUPLACER scores that are less than twelve months old. Students who have gone a year or more without taking a math class and do not have college credit for prerequisite courses must take the ACCUPLACER College-level Placement test to determine the right placement level.

The courses in each placement level and the specific criteria for placement in each level are given below. Students who do not meet any of the placement criteria may either enroll in Math 1010 Fundamentals of Algebra, or the UNT Program for Academic Readiness will work with the students to determine the appropriate developmental math class.

Placement Level 0

Placement Level 0 includes Math 1580.90x Survey of Mathematics (three hour course plus one hour supplement), and Math 1680.90x Elementary Statistics (three hour course plus one hour supplement).

i. On admission, students do not meet the criteria for provisional placement in level 1, 2, or 3 and have

· a THEA Math score at least 230 or

· an SAT Math score at least 500 or

· an ACT Math score at least 19 or

· a TAKS Math score at least 2200

will be provisionally placed in level 0.

ii. There are no course prerequisites for placement in level 0.

iii. There is no minimum ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics score required for placement in level 0.

Placement Level 1

Placement Level 1 includes Math 1100 College Algebra, Math 1580 Survey of Mathematics, and Math 1680 Elementary Statistics.

i. On admission, students are provisionally placed into level 1 in one of two ways:

a. Students who have a THEA Math score of 270 or higher and who do not meet the criteria for provisional placement in level 2 or 3 will be provisionally placed in level 1.

b. Students who have no THEA Math score or a THEA Math score of less than 270 will be placed in level 1 if they meet one of the following criteria:

· Class rank 85th percentile or higher and

a. SAT Math score 500-580 or

b. ACT Math score 20-25

· Class rank 80th to 84th percentile and

a. SAT Math score 530-630 or

b. ACT Math score 22-28

· Class rank 79th percentile or lower and

a. SAT Math score 560-630 or

b. ACT Math score 24-26

ii. College credit for the following courses, passed with a C or better, will be accepted for placement into level 1:

· Math 1010 Intermediate Algebra at UNT

· A course that is equivalent to Math 1100 College Algebra

iii. Students who have taken the ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test within twelve months of enrolling in a math class at UNT and scored between 63 and 85 will be placed in level 1.

Placement Level 2

Placement Level 2 includes Math 1190 Business Calculus, Math 1350 Math for Elementary Education, Math 1400 College Math with Calculus, Math 1600, and Math 1650 Pre-Calculus.

i. On admission, students are provisionally placed into level 2 if they meet one of the following criteria:

· Class rank 85th percentile or higher and

a. SAT Math score 590-800 or

b. ACT Math score 26-36

· Class rank 84th percentile or lower and

a. SAT Math score 640-800 or

b. ACT Math score 28-36

ii. College credit for Math 1100 College Algebra, or an equivalent course, passed with a C or better, is needed for placement into level 2.

iii. Students who have taken the ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test within twelve months of enrolling in a math class at UNT and scored between 86 and 100 will be placed in level 2.

Placement Level 3

Placement Level 3 includes Math 1710 Calculus I.

i. On admission, students are provisionally placed into level 3 if they meet one of the following criteria:

· Class rank 85th percentile or higher and ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score 81 or higher

· Class rank 80th to 84th percentile and ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score 91 or higher

· Class rank 79th percentile or lower and ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score 101 or higher

ii. College credit for Math 1650 Pre-Calculus, or an equivalent course, passed with a C or better, is needed for placement into level 3.

iii. Students who have taken the ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test within twelve months of enrolling in a math class at UNT and scored 101 or higher will be placed in level 3.

Summary of Math Placement Details by Level

Students who do not meet any of the placement criteria below will be placed in Math 1010 or an appropriate developmental mathematics course.

Placement Level 0 – Math 1580.90x, Math 1680.90x

· Provisional placement on admission - students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. THEA Math score 230 or higher or

2. SAT Math score at least 500 or higher or

3. ACT Math score at least 19 or higher or

4. TAKS Math score 2200 or higher.

Placement Level 1 – Math 1100, Math 1580, Math 1680

· Provisional placement on admission - students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. Class rank 85th percentile or higher and

a. SAT Math score 500-580 or

b. ACT Math score 20-25

2. Class rank 80th to 84th percentile and

a. SAT Math score 530-630 or

b. ACT Math score 22-28

3. Class rank 79th percentile or lower and

a. SAT Math score 560-630 or

b. ACT Math score 24-26

4. THEA Math score 270 or higher

· Or:

1. College credit for a prerequisite course, or

2. ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score 63-85 taken within the last twelve months.

Placement Level 2 - Math 1190, Math 1350, Math 1400, Math 1600, Math 1650

· Provisional placement on admission - students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. Class rank 85th percentile or higher and

a. SAT Math score 590-800 or

b. ACT Math score 26-36

2. Class rank 84th percentile or lower and

a. SAT Math score 640-800 or

b. ACT Math score 28-36

· Or:

1. College credit for a prerequisite course, or

2. ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score 86-100 taken within the last twelve months.

Placement Level 3 – Math 1710

· Provisional placement on admission - students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. Class rank 85th percentile or higher and ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score 81 or higher, or

2. Class rank 80th to 85th percentile and ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score 91 or higher, or

3. Class rank 80th percentile or lower and ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score 101 or higher

· Or:

1. College credit for a prerequisite course, or

2. ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test score 101 or higher taken within the last twelve months.

(6/13/2009 jmd)