Since it is difficult to organize questions into precise categories, be sure to look through all categories below.

Questions about the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test

General

I am not sure about my major. Should I just wait to start my math course?

Waiting for longer than one semester is not a good idea. Generally, should should try to determine if you are interested in a major that requires calculus, or not. See  math course and placement test recommendations for a general list of math requirements. Be sure to discuss the options with your academic advisor. After a year or more without math, how will you do on the Math Placement Test? Will you still obtain a placement level necessary for the math courses required by your major?

I didn't have to take math at my previous school. It has been a long time since I've had math. What should I do?

You definitely should talk to your academic advisor about your program's requirements. Likely you will need to take the Math Placement Test, and the resulting placement may indicate that your skills have dropped significantly.  Many student need a review course or some review before taking the Math requirement for their major.

I want to take a summer math course at another college to obtain UA credit and/or improve my UA math placement. What do I need to do?

Outside courses might be approved for UA credit, and the UA credit in turn might be usable for math placement. Please see our page on college transfer credits. (And please pay close attention to the instructions for pre-approval, if the course is to be taken outside Arizona.)

Registering for courses

If I wait until classes start, can I ask a math instructor to sign me into a course?

First off, note that instructors cannot waive math placement requirements. The best way to register for a math class is via web registration. Seats in math courses often become available during the first week of classes, and those seats will show up in the web registration system.

I have met the prerequisite/placement requirements, yet am unable to register. What's going on?

All incoming freshmen must take the placement test and place appropriately in order to take UA math classes.  Transfer students, or students who have already tested may be able to use recent math transfer course work for placement into UA math.

If you are trying to register for a course at or below the Calculus I (Math 124 or 125) level, you must have completed the prerequisite within the last 3 semesters, or you may need to take the Math Placement Test. Contact the placement office for more information.

I am currently enrolled in a math course at Pima Community College. Will I be able to pre-register for the next math course at the UA?

No. In order to be eligible for the next math course, we must verify a passing grade of C or better. Bring or fax an unofficial transcript to the Math Department room 108 as soon as possible (fax 520 621 8322). Include your UA SID on any fax.

I am currently enrolled in a math course at another college. Will I be able to pre-register for the next math course at the UA?

All freshmen must test.   

Unfortunately, transfer course work must be completed in order to be used for placement.

I want to take a course below the level of a course I have already completed. Can I do that?

Students are not allowed to register for courses that serve as prerequisites of courses they have already successfully completed. Exceptions must be approved by the Math Placement Coordinator. (Note that MATH 105, 160, and 263 do not serve as prerequisites and thus do not fall under this rule.)

Can I take a course at a level lower than the one I am eligible to take?

In general, you may take courses at a lower level (but for a restriction, see the answer to the previous question). There are several reasons why you might choose to do this: you may feel more comfortable with a lower course, or you may want to get a stronger foundation before moving on, or perhaps the lower course is the only requirement for your major. However, be cautious when choosing a course that might be too easy. To do well in a course, it must challenge you sufficiently to at least maintain your interest. Be sure to discuss your choice with your academic advisor.

Placement process (in general)

If I don't place into a UA math course, I'm just going to wait and start my math at another college next summer. Is this a good idea?

Although there are several issues to consider here, waiting is seldom a good idea. Some of the impact of delaying your math is explained elsewhere, and your academic advisor can discuss the impact to your particular program. Furthermore, your academic advisor may suggest other options you have not considered. However, if you do decide to take a summer math course, make sure you get it approved through the Math Department.

If I don't place into the course I want, can I sign something that allows me to take that course at my own risk?

No. But you should discuss your options with your academic advisor. If you have college level math transfer credits, talk to a math advisor, even if your placement test score is low.

I have taken a college math course at another college since I took the Math Placement Test (or otherwise obtained UA math placement). I need to take more math. What should I do?

You need to have the credits transferred to the UA, which (for courses taken outside Arizona) may involve a course evaluation. Once the credits appear on your UA record, or if you are not able to register for a course based on your transfer credit, please request a review of your record.

My major allows me to take PHIL 110 to satisfy my math requirement. Do I need to obtain math placement (e.g., take the Math Placement Test) to be eligible for this course even though it is not taught in the Mathematics Department?

PHIL 110 does not have a math placement requirement. However, most students who can take this course also have the option of taking Math 105 or other math courses. The placement test is recommended, so students have more options.

I am behind in my program and I do not have time to take prerequisite courses. Can't I just take what is required for my major?

Even if you are behind, to take the course required by your major, you must satisfy the prerequisites or placement test score. You might be able to meet the prerequisites via transfer or testing credits, and your math placement may improve by repeating the Math Placement Test. If you are unsure how to proceed, be sure to discuss your options with your academic advisor.

I need to graduate next semester. If I can't take my math course, I won't be able to graduate. What can I do?

You must still satisfy the prerequisite and placement requirements. Please see the answer to the previous question.

I have already taken all the high school math requirements for admission to the UA. Shouldn't I naturally continue to the next level of math?

Not necessarily. There are many factors to consider. Not all courses are equivalent from school to school, and quite often, grades are not a clear indicator of knowledge gained in a course. Some students retain skills better than others, which can greatly affect performance in subsequent courses. Our placement process examines your current skills to determine which UA MATH courses are appropriate for you. Many students find that they need to review.

If I am placed into a course, does that mean I am guaranteed to pass it?

Placement does not guarantee a passing grade. When our placement process determines a placement level for you, we are saying that you may have sufficient background knowledge to be able to succeed in the courses at that level, but you must still attend class, participate, study, and otherwise keep up with the course and material. In failing to realize the extra demands of courses at the university level, some students take on too much work their first semester and then are unable to keep up.

My degree program requires that I start with a particular math course. What if I place lower than that? Does that mean I can't graduate in 4 years?

Whether you can graduate in 4 years depends both on your major and your particular math placement test score—many students do not place directly into their required math course, yet are able to graduate in 4 years. For example, your academic advisor may help you develop an alternate schedule, in which some of your electives or general education courses are reordered. You might also catch up with credits from a CLEP test or a summer course. The most important thing is to discuss your options with your academic advisor, instead of simply delaying your math.

What if I already have transfer college credit for the course I place into? Will I have to take that course again?

You can only take courses at or below your placement level. If you believe your transfer credit was not taken into account in determining your placement, please contact the Math Placement Office. Make sure you first read through the math.arizona.edu/academics/placement/credits

(Only recent transfer credit is used for placement.) If you feel comfortable with the material in the course in question, then taking the Math Placement Test should lead to an improved placement. But if you are unable to improve your placement, you may have to take the course again. Be sure to discuss your options with your academic advisor.

I did not satisfy the 4 units of math required for admissions to the UA. Will that affect my placement or course selection?

Students might be admitted without satisfying the 4 unit math requirement. (This should not be confused with taking 4 years of math in high school. Some students can take math every year in high school but the UA might only count the course work as 3 or 3 1/2 units. Some students may be admitted based on 4 units of math, but choose to withdraw from math or fail to receive a passing grade during their final semester.) Students who have not completed the 4 unit requirement typically do not place as well on the Math Placement Test, and thus may be required to take some non-university math before being able to obtain a math placement code that makes them eligible for UA MATH courses. However, if your placement code indicates eligibility for UA courses, then you are indeed eligible, regardless of whether you satisfied the 4 unit admissions requirement.

Do I have to wait until I receive my AP scores to register for my math course?

Since AP scores are generally available in late July, taking the placement test will allow students to meet the eligibility requirements for a course prior to receiving the AP scores. During New Student Orientation you can discuss your AP tests with the Math Placement Coordinator, or if you don't attend orientation, you can contact the Math Placement Coordinator to discuss the AP tests.

Incoming freshmen student must take the placement test and should talk to an advisor at orientation. Freshmen may be eligible for honors math courses based on AP results.

When AP scores become available, we will try to email students who are in the wrong course.

My major requires MATH 125, but what if I only place into MATH 124. Is that a problem

No. Although some degree program material merely lists MATH 125 as the requirement, in reality MATH 124 and MATH 125 satisfy the same requirement, so taking MATH 124 instead of MATH 125 is not a problem. The standard Calculus I course is MATH 124, and MATH 125 is simply the accelerated version of that course. Students must score extremely well on the Math Placement Test to become eligible for MATH 125. Students from both courses continue into MATH 129 (Calculus II), if their program requires another semester of calculus.

If I place into several courses, should I just register for the highest one? Which one should I take?

You should always consult your academic advisor if you have questions about which math course to take. For example, the higher numbered course may not satisfy your math requirement. Say your math placement test score makes you eligible for MATH 111 and MATH 112, and you simply choose the first one. Since MATH 111 carries 2 units instead of 3, it may not complete your math requirement for graduation. Or you may later run into trouble if your major requires a course that has MATH 112 as a prerequisite. Because the Mathematics Department has many courses with overlapping tracks, it is difficult to create a simple numbering system. Consequently, in deciding which course to take, you should always consult your academic advisor.

I took a placement test at my other college. Can I use those results for placement at the UA?

We use recent college level math credits to determine your math placement, but we do not consider results from placement tests at other institutions. Although another test might include topics similar to those on our Math Placement Test, the scoring and resulting placement process is unique to each institution. Past experience shows that we are unable to consistently determine an appropriate UA MATH course from an outside placement tests, and consequently we do not take such tests into consideration.

I just want to repeat my last math course. Do I need a placement?

If your last math course was at the UA (and you withdrew, or wish to engage in a grade replacement), you generally should still be able to register for that course; however, if too much time has elapsed, then you may need to retake the Math Placement Test (even if you already took it in the past). If you are being prevented from registering yet believe you meet the requirements, you may request a review of your record. UA Math Placement test scores are good for one year.

If your last math course was taken elsewhere, then you must engage in our placement process prior to taking a course (even one with similar content) here at the UA. For example, you can transfer the credits from the outside course, or take the Math Placement Test.

Placement process (Math Placement Test specific)

I took the UA Math Placement Test back when I was a freshman, but I have not yet taken any math courses. Do I need to take the Math Placement Test again?

The Math Placement Test results are only valid for one year. There may be other factors that determine a placement code, but most of those also expire over time. You probably need to take the test again.

I have a high Math SAT or ACT score. Will this place me into UA math?

SAT and ACT scores are not used for placement into UA Math courses. 

I took the Math Placement Test when I first came to the UA. Can I take it again?

Yes. Please see our Math Placement Test page.

Why do we have to take the Math Placement Test? If I fail a math class, isn't that my responsibility?

Students' backgrounds are incredibly varied and in general students will not have the experience to judge the level of difficulty of university courses. In order for faculty to maintain the standards determined by their departments, they must rely on a certain level of preparation on the part of their students. The presence of unprepared students negatively affects the entire class, not just that one particular student. We use the Math Placement Test, to determine whether you have the necessary level of preparation for certain courses.

What if I choose one of the Math Placement Tests and quickly find that I should have chosen the other one?

Unfortunately, if you take the wrong test and do not place high enough, you will have to re-test and pay a $20 testing fee. It is the student's responsibility to determine the correct test to take. Prep for Calculus is for students who want to take Calculus (Math 124), or who have Calculus as a requirement for their major. If Calculus is not a requirement for your major and you have no interest in taking it, then the Prep for College Algebra Test is recommended. (In general, compare the topics and try to choose the appropriate test ahead of time.)

I plan to take all my math courses somewhere else. Do I need to take the Math Placement Test?

The Math Placement Test is required for all incoming freshmen. Students often change their mind or change majors, and need to register for a course that requires placement. The Math Placement Test is only necessary if you want to take courses at the UA at or below the Calculus I level. Note that this may include some of your science courses.

If I score high enough on the Math Placement Test, do I even have to take any math at the UA?

The Math Placement Test will only determine which courses you are ready to take. It does not grant credit for any courses. Students who can take PHIL 110 or MATH 105 for their major, have a G-strand option that can be satisfied through a proctored placement test.

I satisfied the math requirements for my UA degree while I attended my previous school. Do I still need to take the Math Placement Test?

If you do not plan to take any more UA courses that require a placement test or prerequisite, then you do not need to take the Math Placement Test. Be sure that you have really satisfied the UA requirements—you should probably discuss this with your academic advisor. Some students will incorrectly assume that the requirements from their previous school are the same as those at the UA. If more math is required at the UA, the Math Placement Test might be needed. Freshmen need to take the Math Placement Test.

I won't have time to take the Math Placement Test one week before my orientation or registration day. Can I pre-register for my math course and promise to take the Math Placement Test later?

Unless you have recent college level math transfer credits, you will not be able to register. You may need to take the Math Placement Test to obtain the necessary placement code.