Basic Information

The Mathematics Placement Exam is not a pass-fail exam!

The placement exam is online.  You may use any non-graphing calculator on the exam.  The exam has four separately timed parts.  

The placement exam gives a measure of a student's mathematical skills at the time it is taken, and the results are used to advise students on the appropriate mathematics course in which to enroll in order to complete the mathematics requirement for a particular program of study.

The entry-level mathematics courses at UMCP require the permission of the department before students may register.  This is achieved primarily by the results on the Placement exam.  Statistics indicate that the majority of students who enroll in a math course beyond that indicated by the placement exam either withdraw from the course or earn D's or F's.

The entry-level mathematics courses: Math 003, 007, 013, 015, 107, 113, 115, 120, 135, 140, and Stat 100 are placed on a horizontal scale as shown below. Students may register for the course that they place into or any course that is to the left of their placement.

 003   007   013   015   107   113   S100   115   120   135   140

Except for Math 003, 007, 013, 015  any of the courses on the list will serve to satisfy the University's Fundamental Studies Mathematics requirement. Math 003 is a non-credit course which serves as preparation for credit courses, and has a special fee.  Math 007 prepares you for Math 107 and becomes Math 107 after 5 weeks.  The same is true for Math 013 becoming Math 113, and Math 015 becoming Math 115.  These too have a special fee.  Math 107 is an applications course requiring a strong Algebra I background. Math 113 requires a strong Algebra II background and is a preparation for Math 120.  Stat 100 is a noncalculus introduction to probability and statistics. Math 115 is a precalculus course that requires a very strong background in Algebra II and is a preparation for Math 140.  Math 120 is a calculus course for non-science majors.  Math 135 is a calculus course for life science majors.  It too requires a very strong precalculus background like Math 140 obtained by completing Math 115.  Math 140 is a first course in calculus for science and engineering students. 

What happens if a student doesn't place into the course that they need for their course of study? A student may retake the placement exam to improve a placement. However, a student may take the placement exam only once during an academic year semester and is allowed to retake it only once during the summer. Any retake should be preceded by careful review and preparation (see below).

There are also course sequences which will take a student from his/her current mathematical level to the target program of study. There are advisors at orientation to help students plan an appropriate sequence of courses once the placement exam results are available. For instance, suppose a student needs Math 140 for a major but places into Math 107. Since Math 107 is not a preparation for Math 140, the student has several options, including the following: study independently over the summer and retake the placement exam; take Math 003, followed by Math 115 and then Math 140; or take Math 015 and then Math 140. The last type of option, involving the courses Math 007, 013 and 015, is discussed on the Developmental Math Program web page.

How to Prepare for the Exam

The Mathematics Placement Exam consist of 67 questions covering four main areas: arithmetic, algebra I, algebra II, and trigonometry. Topics include: simplification of expressions, exponents, linear equations in one and two variables, slope, systems of equations, inequalities, absolute value, quadratic, cubic, exponential, and logarithmic functions, roots of polynomials, composition of functions, and trigonometric functions.

To prepare for the placement exam, any review of Algebra I and II is helpful.  Other resources are described in the section below on retaking the placement exam.

It is recommended that students take a sample placement exam and review topics when necessary. Only students planning to take Math 140 need to demonstrate knowledge of trigonometry.

Go on to the sample placement exam.

The sample exam is not timed.  The actual exam is.

Preparing to Retake the Math Placement Exam

FACT: You will save at least one semester of taking math by taking the time to do a careful review and placing in a course required for your major.

FACT: Just retaking the Placement Exam is VERY unlikely to place you in your desired math course. Experience has shown that students who do not have a substantial review before retaking the exam seldom change their original placement. A word to the wise ...

REVIEW!         REVIEW!         REVIEW!         REVIEW!

You received four scores from your Placement Exam.

The topics associated with PART I - Arithmetic - are the following:

  • Basic artithmetic oeprations including order of operations
  • Fractions, decimals, percents and ratios
  • Exponents

The topics associated with PART II - Elementary Algebra - are the following:

  • Operations on polynomials, including factoring
  • Linear and quadratic equations in one variable
  • Linear inequalities
  • Systems of first degree equations
  • Functions
  • Graphing of first degree equations, inequalities and functions

Topics associated with PART III - Intermediate Algebra - are all topics in Elementary Algebra plus the following:

  • Absolute value
  • Rational equations
  • Laws of exponents/fractional exponents
  • Formulas - solving for one variable in terms of other variables
  • Composition and inverses of functions
  • Radical expressions/equations
  • Exponential Functions
  • Logarithmic Functions
  • Conic sections

(Mastery of all of the above topics would likely place you into a credited math course.)

Topics from PART IV include the following:

  • Basic Trigonometry
  • Trigonometric Equations
  • Periodic Functions

(Knowledge of these topics is needed for placement in a calculus sequence.)

BOOKS, SOFTWARE, VIDEOS TO USE FOR REVIEW

You have a sense of the topics that you know and the ones that you have forgetten. As you use the following resources, pick the topics you need to review. For example, if you obtain an Elementary or Intermediate Algebra text, go directly to the chapters with the topics you need to review. Similarly, if you use software, videos and web pages you may want to go directly to the portion covering topics you need to review.

You don't need to (and should not try to) use all the resources below. They provide different presentations of the same mathematics, and no matter how many resources you assemble, in the end there is no escaping the work of studying the mathematics. Use what works best for you.

Books:

  • For Elementary Algebra: Schaums Outline Series, College Algebra, Murray, Spiegel and Wagner.
  • For Intermediate Algebra: Schaums Outline Series, College Mathematics, second edition, Ayres and Schmidt.

Check your local library for other elementary and intermediate algebra resources.

Review Courses:

Algebra Brush-up courses may be available at your local high school or community college.

Tutorial web pages:

Search the WEB for Intermediate Algebra Review Material.  Much is free and self-help.  Below are listed just a few. 

The references above are suggestions. A change in your placement will depend primarily on the amount and quality of the review you do.

You may also want to take the sample placement exam. 

The sample exam is not timed.  The actual exam is.

Taking the Math Placement Exam

The next session of the exam will open on October 15, 2024.

Students needing a retake: email name and UID to to be set up.

Follow the link below to take the Mathematics Placement Exam
go.umd.edu/math-place

In order to help students transition to their studies at UMD, the Mathematics Department offers credit-by-exams for MATH 120, 121, 140, 141, 240, 241 and 246.  Credit-by-exam for MATH 212, 213, 214 is offered only to graduate students.  Credit-by-exams are offered only to degree-seeking students at UMD.  Only one CBE may be taken at a time. 

Upcoming Exam Date

The next exam will be held on the following day.  Under special circumstances, exams may also be given during Uniform Finals, if requested.  

  • Friday, January 24, 2025

We do not have the resources to offer credit-by-exams on demand.  Please make sure that you will be available on the date above before applying.

Application and Posting of Grade (Updated September 2023)

You should complete the application at least one week before its scheduled date, to allow for the preparation of the exam (exception: if your orientation is within one week of the CBE, you may apply for the CBE after your orientation).  ABSOLUTELY NO APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE DAY OF THE EXAM.

  1. Complete the Credit-by-Exam application form here: https://www-math.umd.edu/images/undergraduate/Credit_By_Exam_Form_-_Updated.pdf  You must choose regular grading (not P/F) if you want the grade to be applied to your major or minor or general education.
  2. Email (in pdf) the completed application form and proof that you have taken a similar course elsewhere to in the same email for approval.  On the subject heading of the email, please put: MATHxxx CBE - Your UID.  (For security purposes, you no longer need to put your name on the subject heading of the email).  If your application is approved, it will be returned to you so that you may take it to the Bursar's Office in the Lee Building to make the payment (currently $30).  You will be given a receipt by  the Bursar's Office.  You will need to bring a print out of the approved application and the receipt to us on the day of the exam.
  3. Wait for the email updates from regarding additional details.  You should start receiving the updates approximately one (1) week before the exam.  If you do not receive such updates, please contact  to make sure that your application is still in order. 
  4. On the day of the exam, arrive at the front desk of the math building at the check-in time with your payment receipt, your approved CBE application, and your student ID (or driver's license).  Additional documents may be required, and if so, they will be listed in the email.  You will be checked in at the front desk and will be led to the exam site at 11:45 am.
  5. After you have taken the exam, you have the option to not turn it in for grading. If you don't turn in your exam for grading, nothing at all will appear on your official transcript.  If you think you have performed poorly, then you probably don't want to turn the exam in for grading; if you turn it in for grading, you will get a grade.  
  6. After the exam has been graded, you must come to the Undergraduate Math Office and sign a form saying that you either accept or reject the grade.  A grade of "C-" or better must be obtained to establish credit-by-exam.  If you reject the grade, a "W" will be recorded on your transcript.  No course may be attempted more than once using credit-by-exam.
  7. If you do not hear back from us one week after you have taken the CBE, please contact .
  8. If you register to take a CBE and later need to cancel the registration, please kindly provide notice one business day in advance.  There will be no refunds for cancellations or missed exams.

 Approval Criteria

  1. Every application must be approved by the Math Undergraduate Office.  Approval is not guaranteed.  Credit-by-exam is only appropriate when a student has passed a similar, accredited, math course elsewhere -- with a C- or better -- but is unable to transfer the credit to UMD due to some technicality.  In particular, earning a 1, 2, or 3 on the AP disqualifies one from taking the credit-by-exam.  Self-study is not an acceptable form of preparation for the CBE.  In particular, credit-by-exam is not intended to be an option by which a student gets credit for a UMD course by auditing it and then taking the Proficiency Examination.  The Undergraduate Advising Office reserves the right to deny CBE applications which it deems inappropriate. 
  2. Credit-by-Exam may not be taken for courses in which the student has remained registered beyond the Schedule Adjustment Period, even with a transcript notation of "W."
  3. In order to be considered, a student must have: 
    1. a minimum of 12 credit hours completed at UMD;
    2. a minimum GPA of 2.0;
    3. completed all prereqs or the approval of the department chair and the Senior Vice President and Provost.
    4. Note: (3a) and (3b) above may be waived for students in their first semester at UMD.
  4. Credit-by-exam will not be accepted for any part of the final 30 credits without permission of the Senior Vice President and Provost.  With such permission, 6 of the final 30 credits may be by credit-by-exam. 

Preparation

  1. These exams are generally given 12:00-2:00 pm.  A MATH246 exam takes 20 minutes longer (12:00 - 2:20 pm).
  2. MATLAB may appear in MATH240 and MATH241 CBEs.  It will definitely appear in MATH246 CBEs.
  3. Notes, books, calculators, smartphones, etc. are not allowed.
  4. Student are encouraged to review final exams from previous semesters, to prepare and to assess their readiness for the credit-by-exams tests.  Final exams from previous semesters are available at the Mathematics Department's TESTBANK. It is also very wise to check the list of topics for a course in our online syllabi.  
  5. If you require ADA accommodation, you must secure an accommodation letter from the ADS Office on campus. 

Credit

Placement

Advising