Why is the Mathematics Pre-Requisite System So

Complicated?

Who needs to be placed?

Placement Test Takers New Students

With College Math CreditStudents With UWM Math Courses

AP/IB/CLEP ETC UW System/Tech System Other Schools

UWM Courses Up through GER

Math 090Pre-Algebra, Some Geometry

Math 095Beginning Algebra,

Math 175 Math forElementary School Teachers I

Math 105Intermediate Algebra

Math 106Not a Pre-Req for any course

Math 176 Math forElementary School Teachers II

Some, but not all,Math Focus Courses

Main Lineto Most Courses

Math Placement Levels

Placement into Mathematics Courses is determined in two ways:

1) Result of UW System Placement Test

2) Results of Previous Course Work

Placement Levels indicate preparation in arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry

Current Placement Levels

• Placement Level A+

• Placement Level A

• Placement Level AB

• Placement Level B

• Placement Level C

• Placement Level D

• No Placement

Distribution of Students among Placement Levels

26%

42%

21%

5%3%3%

None or D CB ABA A+

90, 95

105, 106,175

This is based on 3708 freshman admitted in Fall 2003.

Placement Levels for CoursesNONE D C B AB A A+

MATH 090 YES MAYBE NO NO NO NO NO

MATH 095 NO YES MAYBE NO NO NO NO

MATH 105 NO NO YES MAYBE MAYBE NO NO

MATH 106 NO NO YES YES YES YES YES

MATH 116 NO NO NO YES YES MAYBE NO

MATH 117 NO NO NO YES YES MAYBE MAYBE

MATH 175 NO NO YES YES YES YES YES

MATH 205 NO NO NO YES YES YES YES

MATH 211

NO NO NO YES YES MAYBE MAYBE

MATH 214 NO NO NO YES YES YES YES

MATH 221 NO NO NO NO NO NO YES

MATH 225/227 NO NO NO NO YES MAYBE NO

MATH 231/228 NO NO NO NO NO YES YES

MATH 305 NO NO NO YES YES YES YES

MATH 341 NO NO NO NO NO YES YES

MTHSTAT 215 NO NO NO YES YES YES YES

Placement Level A+This is the highest placement level. It is primarily

used to determine placement into Honors Calculus (Math 221) and is demonstrated by any of the following:

1) A Placement Test Code of 452) A Placement Test Code of 40 and a score of 30

or higher on the Math Portion of the ACT3) Credit for Math 231 by the AP or IB exams4) A grade of A- or higher in both Math 116 and

Math 117 (including transfer equivalents).

Placement Level AThis is used primarily to determine placement in Math 231 and

Math 341 and is demonstrated by any of the following:1) A Placement Test Code of 402) Credit for Math 231 by the AP or IB exams3) A grade of C or higher in both Math 116 and Math 117

(including transfer equivalents). Note that Math 117 is not a co-requisite for Math 231!

4) A Placement Test Code of 35 and a C or better in Math 1175) A Placement Test Code of 36 and a C or better in either

Math 116 or Math 2116) A grade of C or better in Math 211 and a grade of C or

better in Math 117. Note that Math 211 by itself is not sufficient for placement into Math 231!

Placement Level ABThis is used only to determine placement into Math 225.

Since Math 225 assumes some familiarity with both trigonometry and advanced algebra, Placement level AB is demonstrated by any of the following:

1) A Placement Test Code of 372) A Placement Test Code of 26 and a B or better in Math

1053) A grade of B or better in Math 105 and a grade in Math

117 of at least D- and not more than C-.

Placement Level BPlacement level B is used to determine placement into many

courses, including Math 116, 117, 205, 211, and MthStat 215. It is also the placement level required for Chem 100 and Econ 210. Placement level B is demonstrated by any of the following:

1) A Placement Test Code of 30, 35 or 36.2) A grade of C or better in Math 105,3) A score of 3 or higher on the AP Statistics Exam.

Students cannot attain Placement Level B by taking either Math 106 or Math 175. They must take Math 105.

Placement Level CPlacement level C is used to determine placement into three

courses: including Math 105, 106, and 175. Placement level C is demonstrated by either of the following:

1) A Placement Test Code of 20 or 26.2) A grade of C or better in Math 095,

Students cannot progress to Placement Level B by taking either Math 106 or Math 175. They must take Math 105.

Placement Level DPlacement level is the pre-requisite for Math 095. Placement

level D is demonstrated by either of the following:1) A Placement Test Code of 10.2) A grade of C or better in Math 090

No Placement LevelNo placement level can be assigned if the a student has a

Placement Code of 00 or no college level mathematics credits. In most cases such students must take Math 090. If they believe that there are exceptional circumstances they should consult with a Math Dept advisor to see if placement into Math 095 is appropriate.

Placement Test Codes

Placement test codes are summaries of the UW System Placement Test Results.

They do not give pre-requisites directly.The current placement codes are:00, 10, 20, 26, 30, 35, 36, 37, 40 and 45.With the exception of the codes 35, 36 and 37,the higher the code, the better prepared is the

student.

Codes 35, 36 and 37

These codes are used to distinguish a student’s level of preparation in advanced algebra and trigonometry.

35 indicates a level of preparation sufficient for Math 231 in all areas except trigonometry

36 indicates a level of preparation sufficient for Math 231 in all areas except advanced algebra

37 indicates some preparation in both trigonometry and in advanced algebra, but not at a level sufficient for Math 231

Placement Level B by Placement Codes

47%

9%

44%

30 35 36

116 and 117

116 only

117 only

Of the 3708 admitted freshman in Fall 2003, 767 had Placement Level B. 44 % of these students would have made placement level A had they scored higher on just the CALG portion of the exam.

Code 26

This code is used to indicate students whose algebrapreparation is sufficient for Math 105, Math 106 and

Math 175, and whose trigonometry preparation is sufficient for Math 225. These students will be eligible for Math 225 if they earn a grade of B or better in Math 105.

Placement Level C by Placement Codes

91%

9%

20 26

Of the 3708 admitted freshman in Fall 2003, 1546 had Placement Level C. 143 of these students had trigonometry test scores consistent with placement level AB, A or A+.

Student Grouping Based on EALG and IALG

EALG < 476, IALG < 495

25%

EALG > 476, IALG < 495

36%

EALG < 476, IALG > 495

1%

EALG > 476, IALG > 495

38%

Placement Codes if EALG > 475 and IALG > 495

516 - 850 26 36 Take 116 only

36Take 116 only

40Take 231

45Take 221

391 - 515 26 30Take 116 and 117

37Take 225

35Take 117 only

35Take 117 only

150 - 390 20 30Take 116 and 117

30Take 116 and 117

35Take 117 only

35Take 117 only

Trig

CAlg

150 - 360

361-415

416-490

491-560

561-850

Please Use Placement Levels

• Placement into Math and MthStat courses is determined by Placement Levels

• Placement Levels are determined by Placement Test Codes and by College Mathematics credits.