UD Math Placement Program

Who are required to take the Math Placement Exam?

You are required to take the Math Placement Exam unless you meet any of the criteria below by the due date:

• Received a score of 5 on the AP Calculus AP or BC exam, or
• Received a score of 4 or higher on an IB mathematics exam, or
• Received the minimum score required on a CLEP mathematics exam to earn UD credit, or
• Received transfer credit for any UD MATH course other than 166DE, or 266DE (taken at another institution, dual enrollment, etc.)

How can I verify if the class I took as d​ual enrollment or at another institution will transfer?

You can start by verifying if the class you took is already on the Transfer Credit Matrix. If the class is not currently on the matrix, you can request to have it evaluated by sending it to a UD academic department.

Will the class I am tra​​nsferring satisfy my major's requirement?

Please keep in mind that the information provided below is only general information. The Mathematical Sciences Department cannot advise on your specific major. You should always discuss your options with your advisor before making a decision.​

You can look up you major's requirement by using the Undergraduate Catalog. The math class you need to complete to graduate will be listed under the college requirements. If the class you are transferring does not satisfy your major's requirement, you will need to discuss your options with your academic advisor.​

If your answer is YES -- your transferred math course satisfies your major requirement, then you do not need to take any math courses at UD, and therefore do not need to take the Math Placement Exam. However, you are still encouraged to take the Math Placement Exam to prepare for the possibility of changing majors.​

I have transferred a course from another institution. Do I need to take another math class at the University of Delaware? Should I complete the math placement exam?​

Please keep in mind that the information provided below is only general information. The Mathematical Sciences Department cannot advise on your specific major. You should always discuss your options with your advisor before making a decision.

If your transferred math course satisfies your major requirement (see Undergraduate Catalog), then you do not need to take any math courses at UD, and therefore do not need to take the Math Placement Exam. Otherwise, check the math foundational course sequence and determine if your transferred math course is the pre-requisite of the course required.· If your transferred math course IS pre-requisite of the course required, then you may enroll in the required course directly, and you do not need to take the Math Placement Exam.Note: Transfer credit for Math 114 counts as completion of Math 010. Transfer credit for Math 113 does NOT count as completion of Math 010. If your transferred math course is NOT the pre-requisite of the course required, then you should take the Math Placement Exam to see if you are placed into the desired course or a pre-requisite course. See the placement scores required for each course.

The table below shows the course sequence required for each foundational math course.

Example: My major requires Math 221, and my course transfers as Math 113.You should take the Math Placement Exam. If you score at least 70 (the score required to take Math 221), then you may take Math 221 directly. If you score at least 60 (the score required to take Math 115), then you need to take Math 115 first, and then Math 221. If you score less than 60, then you need to take Math 010, then Math 115, then Math 221.​

Why d​​o​es it matter to complete the Math Placement Exam by the due date?

New Student Orientation (NSO) takes place at the end of June. Your advisor needs to know your Math Placement Exam score to place you into the correct math course. If your advisor cannot place you into a math course during the NSO, then you are not guaranteed a seat in the math class you need. This is why we recommend that you complete the assessment as soon as possible. End of year for seniors becomes hectic and it might be difficult to fit an exam in a busy schedule.

Can I still take t​​he Math Placement Exam after the deadline?

Yes. Your Math Placement Exam access remains active after the deadline. We will accept score until the beginning of class but cannot guarantee your preferred seat.

What happens​​ if I complete my attempts after the deadline?

We will still accept your results. However, certain majors require a math class as a co requisite to one of their core classes so delaying your placement might have consequences on your enrollment in these important classes. Completing your math placement as soon as possible will ensure that your advisor will have all the information necessary to complete your schedule at your appointment. Waiting too long might also mean you will not get your preferred schedule as seats become unavailable.

I have taken pre-calculus / calculus in high school. Do I still need to take any m​​ath classes at UD?

High school course curricula are not standardized, making it difficult to determine what math skills have been learned. Unless the math courses or tests you take is recognized by UD as college-level (e.g. AP Calculus exam, transfer credit, dual enrollment, and so on; more detail at the UD Transfer and Test Credit page), you will need to take math classes at UD to graduate, except a few majors. To enroll in any math classes at UD, you must take the Math Placement Exam first.

I am taking the AP Calculus exam this year but I will not receive the score until July. Do I have to take the Math Placement Exam by th​e due date?

Yes. The New Student Orientation (NSO) takes places at the end of June, before you receive the AP Calculus score. Therefore, your advisor can only place you into a math course during the NSO if you have a Math Placement Exam score.

I am a transf​er student and I have taken a math course in my previous institution. Do I have to take the Math Placement Exam?

If you can successfully transfer your math course to a UD MATH course (other than 010, 166, and 266) by the due date, then you do not have to take the Math Placement Exam.​

What is the format​​ of the Exam?

The Math Placement Exam covers many major areas of high-school mathematics, such as algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, and trigonometry. The Exam is administered on computer using an artificially intelligent program called ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces). You must schedule an appointment to take the exam in-person at a Testing Center. You will be allowed a maximum of 3 hours to complete the exam. The Exam is closed-book, meaning you may not use any notes or outside resources.

At which Test​ing Center should I need to take the exam?

People living within 30 miles of a designated Testing Center will need to schedule an appointment to take the test in person with a proctor. Our Testing Centers are located in Newark, Dover, and Georgetown. People who do not fall within range of a Testing Center will need to schedule their exam with ProctorU, an online proctoring program available 24/7. The Testing Center will not be able to schedule exams between May 6th and May 22nd 2023. Please keep these dates in mind when you plan for your exam.​

If you are taking the exam via ProctorU, we strongly suggest watching the video available once you access the portal as it will demonstrate exactly what to expect from a ProctorU session.

How do I schedule an appointme​​nt to take the exam?

You should have received specific information on how to schedule your Math Placement Exam depending on your location. This information was included in the email you received to inform you of the Math Placement Exam and the subsequent reminders.

Can I still take the Math Placement Exam after the deadline?

Yes. Your Math Placement Exam access remains active after the deadline. We will accept score until the beginning of class but cannot guarantee your preferred seat. If you are not going to be able to complete all the attempts needed before the deadline, please make sure to have them completed before you meet with your advisor at your new student orientation meeting.​

What can I do to get ready for the t​est?

There is no preparation module or revision material available through ALEKS to help you prepare for your first attempt. You can find some resources online, but the Mathematical Sciences Department does not endorse any of them.

If you have been assigned to take the test through ProctorU, we STRONGLY suggest watching the YouTube video available as you enter the portal. The video demonstrates a complete proctoring session and lists the steps to prepare for the proctoring session. You can also run a test on your equipment to verify that it will support the proctoring program. Please be aware that you will need to use either the Firefox or Chrome browsers to take the exam as ProctorU does not support other browsers. Chromebooks are also not supported by ProctorU for live proctoring.​

Will I have access to ​​a calculator for the Math Placement Exam?

ALEKS will make a calculator available when the question requires it. It will not be available at all times. The goal of the assessment is to ascertain your mathematical skills which include the ability to do math operations without the assistance of a calculator.​

How many at​​tempts do I have on the Math Placement Exam?

Every student has three attempts. The highest score of the three attempts will count. See the next part on this page to understand how you can attempt the exam a second and a third time after the first attempt.

Who do I contact if I am allowed exam accommodation du​​e to a disability?

Please contact Disability Support Services (dssoffice@udel.edu) if you need a reasonable exam accommodation. Disability Support Services (DSS) provides services to individuals with disabilities to ensure accessibility to university classes and programs.​

Can I enroll in a math course that requires a Placement score higher than my sc​ore?

No. This prevents you from enrolling in a math course that you do not have a chance to succeed. You should utilize up to three attempts (and the Prep and Learning Module) to improve the Placement score.

Can I enroll in a math course that requires a Placement score lower than ​​​​​my score?

Yes. For example, if your Placement score is 70, then the highest-level math course you can enroll in is Math 221 (Calculus 1), but you can still enroll in Math 114 which only requires a Placement score of 45.

How can I access Aleks to complete the revision module?

You can access Aleks through the original link you use to complete the test on your first attempt. Here is the link for your convenience: Math Placement Exam.

See specific instructions on how to access the revision module​.

In the Prep and Learning Module, I was asked to choose between “Prep for Pre-calculus" and “Prep for Calculus". Which one should I choo​se?

If your goal is to enroll in a pre-calculus class (Math 115 or 117) or lower, then you should choose “Prep for Pre-calculus". If your goal is to enroll in a calculus class (Math 221 or 241), then you should choose “Prep for Calculus". NOTE: Once you made the choice, you cannot change it! ​

If there is a que​stion about placement, should the student call or should the parents call?

​The student should call.

How much does the M​​ath Placement Exam cost?

There is no cost if you are an incoming student. Otherwise, your cost depends on your student status. If you wish to take the Math Placement Exam after your first year at UD, you may have to pay a fee of $25. If you are a non-traditional or continuing education student, you will have to pay this fee.

UD also covers the cost for ProctorU but if you decide to choose the “Take now” option, there is a $12 convenience fee that you will have to pay yourself.​