Q. What are the Math Placement Exams?
A. They consist of 3 exams, 20 questions each.  One exam covers the topic algebra, one covers trigonometry, and the third covers calculus.  Students are allowed 40 minutes to complete the online placements exams.  Calculators are not allowed.  Sample exams are posted at http://www.eng.iastate.edu/orientation/placement/

• To pass the algebra exam, you need to answer 16 out of the 20 questions correctly.
• To pass the trigonometry exam, you need to answer 9 out of the 20 questions correctly.
• To pass the calculus exam, you need to answer 12 out of the 20 questions correctly.

Q. Who takes the Math Placement Exams?
A. All new students to the College of Engineering at Iowa State University will be required to take the Math Placement Exams. 

Q. When and where do I take the Math Placement Exams?
A. You will take your placement exams online at Onlinemathplacement exams prior to June orientation.  Even if you can’t make it to June orientation, please complete your Math Placement Exams so you can be appropriately placed into classes.

Q. What do I do if I don’t complete my placement exams in June?
A. You will still need to take your Math Placement Exams online at Onlinemathplacement exams prior to the August orientation day.

Q. What do I do once I have finished taking my Math Placement Exams?
A.  When you have finished taking your exams, your results are downloaded automatically and will be available when you come to campus for orientation.

Q. Which Math Placement Exams do I take?
A. If you have never had calculus, you should take the algebra and trigonometry exams.  If you have had at least one semester of calculus, you should take the trigonometry and calculus exams. 

Q. I didn’t take any trigonometry or calculus in high school.  Will I still have to take any placement exams?
A. Yes. You will take the algebra placement exam only.

Q. If I intend to go directly into Calculus I, do I have to take any placement exams?
A. Yes. The trigonometry exam is required even if you intend to start out in Calculus I.

Q. Can I pass out of Calculus I if I pass the calculus placement exam, even though I didn’t take calculus in high school?
A. No.  If you didn’t take calculus in high school, you cannot take the calculus placement exam.  Therefore, you cannot pass out of Calculus I at Iowa State University.

Q. How do I prepare for my Math Placement Exams?
A. After determining which Math Placement Exams you will take, complete the practice tests for those areas before taking the actual Math Placement Exams.

Q. How much time is allowed for each exam?
A. You will have 40 minutes for each exam.  Additional time should be allowed to take the practice tests before completing the actual placement exams.

Q. May I use a calculator to take my placement exams?
A. No calculators are permitted while taking the placement exams.

Q. If I don’t do well on my placement exams, may I retake it?
A. No.  Placement exams may be taken only one time.  To ensure that you do your best, please take the practice tests prior to taking the actual placement exam.

Q. If I have Advanced Placement (AP) credits, do I have to take any placement exams?
A. Yes.  You will still need to take the placement exams to show your math proficiency.

Q. When will my Advanced Placement scores be received by Iowa State University if I have requested them to be sent?
A. If you take an AP exam during your senior year and request that it be sent to Iowa State University, we will receive your scores in July.  Once you receive your scores, contact your academic advisor at Iowa State University to discuss your options for courses to take.

Q. What Advanced Placement scores do you accept for math?
A. For Calculus I credit, you need a 3 or better on the Calculus AB or BC exam.  For credit in both Calculus I and Calculus II, a 4 or better on the Calculus BC exam is required.  Advanced Placement credit will supersede the results of the placement exams.

Q. What if I plan to transfer in college math credits, do I have to take any placement exams?
A. Yes. You will still need to take the placement exams to show your math proficiency.  However, college transfer credits will supersede the results of the placement exams.

Q. I have college transfer credit for trigonometry.  Will I need to take any placement exams?
A. Yes, please take the trigonometry placement exam. If you have taken calculus, you should also take the calculus placement exam, even if you already intend to start out in Calculus I. 

Q. I have college transfer credit for trigonometry and Calculus I.  Will I need to take any placement exams?
A. Yes, please take the trigonometry and calculus placement exams.

Q. I have college transfer credit for Calculus I and Calculus II.  Will I have to take any placement exams?
Yes, you will still need to take the trigonometry and the calculus placement exams.

Q. What do my Math Placement Exam scores mean?
A. If you pass a placement exam in one area, you will be placed into the next math level at the time of your registration for classes.  If you do not pass one of the placement exams, you will be required to take that math course while in college.

Q. What scores do I need to pass each placement exam and move to the next math level?
A. You need to answer correctly 16 out of 20 questions to pass the algebra exam,  9 out of 20 questions to move out of trigonometry, and a 12 out of 20 to pass the calculus I exam.

Q. If I didn’t do well on my placement exams and now have to take a math course, do I have to take the class at Iowa State University?
A. No. You may take the equivalent math course at another college and transfer the credits to Iowa State University.  Please first check with the Office of Admissions to ensure that the course will transfer in as the one required at Iowa State University.  Students often choose to take the transfer course in the summer prior to starting at Iowa State University.

Q. If I didn’t do well on my trigonometry placement exam and have to take a trigonometry class now, will this put me behind in my required math sequence?
A. Trigonometry and Calculus I can be taken concurrently during the same semester.

Q. If I don’t do well on my placement exams and thus I will be required to take an algebra or trigonometry class, will these credits count towards my engineering degree at Iowa State University?
A. No. Algebra and trigonometry courses will not count towards your degree.  Only Calculus I and Calculus II classes may be applied to your engineering degree.