How Does Math Placement Work / What Is My Placement?
Placement into the first Math course is based on official academic records, including transferable college credit in math, selected standardized test scores, and overall high school academic performance as reflected by GPA.
There are five basic math placement tiers. Two of these tiers include more than one course format, which differ in unit count and level of instructional support but lead to the same next tier:
Completed First-Year College Calculus
Eligible for MATH 2031, MATH 2263, or MATH 2341 with:
- Credit in MATH 1262, 1263, or 1265, or
- Transferable college credit equivalent to MATH 1262, or 1265
Note: Students with credit in MATH 1265 are not eligible for MATH 2263 due to overlapping content.
Second-Semester Calculus Ready
Eligible for MATH 1263 (2 units) with:
- AP Calculus BC: score of 4 or 5 or
- IB Mathematics – Analysis & Approaches (HL): score of 6 or 7
Eligible for MATH 1262 or MATH 1265 (4 units) with:
- AP Calculus AB or BC: score of 3, 4, or 5
- IB Mathematics – Analysis & Approaches (HL) or Applications & Interpretations (HL): score of 5, 6, or 7, or
- Appropriate transferable college credit in calculus
How these courses fit together:
- MATH 1263 completes the MATH 1261 → MATH 1262 calculus track as a 2-unit bridge course
- MATH 1265 completes the MATH 1264 → MATH 1265 calculus track as a 4-unit second-semester course
- Students continue within their calculus track and do not switch tracks
Calculus Ready
Eligible for MATH 1261, MATH 1264, or MATH 1267 with:
- SAT Math: score of 620 or higher
- ACT Math: score of 26 or higher
- CAASPP / EAP Math: Level 4 (Standard Exceeded)
- AP Precalculus: score of 3, 4, or 5
- Precalculus Math Placement Exam (MAPE): calculus-ready result, or
- Appropriate transferable college credit in Precalculus
Notes:
- MATH 1267 is open to students with credit in MATH 1004, 1005, 1006, or 1007
- MATH 1261 and MATH 1264 require credit in MATH 1005 or 1007
Precalculus / College Algebra Ready
Eligible for MATH 1006, or MATH 1007 with:
- SAT Math: score of 570 to 610
- ACT Math: score of 23 to 25, or
- Intermediate Algebra Math Placement Exam (MAPE): Precalculus-ready result
Eligible for MATH 1001, MATH 1004 or MATH 1005 with:
- AP Statistics: score of 3, 4 or 5
- SAT Math: score of 520 to 560 A
- ACT Math: score of 20 to 22 A
- CAASPP / EAP Math: Level 3 (Standard Met) A
- CAASPP / EAP Math: Level 3 (Standard Met) B
- Weighted HS GPA:
- 3.70 or higher
- 3.50 - 3.69 A
- 3.50 - 3.69 C
- (for non-Stem majors) Weighted MATH HS GPA: 3.00 or higher A
- (for non-Stem majors) Weighted MATH HS GPA: 3.00 or higher C
A also requires completion of a 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better
B also requires 4 or more years of high school math or QR with a grade of C- or better
C also requires 5 or more years of high school math or QR with a grade of C- or better
Transition to College Algebra (with Support)
Eligible for MATH 1000 with MATH 900
Students who do not meet any of the placement criteria listed above are eligible to begin in MATH 1000, a foundational course designed to support the transition into college-level mathematics.
This course carries degree credit and includes additional instructional support.
