How Math Placement Works
To graduate with a degree from Cal Poly requires coursework in General Education area B4 (Math and Quantitative reasoning), and students must meet various prerequisites to be enrolled in the course appropriate to their major.
At Cal Poly, placement in any given MATH course is determined in one of two ways
1. Earning credit in the appropriate prerequisite course at Cal Poly, or
| a. If the student enters with test scores from the AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, or AP Stat exams, or the International Baccalaureate Exam (Higher Level), then credit is conferred as described here. |
| b. If the student has transfer credit from another university, then common articulations can be found at assist.org. Those courses not articulated through Assist will be vetted by the Cal Poly Evaluations Department. |
2. Via Pre-baccalaureate test scores and/or High School GPA:
To be eligible for Math 141, 161, or 221 you need one of the following:
| SAT MATH score of 620+ |
| SAT MATH Subject Test (level I or II) score of 600+ |
| ACT MATH score of 26+ |
| CAASPP/EAP Math Exam score of "Standard Exceeded" (level 4) |
To be eligible for Math 112, 118, 119, or 227 you need one of the following:
| SAT MATH score of 570+ |
| SAT MATH score of 520-560 and completed 12th grade approved yearlong math course beyond Algebra 1 with a grade of C- or better |
| SAT MATH Subject Test (level I or II) score of 550+ |
| ACT MATH score of 23+ |
| ACT MATH score of 20-22 and completed 12th grade approved yearlong math course beyond Algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better |
| CAASPP/EAP Math Exam score of "Standard Met" (level 3) and completed 12th grade approved yearlong math course beyond Algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better |
| CAASPP/EAP Math Exam score of "Standard Met" (level 3) and completed four or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning |
| Weighted high school GPA of 3.70+ |
| (for STEM Majors) Weighted MATH GPA of 3.50+ and completed 12th grade approved yearlong math course beyond Algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better |
| (for STEM Majors) Weighted MATH GPA of 3.50+ and completed five or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning |
| (for non-STEM Majors) Weighted MATH GPA of 3.00+ and completed 12th grade approved yearlong math course beyond Algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better |
| (for non-STEM Majors) Weighted MATH GPA of 3.00+ and completed five or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning |
| (for non-STEM Majors) Weighted MATH GPA of 3.50+ and completed four or more years of high school MATH or quantitative reasoning |
Students unable to meet the above will be concurrently enrolled in Math 95 and 115 in fall term. Additionally, students must also enroll in Early Start Math unless they have earned a Math GPA above 3.30 (for STEM Majors) or above 3.00 (for non-STEM majors)
General Notes:
- First-year students will be block enrolled in accordance with the flowchart for their major. Look up your flowchart.
- Though students eligible for Math 141, 161, or 221 may enroll in Math 112, 118, 119 or 227, the reverse is not true. Students that feel prepared for more advanced courses than which they are presently eligible may consider the Math Placement Exam (MAPE).
- The MAPE does not confer college credit. It serves as an additional opportunity for students to become eligible for a course required of their major. To earn credit, a student may wish to attempt credit by examination.
- Credit in Math 115 followed by Math 117 is equivalent to earning credit in Math 118.
- Non-STEM majors include all majors in the College of Liberal Arts (with the exception of Graphic Communications), as well as Liberal Studies and Public Health
Questions?
Please contact Clint Hahlbeck, MAPE Coordinator at (805)756-2268, or the Math Department at (805)756-2206.
