Congratulations on your acceptance to Plymouth State University. The Mathematics Department is excited to be one of the first to welcome you to the Plymouth State family.
Mathematics is an important part of life, and, therefore, it is a part of every major here at Plymouth State University. Every major requires at least one mathematics course and many majors require several mathematics courses. Let us assure you that the mathematics department makes every effort to ensure that students are enrolled in mathematics courses in which they are prepared to be successful.
Sometimes students find themselves in mathematics courses for which they are underprepared. Other students may find themselves in a course which they’ve already taken, and are ready for more of a challenge. To help ensure that every student starts out in the course that is right for him or her, the Mathematics Department at Plymouth State University needs every student to take our Mathematics Placement Assessment. This online assessment covers topics from arithmetic and pre-algebra all the way through trigonometry. Students are allowed two attempts at the assessment before Orientation and we use the best score to help ensure that everyone has the best opportunities available to them.
It is important that you take the assessment before coming to campus to register for courses. We will use your score to help place you into the correct courses during your first semester. If you choose to not take the Assessment, then you are choosing to be placed into the lowest Placement Level. It is also important that you take the assessment seriously. If your major requires a lot of mathematics course, then it is important that you start out in the right one. We strongly encourage all students to take the assessment twice before Orientation to achieve the highest outcome possible.
You will not receive an actual score on the Math Placement Assessment. Since the Assessment determines which classes are right for you, the Assessment will place you into a level that will determine in which class you can enroll. Keep in mind that no matter what level you are placed into, there are plenty of mathematics courses available to you.
Level 4 – The student is permitted to enroll in MA2550 Calculus I, MA2140 Precalculus, or MA1800 College Algebra. The student may also enroll in any math course whose only prerequisite is regular admission to PSU including MA1500 Math and the Humanities, MA1900 Statistical Literature, MA2200 Finite Mathematics, and MA2300 Statistics 1.
Level 2 – The student is permitted to enroll in MA2140 Precalculus, or MA1800 College Algebra. The student may also enroll in any math course whose only prerequisite is regular admission to PSU including MA1500 Math and the Humanities, MA1900 Statistical Literature, MA2200 Finite Mathematics, and MA2300 Statistics 1.
Level 1 – The student may enroll in any math course whose only prerequisite is regular admission to PSU including MA1500 Math and the Humanities, MA1800 College Algebra, MA1900 Statistical Literature, MA2200 Finite Mathematics, and MA2300 Statistics 1.
Level 0 – The student may enroll in any math course whose only prerequisite is regular admission to PSU including MA1500 Math and the Humanities, MA1900 Statistical Literature, MA2200 Finite Mathematics, and MA2300 Statistics 1. However, the student may find general admissions courses difficult, so he or she might consider taking MA1200 before enrolling in another math class. The student should talk to his or her advisor before scheduling his or her first mathematics course. If this was his or her first time taking the Placement Assessment, then he or she may try again for a higher placement level.
Before you begin the Assessment, please make sure that you have a reliable internet connection. If your connection is lost, then you will have to start the Assessment again. It is recommend that you take the Assessment with a computer. A smart phone or tablet may cause the Assessment to malfunction, and you will lose an attempt.
If you have a documented disability and require accommodations for the Math Placement Assessment, you should contact the Campus Accessibility Services office at least two weeks before you plan on taking the assessment. You will have to provide the Disabilities Coordinator in CAS with documentation of your disability to determine whether you are eligible for accommodations.
If you have issues accessing the Assessment at the link below, please contact the Help Desk at psu-helpdesk@plymouth.edu or Dr. Nelson at janelson1@plymouth.edu.
