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TCNJ Mathematics Placement Exam

Students who plan to take a precalculus, calculus, or economics course at TCNJ and students who have not declared a major may choose to take the placement test to determine their mathematics placement. Students who prefer to submit SAT or ACT mathematics scores for placement are welcome to do so.

Students with a declared major who do not plan to take precalculus, calculus, or economics do not need to complete any mathematics placement option. All students are encouraged to consult with their major department or advisor regarding the need for mathematics placement.

Incoming students needing placement should either take the placement test between May 5 and May 21 or submit SAT or ACT scores prior to May 21. If you choose to take the placement test, we recommend that you do so early in the testing window. This way, if you are not pleased with your result, you will have time to study and retake the test before May 28. We recommend that you allow yourself at least a week to study before attempting a retake of the exam.

Continuing students needing calculus placement may request access to the test at any time by emailing mathstat@tcnj.edu.

About the exam
The TCNJ Math Placement Exam is designed to measure your current knowledge of algebra and precalculus skills to find the math course in which you have the skills to be successful and which will help you progress in your chosen major. The Placement Exam consists of a Calculus Readiness Test and an Algebra Skills Test.

The Calculus Readiness Test covers the following topics: solving equations and systems of equations; graphs of equations, including linear equations; functions, including reading the graph of a function;  exponential and logarithmic functions and equations; trigonometry, including  both trigonometric identities and trigonometric functions and their graphs; volume and surface area of geometric figures; and reading, understanding, and applying mathematical definitions.  

The Algebra Skills Test covers these topics: order of operations; combining like terms; exponent properties; radical expressions; multiplying polynomials; factoring polynomials; rational expressions, including compound fractions; rationalizing a denominator; modeling word problems with algebra; solving an expression for a variable; solving linear, rational, and quadratic equations; graphs of lines; solving systems of equations; solving inequalities graph on number line; and basic geometry formulas.

If you wish to review before taking the test, please visit our Algebra and Precalculus Self-Study Resources page for suggested resources.

Taking the exam
When you feel prepared, you may access the exam using the link below. Note your userid is your full TCNJ email address (including @tcnj.edu) and your Password is your TCNJ PAWS ID. There is an optional practice exam on the exam site which you may take before taking the test if you wish. You may not use any outside sources (books, notes, calculators, internet, other people) to complete this test. If you use outside sources, you may find yourself placed into a math course for which you are unprepared, and you will be likely to fall behind in the course.  It is important that your answers reflect your current skill level so that you are placed in a course where you are set up to succeed.

 

 

 

You should access the test using one of the following browsers and operating systems:

Browser Operating System
Internet Explorer 11 Windows
Google Chrome Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android
Safari MacOS, iOS

 

Students requiring accommodations should contacting TCNJ’s Accessibility Resource Center at arc@tcnj.edu to request these.

Students experiencing technical issues may refer to the “Troubleshooting” section of the DigitalEd help site for students.

If you are unable to resolve your issue, or if your computer crashes or you lose internet access in the middle of your test, please contact the TCNJ Department of Mathematics and Statistics at mathstat@tcnj.edu

Interpreting your results
When you complete your exam, you will be given your score(s). Please return here so that you can interpret these scores. These scores are chosen to ensure that you are placed in the course in which you are best prepared to succeed.

Your initial placement based on your placement exam is as described below. If you are placed in MAT095, MAT119, or MAT120, you have options for adjusting this placement during the summer months. Please return to our Precalculus and Calculus Placement and AP Credit page for information on these options.

If you received a score of at least 17 on the Calculus Readiness Exam, then you are well-prepared for either MAT127: Calculus A or MAT125: Calculus for Business and the Social Sciences. You will not take the algebra portion of the placement test.

If you received a score in the range 15 – 16 on the Calculus Readiness Exam and a score of at least 15 on the Basic Algebra Exam, your test scores suggest that you would be most successful in MAT125: Calculus for Business and the Social Sciences or MAT120: Precalculus. Your department chair or advisor will help you determine which course you should take during orientation.

If you received a score in the range 15 – 16 on the Calculus Readiness Exam and a score of 14 or below on the Basic Algebra Exam, your test scores suggest that you would be most successful in MAT125: Calculus for Business and the Social Sciences or MAT095: Intermediate Algebra. Your department chair or advisor will help you determine which course you should take during orientation.

If you received a score of 14 or below on the Calculus Readiness Exam and a score of at least 15 on the Basic Algebra Exam, your test scores suggest that you would be most successful in MAT120: Precalculus or MAT119: Introduction to functions. Your department chair or advisor will help you determine which course you should take during orientation.

If you received a score of 14 or below on the Calculus Readiness Exam and a score between 11 and 14 on the Basic Algebra Exam, your test scores suggest that you would be most successful in MAT119: Introduction to functions or MAT095: Intermediate Algebra. Your department chair or advisor will help you determine which course you should take during orientation.

If you received a score of 10 or below on the Calculus Readiness Exam and a score of 10 or below on the Basic Algebra Exam, your test scores suggest that you would be most successful in MAT095: Intermediate Algebra.

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