What is the Placement Test?

The UNT Department of Mathematics wants students to succeed and understands that students do best when they have a suitable background for each course. The purpose of the math placement test is to determine the appropriate first math course for each undergraduate student. The Mathematics Department enforces prerequisites for mathematics courses; before enrolling in one of these courses, you may need to pass a placement test.

After a student has taken the placement test and placed into a particular course, the student must successfully complete that course within one year of the test date. If the student doesn't complete the course within one year of the test date, the student must take a new placement test.

If you need an accommodation due to a disability to fully participate in this program/event, please contact Rita Sears, Department of Mathematics, at 940-565-4045 or email at rhsears@unt.edu. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Accuplacer "College-Level Mathematics" Placement Exam Information

The 20-question Accuplacer mathematics placement examination, "College Level Mathematics," is a computerized assessment of mathematical skills. This test measures skill proficiency from intermediate algebra through pre-calculus. Students cannot "pass" or "fail" the Accuplacer placement test, but it is very important that students do their very best so that an accurate measure of mathematics academic skills is obtained.

Five categories are covered.

1. Algebraic operations. Includes simplifying rational algebraic expressions factoring, expanding polynomials, and manipulating roots and exponents.
2. Solutions of equations and inequalities. Includes the solution of linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, equation systems, and other algebraic equations.
3. Coordinate geometry. Includes plane geometry, the coordinate plane, straight lines, conics, sets of points in the plane, and graphs of algebraic functions.
4. Applications and other algebra topics. Includes complex numbers, series and sequences, determinants, permutations and combinations, fractions, and word problems.
5. Functions and trigonometry. Includes polynomial, algebraic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions.

How the Accuplacer Works.

1. Although the exam is taken while sitting at a computer, no computer skills are needed to take this test. Either the keyboard or the mouse are used to enter answer to the questions. Students must enter name, UNT 8-digit ID, and answer some background questions before proceeding with the test. A message will display when the actual test is about to start.
2. The computerized exam is "adaptive": it tests students up to each student's highest skill level, so any one student may see only some of these topics on his/her exam, depending on his/her skills. This means that the computer automatically determines which questions are presented based on whether or not the correct answer to the previous question was selected. This technique "zeroes-in" on just the right questions to ask without being too easy or too difficult. The Accuplacer exam is able to assess academic skills using fewer questions than traditionally presented on a paper and pencil test. The Accuplacer test score will be used to determine which mathematics course is most appropriate for the student.
3. The questions appear one at a time on the computer screen. The space bar or mouse are used to select the desired answer. It is possible to change an answer to a particular question before moving on to the next question, but it is *not* possible to leave a question out or come back to it later. When the question is completed and the answer verified, a new screen will appear with the next question. Once the answer has been verified (selected and re-confirmed), it is not possible to return to that question.
4. Most students take about one hour to complete the test.
5. No calculators are allowed.
6. Exam scores are not recorded on students' academic records.
7. Students may take the Accuplacer test no more than twice for the targeted semester of enrollment.

What to Take with You to the Tests. (Note that calculators are not allowed.)

1. Photo ID and
2. 8-digit UNT student ID #

Score Results.

1. Students will receive the results of their placement test upon completion called "Student Report." This form is to be retained for presentation on the first day of class to the instructor of the course into which the student placed.
2. Exam scores are not recorded on students' academic records.

Tips for Taking ACCUPLACER:

1. Relax! ACCUPLACER was designed to assist in students' success in college. The Accuplacer score helps students determine which courses are most appropriate for the current level of knowledge and skills. Once academic strengths and needs are identified, assistance with improvement of underdeveloped skills can be accessed before they can interfere with learning.
2. Students will be able to concentrate better on the test if plenty of rest and proper nutrition are obtained prior to the test.
3. Careful attention should be paid to directions with emphasis on understanding the directions before the test is begun.
4. Re-read point #3 under "How the Accuplacer Works"--!

Exam Preparation Resources

(Note: These links are offered for reference only. The listings neither represent nor are sponsored by the UNT Department of Mathematics.)

Self-Study Courses. For students who have already taken the placement test, the most reliable way to improve a placement test score is to make a sustained effort to complete a self-study review course. Students may enroll in online self-study review at www.aleks.com. ALEKS is a web-based instruction platform that adapts its instruction to each student's personal strengths and weaknesses. The following table shows which ALEKS course to complete depending on the student's desired UNT course placement:

Although students who complete ALEKS self-study courses generally do better on the Accuplacer exam after completing the self-study courses, ALEKS is not associated with UNT, and UNT cannot guarantee that completing one of the above self-study courses will result in a higher mathematics placement. In particular, completing an ALEKS self-study course is not something that can be done in just a few moments; to be successful requires a sustained effort over at least several weeks.

Additional links

The following additional links may be also helpful for students just wanting some quick review material prior to taking the test.

• www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab: This is the link to WTAMU's Virtual Math Lab. This site has complete courses for beginning, intermediate and college algebra and preps for THEA/Accuplacer and the GRE.
• www.huntington.edu/math/accuplacer: This site can be beneficial for preparing you to place into College Algebra. However, the Accuplacer College Level Math exam has other aspects of math. If you need to place into a course above College Algebra, then the other sites will better help you prepare for the exam.
• www.testprepreview.com/accuplacer_practice.htm: Self-assessment modules are included.

When and Where can I take the placement test?

Tests are administered on a walk-in basis, Mon-Fri between 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, in the Undergraduate Advising and Testing Center (GAB 443), and also at prescheduled orientation sessions. There is no charge for the placement test.

Why do I have to take a placement test?

You need to take a placement test to satisfy prerequisite verification.

Which 1000 Level Math Class Is Right For Me?

Click here for a chart to help you decide which 1000 level math class is best for you. This chart is intended for students who are TSI complete. Students who are not TSI complete in math or who are unsure of their TSI status should consult with the START Office concerning TSI status and developmental mathematics courses.