Enrolling in Your First UCSC Math Course

Every course in the Mathematics Department, no matter how elementary, has a prerequisite. If you have not taken a mathematics course at UCSC, you are placed into your first course based on an AP Calculus exam score, an IB Higher Level Mathematics score, a previous college Mathematics course, or your score on the UCSC Mathematics Placement Exam.

The Mathematics Department must verify your AP or IBH scores and transfer course information before you can use them to satisfy prerequisites. You must send or bring your AP, IBH, and transfer course information to the mathematics undergraduate advisor; the information you send to UCSC Admissions is not forwarded to the Mathematics Department.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Exam Scores

AP: If you took the Calculus Advanced Placement Exam, your score places you into one of the courses below. (The AP class by itself does not fulfill the prerequisite; you must have taken the exam.)

*Do not enroll in Math 11A, 11B, or 22 without consulting your major department. Many majors, including Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, and others do not accept Math 11A-B or Math 22.

IB: If you took the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Mathematics exam, a score of 5, 6, or 7 places you into Math 20A or 19B or 11B.

UCSC Mathematics Placement Exam

If you have not satisfied any of our course prerequisites with an AP or IBH score or a college class, you need to take the Mathematics Placement Exam. The 90-minute, 60-question, multiple-choice exam covers algebra and some geometry and trigonometry. It accurately assesses your level of preparation and ensures that the students in each course have similar skills, allowing the courses to flow smoothly.

Take the placement exam as early as possible. We offer it several times a year:

• Entering frosh: in mid-May at locations around California, at UCSC Summer Orientation, or on campus in the week before classes start in September
• New transfers: at UCSC Summer Transfer day, or on campus in the week before classes start in September
• Continuing students: in the week before classes start in September or the first eight Fridays of each quarter (except the first Friday in fall)

See “Dates of Upcoming Placement Exams”.

Use the study guide to determine which topics on the exam you have already studied, and review those topics thoroughly. A precalculus text (from a library, bookstore, friend, or your own previous textbook, for example) will cover most of the material on the exam.

Please arrive fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled time for the exam. Exams start promptly at the time listed, and we need time to give you instructions, so you will not be allowed to take the exam if you don't arrive early.

You are not permitted to use a calculator on the exam.

Please bring the following to the exam:

• Two sharpened #2 pencils.
• Some form of photo ID. We check the name on your exam against the name on your photo ID at the end of the exam.
• Your seven-digit, UCSC student ID number. We record your score by your ID number, so make sure you know what it is.

If you do not have a seven-digit, UCSC ID number, we will tell you what to do at the exam. We provide scratch paper. We also distribute a handout at the exam that tells you when and where to look for your scores. It shows which course you may enroll in, based on your score (see below). In some cases it is crucial for you to know which course your major requires (i.e. Computer Science will only accept Math 19A & B, not Math 11A & B). Be sure to check with advisors in the appropriate departments for specific information on major requirements.

You can view your score several days after the exam, on the Math Placement Exam secure website. If your score does not show up on the web before instruction begins, attend the course you think you are qualified for. You won't be able to enroll until at least one or two days after you can view your score, so please be patient.

Your score places you into one of the pre-major courses as described here and is valid for one year. This exam determines your level of preparation; it does not count as course credit.

• You are exempt from taking the placement exam if:
• you have passed the AP AB or BC calculus exam with a score of at least 3 (you must verify your score with your major department or Mathematics)
• you have passed the IBH Mathematics exam with a score of at least 5 (you must verify your score with your major department or Mathematics)
• you have passed an appropriate math course at an accredited two- or four-year college or university (you must verify your passing grade with your major department or Mathematics)

Students who have completed mathematics courses at other institutions should also read the transfer credit information.

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