Central Washington University - University Math Center : Math Placement

Math Placement from Test Scores

Entrance test scores needed for placement into Math 101, Math 130, or Math 164 are:

SAT @ Math 500 - or
ACT @ Math 19 If a student does not have one of these scores they must take the Compass Test. If they do not achieve passing scores on the Compass, they will be placed in a University Math Center developmental course. Passing Compass Test score is:

COMPASS (pre-algebra test) 50

Please note: Students wishing to circumvent the developmental courses (Math 100) will only be allowed two tries at the Compass test at CWU before they must enroll in a 100 level class. Compass tests taken at other valid locations and transferred back to CWU are not limited.

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Placement into Math 100A (Pre-Algebra) is a result of:

SAT below 400,
ACT below 16,
Compass below 39

Students in Math 100A will expect to learn arithmetic to pre-algebra skills and after completing all the components of the course plus passing with a 73% or better will be admitted to Math 100B.

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Placement into Math 100B (Intro to Algebra) is a result of:

SAT 400 - 499,
ACT 16 - 18,
Compass 39 - 49,
or successful completion of Math 100A with a 73% or more.

Students in Math 100B will review arithmetic and pre-algebra skills then move on to learn introductory algebra skills. After completing all the components of the course and passing with a 73% or better, student will be eligible for Math 101, 130, 164 or 100C.

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Placement into Math 100C (Intermediate Algebra) is a result of:

SAT 500 and above,
ACT 19 and above,
Compass 50 or above,
or successful completion of Math 100B with a 73% or better,
or scoring 60% (12 of 20) on UMC Intermediate Algebra Pre-Test.

To find examples of what may be covered on the test, please see our sample problems.

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Placement into Math 153, Math 154 or Math 172 requires:

Math 153: Needs the Intermediate Math Placement Test with a score of 18 or better, Intermediate Algebra at the college level (not high school algebra) with a C or better, or high school Calculus for a full year with a B or better (not Pre-calculus).

Math 154: Needs the Advanced Math Placement test with a score of 17 or better, Math 153 with a C or better at the college level, or high school Calculus for a full year with a B or better (not Pre-calculus).

Math 172: Needs the Advanced Placement test with a score of 19 or better, Math 154 with a C or better at the college level, or high school Calculus for a full year with a B or better (not Pre-calculus).

The student can either bring in their placement tests scores or, if they took the tests during the summer, their scores will be on the Math Placement Test roster sent by the test administer, the University of Washington, to CWU's Mathematics Department.

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Difference Between Math Placement Test and Compass Test:

The Compass Test is administered to determine if a student is eligible for the basic university level math courses. By passing this test with a score of 50 or above (the test level is pre-algebra) a student is eligible for Math 101, 164 or 130. Passing this test is also the measure of eligibility into the sub-university level course Intermediate Algebra, Math 100C, which if successful (C or better), is one way to become eligible for Pre-Calculus, Math 153. If a student does not have suitable SAT or ACT test scores to enroll in Math 101, 164 or 130, passing this test will make them eligible. Those students unsuccessful at the Compass Math Test should enroll in a Math 100A or Math 100B course.

The Math Placement Test, on the other hand, is testing math skill levels in order to place a student into the appropriate upper level math courses such as 153, 154 (Pre-Calculus) and 172 (Calculus).

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Subject Areas to Study in Preparation for Compass Test

The following content areas are fundamental for the test:

Basic operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing) with integers, fractions and decimals,
Exponents,
Percentages, and
Averages (arithmetic means).

Other areas to study:

Conversions between fractions and decimals,
Multiples and factors of integers,
Absolute values of numbers,
Order concepts (greater/less than),
Estimation skills,
Number theory,
Counting problems and simple probability.

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Math Placement Test Practice Problems

Practice problems for the intermediate and advanced forms of the Math Placement Test can be found at: http://www.washington.edu/oea/services/testing_center/aptp/problems.html .

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Developmental Placement Flowchart

flowchart showing placement routes into math 100A to C

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Developmental Placement Flowchart

flowchart showing placement routes into math 163

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Back to University Math Center Placement FAQ Developmental Placement Flowchart 153 Placement Flowchart Placement into 101, 130 or 164 Placement into 100A Placement into 100B Placement into 100C Difference Between Math Placement Test and Compass Test Prep Subjects for Compass Test Advanced and Intermediate Practice Problems		Placement in Appropriate Math Levels Math Placement from Test Scores Entrance test scores needed for placement into Math 101, Math 130, or Math 164 are: SAT @ Math 500 - or ACT @ Math 19 If a student does not have one of these scores they must take the Compass Test. If they do not achieve passing scores on the Compass, they will be placed in a University Math Center developmental course. Passing Compass Test score is: COMPASS (pre-algebra test) 50 Please note: Students wishing to circumvent the developmental courses (Math 100) will only be allowed two tries at the Compass test at CWU before they must enroll in a 100 level class. Compass tests taken at other valid locations and transferred back to CWU are not limited. Return To Top Placement into Math 100A (Pre-Algebra) is a result of: SAT below 400, ACT below 16, Compass below 39 Students in Math 100A will expect to learn arithmetic to pre-algebra skills and after completing all the components of the course plus passing with a 73% or better will be admitted to Math 100B. Return To Top Placement into Math 100B (Intro to Algebra) is a result of: SAT 400 - 499, ACT 16 - 18, Compass 39 - 49, or successful completion of Math 100A with a 73% or more. Students in Math 100B will review arithmetic and pre-algebra skills then move on to learn introductory algebra skills. After completing all the components of the course and passing with a 73% or better, student will be eligible for Math 101, 130, 164 or 100C. Return To Top Placement into Math 100C (Intermediate Algebra) is a result of: SAT 500 and above, ACT 19 and above, Compass 50 or above, or successful completion of Math 100B with a 73% or better, or scoring 60% (12 of 20) on UMC Intermediate Algebra Pre-Test. To find examples of what may be covered on the test, please see our sample problems. Return To Top Placement into Math 153, Math 154 or Math 172 requires: Math 153: Needs the Intermediate Math Placement Test with a score of 18 or better, Intermediate Algebra at the college level (not high school algebra) with a C or better, or high school Calculus for a full year with a B or better (not Pre-calculus). Math 154: Needs the Advanced Math Placement test with a score of 17 or better, Math 153 with a C or better at the college level, or high school Calculus for a full year with a B or better (not Pre-calculus). Math 172: Needs the Advanced Placement test with a score of 19 or better, Math 154 with a C or better at the college level, or high school Calculus for a full year with a B or better (not Pre-calculus). The student can either bring in their placement tests scores or, if they took the tests during the summer, their scores will be on the Math Placement Test roster sent by the test administer, the University of Washington, to CWU's Mathematics Department. Return To Top Difference Between Math Placement Test and Compass Test: The Compass Test is administered to determine if a student is eligible for the basic university level math courses. By passing this test with a score of 50 or above (the test level is pre-algebra) a student is eligible for Math 101, 164 or 130. Passing this test is also the measure of eligibility into the sub-university level course Intermediate Algebra, Math 100C, which if successful (C or better), is one way to become eligible for Pre-Calculus, Math 153. If a student does not have suitable SAT or ACT test scores to enroll in Math 101, 164 or 130, passing this test will make them eligible. Those students unsuccessful at the Compass Math Test should enroll in a Math 100A or Math 100B course. The Math Placement Test, on the other hand, is testing math skill levels in order to place a student into the appropriate upper level math courses such as 153, 154 (Pre-Calculus) and 172 (Calculus). Return To Top Subject Areas to Study in Preparation for Compass Test The following content areas are fundamental for the test: Basic operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing) with integers, fractions and decimals, Exponents, Percentages, and Averages (arithmetic means). Other areas to study: Conversions between fractions and decimals, Multiples and factors of integers, Absolute values of numbers, Order concepts (greater/less than), Estimation skills, Number theory, Counting problems and simple probability. Return To Top Math Placement Test Practice Problems Practice problems for the intermediate and advanced forms of the Math Placement Test can be found at: http://www.washington.edu/oea/services/testing_center/aptp/problems.html . Return To Top Developmental Placement Flowchart Return To Top Developmental Placement Flowchart Return To Top
Contact Information University Math Center 400 E. University Way Ellensburg, WA 98926 (509) 963-1834 email: hawksje@cwu.edu