BASIC SKILLS ASSESSMENT: Reading Skills, Writing Skills, Quantitative Analysis (Math) Skills

Quantitative Analysis (Math) Assessment

Entering students are placed into an appropriate math course (up to Calculus I) based on their SAT Subject
Assessment score in Mathematics Level 1 or Level 2 score. Students may challenge this placement once during Orientation by participating in a math course placement session. Students wishing to enroll in Calculus II (Math 53) or Calculus III (Math 55) must take and pass a one-hour Calculus examination, or have an appropriate score on the AP exam. Level of Calculus placement is determined by an assessment score and/or possible AP credit in consultation with a faculty adviser. Successfully passing this assessment also satisfies the General Education requirement in quantitative analysis (math) described above. Entering transfer students will need to participate in math placement assessment unless they have a passing grade (C or higher) in an acceptable college level mathematics course.

In order to successfully complete the requirements for graduation, all students must either score 540 or above on the Mathematics Level 1 SAT Subject Assessment, 520 or above on the Mathematics Level 2 SAT Subject Assessment, pass Pacific’s Intermediate Algebra assessment, complete Pacific’s Math 5 (Intermediate Algebra) or Math 35 (Statistics) with a grade of C- or higher; or complete equivalent course work at another college or university with a grade of C or higher. This requirement must be completed within the first year of enrollment (including summer school) or the student will be subject to academic probation. The student is subject to disqualification after the second year if the requirement has not been met. Transfer students have their first year at Pacific to satisfy this quantitative analysis (math) requirement. The Director of Math Assessment and the Math Lab staff in the Educational Resource Center administer these assessments. Students may retake the math assessment if they feel that their initial score or placement does not truly reflect their quantitative analysis (math) skills. (see “Policy on Course Placement and Assessment,” p. 6.)

The Role of Math Assessment as a Requirement for Other University Courses

The University of the Pacific Mathematics Department as well as other University departments requires placement information that indicates a student is eligible to enroll in certain introductory courses.

Students wishing to enroll in Calculus II (Math 53) or Calculus III (Math 55) must take and pass Pacific’s one-hour Calculus examination. Level of Calculus placement is determined by an assessment score and/or possible AP credit in consultation with a faculty adviser. Successfully passing this assessment also satisfies the General Education quantitative analysis (math) requirement described above.

Students wishing to enroll in Calculus I (Math 51), General Physics (PHYS 23), or Hydrogeology (GEOG 148) must score 590 or above on the Mathematics Level 2 SAT Subject Assessment or take and pass Pacific’s one-hour Precalculus examination. Successfully passing this assessment also satisfies the General Education quantitative analysis (math) requirement described above.

Students wishing to enroll in Chemistry (CHEM 25), Computers and Information Processing (COMP 25), Fundamentals of Mathematics and Computer Science (COMP 47), Introduction to Computer Science (COMP 51), Introduction to Microeconomics (ECON 53), Introduction to Macroeconomics (ECON 55), Economic Statistics (ECON 61), Trigonometry (MATH 7), Elements of Calculus (MATH 33), Elementary Functions (MATH 41), or Introduction to Finite Mathematics and Calculus (MATH 45) must either score 540 or above on the Mathematics Level 1 SAT subject assessment, 520 or above on the Mathematics Level 2 SAT subject assessment, take and pass an Intermediate Algebra assessment or have completed Pacific’s Intermediate Algebra (MATH 5) with a grade of C- or higher. Successfully passing this assessment also satisfies the General Education quantitative analysis (math) requirement described above.
Students wishing to enroll in Intermediate Algebra (MATH 5), Elementary Statistical Inference (MATH 35), Elementary Concepts of Mathematics I (MATH 161), Quantitative Methods (POLS 133), or Statistical Inference in Behavioral Sciences (PSYC 103) must score at least 480 on the Mathematics Level 1 SAT subject assessment, 430 on the Mathematics Level 2 SAT subject assessment, pass an Elementary Algebra examination, a higher level examination or complete Pacific’s Elementary Algebra (MATH 3) with a grade of C- or higher. The Elementary Algebra examination does not meet the General Education quantitative analysis (math) requirement described above. However, completing a college-level Statistics or Intermediate Algebra course at another institution with a grade of C or higher does satisfy the general education requirement in quantitative analysis (math).

Courses are available through the Benerd School of Education’s Educational Resource Center in Trigonometry (MATH 7), Intermediate Algebra (MATH 5), Elementary Algebra (MATH 3) and Prealgebra (MATH 1) to assist students in meeting or preparing to meet the quantitative analysis (math) requirement or course prerequisites. Courses in Elementary Algebra or Prealgebra do not count towards graduation, are not calculated in a student’s GPA but are used to calculate enrollment status as well as eligibility for financial aid.

Sample Math Placement Exams

In order to assist students in preparing for the math placement assessments, we have prepared five short sample assessments, which indicate the level of material covered in each assessment. Fifteen questions have been provided for each level. If a student scores ten or above on a sample assessment level, they will probably pass the mathematics placement assessment at that level. Students should take each practice assessment up to and including the level, which they plan on taking. Please remember that these sample assessments are only a guideline to topics covered on the actual standardized assessments used in course placement sessions. Practice assessments may be accessed on our website:

Assessment Guidelines for Mathematics Placement Examinations

Form	Assessment (Time Allowed)	Suggested Prior Math	Passing Meets General Education Skill	Passing Allows Admission to These Courses
A	Prealgebra (30 minutes)	No Algebra	No	MATH 3-Elementary Algebra
B	Elementary Algebra (30 minutes)	Elementary Algebra (30 minutes)	No	MATH 5-Intermediate Algebra MATH 35-Elem Stat Inference MATH 161-Elem Concepts Math 1 POLS 133-Quantitative Methods PSYC 103-Stat Infer/Behav Sci
C	Intermediate Algebra (30 minutes)	2 or more years Algebra (Trigonometry not required	Yes	CHEM 25-General Chemistry COMP 25-Computers & Info Proc COMP 47-Fund of Math /Comp Sci COMP 51-Intro to Comp Science ECON 53-Intro to Microeconomics ECON 55-Intro to Macroeconomics ECON 61-Economic Statistics MATH 33-Elements of Calculus MATH 41-Elementary Functions MATH 45-Finite Math/Calculus
D	Precalculus (1 hour)	2 or more years Algebra, plus Trigonometry	Yes	MATH 51-Calculus I PHYS 23-General Physics
E	Calculus (1 hour)	1 year high school Calculus	Yes	(Consult Faculty Adviser) MATH 53-Calculus II or MATH 55-Calculus III

Skills Requirement Note: If the student does not pass the Intermediate Algebra exam, he/she must complete Pacific’s MATH 5, MATH 35, POLS 133 or PSYC 103 with a grade of C- or higher to satisfy the general education requirement in Quantitative Analysis (Math). If a student completes an equivalent course at another college or university, he/she must complete the course with a grade of C or higher.