UNCW Math Placement Test

All incoming freshmen and some transfer students take the UNCW math placement test; however, some students may be exempt (see next question). The test is given as part of a new student's Orientation program. For additional information please choose your student status:

• Freshman
• Transfer

Continuing students who missed their initial test date must take the placement test before they can register for a math class.

• Students who intend to take MAT 101, after checking to make sure the course meets the math requirement of their intended major.
• Students who took the ACT Math Test and received a sufficiently high score:
  • Students scoring 22 or higher may take MAT 111, STT 210, or STT 215 without taking the math placement exam.
  • Students scoring 27 or higher may take MAT 112, MAT 115, or MAT 151 without taking the math placement exam.
  • Students scoring 29 or higher may take MAT 161 without taking the math placement exam.
• Students who took the AP Calculus Test and received a sufficiently high score:
  • Students scoring a 2 on AP Calculus AB or BC may register for MAT 151 or MAT 161 without taking a math placement exam.
  • Students scoring a 3 or higher on AP Calculus AB will get credit for MAT 161 and may take MAT 162.
  • Students scoring a 3 or higher on AP Calculus BC will get credit for MAT 161 and MAT 162 and may take MAT 261.
• Students who have passed a CLEP, math exam or already have college-level credit for MAT 111, MAT 112, MAT 115, MAT 151, MAT 161 , MAT 162 or IB Math (minimum score: 5).

You can find out what your previous math class transfers as at UNCW by checking your Transfer Credit Equivalents. If you took your course at a community college in North Carolina, click North Carolina in the state drop-down menu and submit. North Carolina Community Colleges is first on the list, so click submit again (the same information applies to all community colleges in North Carolina). If you took your course at another state community or four-year college, click the state in the drop-down menu, submit, then scroll through the list to find your college. This method is used for four-year colleges in North Carolina as well.

If you took a test to receive credit (CLEP, AP, IB, etc.), here are the UNCW policies on Credit by Examination.

No, your advisor will consider your placement and your intended major to help you decide which math course you should take. Although you may place high, the registration system will still allow you to take a lower level math course to fulfill the requirements for your intended major. It is in your best interest that you do your best on the placement test to broaden your career options.

Print the Algebra and/or Trigonometry review problems: Work the problems and check your answers. The problems you miss will indicate concepts you should spend more time reviewing.

1. Log onto SeaNet (directly or through SeaPort)
2. Select the Student Services & Financial Aid Tab
3. Select Student Records
4. Select Student Information
5. Click Submit on the current term
6. Scroll to the bottom until you see "Test Score Information" (If you are retesting, be sure to check the date associated with the code).

If you took your Math Placement Test after March 1, 2019; the placement code information below is applicable:

• ACUMAT = 1: We recommend the student take MAT 105 – Mathematical Study Skills and Algebra Review. There is a free self-paced online program which will help prepare students for MAT 111. For more information, see the Math Readiness Program.
• ACUMAT = 2: We recommend the student take STT 215 or STT 210 – Introduction to Statistics. If the student major requires higher math courses, we recommend taking MAT 105 or the online Math Readiness Program as an initial prerequisite to a higher level course.
• ACUMAT = 3: We recommend the student take MAT 111 – College Algebra or any of the courses listed above for score 1 or 2 as needed for their major.
• ACUMAT = 4: We recommend the student take MAT 151 – Basic Calculus or MAT 112 – Trigonometry or any of the courses listed above for score 1, 2 or 3 as needed for their major.
• ACUMAT = 5: We recommend the student take MAT 161 – Calculus with Analytical Geometry I or any of the courses listed above for score 1, 2, 3, or 4 as needed for their major.

If you took your Math Placement Test after December 1, 2016 and prior to March 2019; the placement code information below is applicable:

• 1: We recommend you take MAT 105- Mathematical Study Skills and Algebra Review. There is a self-paced online version of MAT 105. For more information see the Math Readiness Program.
• 2: We recommend that you take STT 215 or STT 210 - Introduction to Statistics or the course listed above as needed for your major.
• 3: We recommend that you take MAT 111 - College Algebra or any of the courses listed above for score 1 or 2 as needed for your major.
• 4: We recommend that you take MAT 151 - Basic Calculus with Applications I or any of the courses listed above for score 1,2 or 3 as needed for your major.
• 5: We recommend that you take MAT 112 - Trigonometry or any of the courses listed above for score 1,2, 3 or 4 as needed for your major.
• 6: We recommend that you take MAT 115 - Precalculus or any of the courses listed above for score 1,2, 3, 4 or 5 as needed for your major.
• 7: We recommend that you take MAT 161 - Calculus with Analytical Geometry I or any of the courses listed above for score 1,2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 as needed for your major.

If you took the Math Placement Test prior to December 2016, the following placement code information applies:

• 1: You may take MAT 105. (Or go through the online UNCW Math Readiness Program)
• 2: You may take MAT 105, MAT 141 or MAT 142, as appropriate.
• 3: You may take MAT 111, MAT 115, MAT 141, MAT 142, and/or STT 210 or STT215, as appropriate.
• 4 or 5: We recommend that you take MAT 112, MAT 151 and/or STT 210 or STT 215, as appropriate. You may also take any other courses listed for placement code 3 or below.
• 6: We recommend that you take MAT 161 and/or STT 210 or STT 215, as appropriate. You may also take any other courses listed for placement codes 5 or below.

If you take the Math Placement Test and place into MAT 161 you will be granted supplemental credit upon completion of the course provided that you take MAT 161 as your first* math course at UNCW (*having no AP credit, no transfer credit, and no prior math credit at UNCW). When you pass the course with a "C" (2.00) or better, you will receive 3 credit hours for MAT 112. This credit may be used to fulfill basic studies requirements, however, it will not factor when computing your grade point average.

If you are interested in placing into MAT 161, it is necessary to have substantial math skills in Algebra and Trigonometry.