Math Placement Exam
Frequently Given Answers

Why is there a math placement exam?

Stony Brook offers several different first-year math courses. Each goes at its own speed, so it is important that you register for the course best suited to your needs, abilities, and level of preparation. The placement exam tells you which course this is.

Who has to take the exam?

All incoming students must take the placement exam, preferably during Orientation. In rare situations, students who have transfer credit for advanced mathematics courses may get an exception, but it is in your best interests to take the exam.

What if I already took the Advanced Placement Calculus exam?

If you received a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement BC Calculus exam, you are given credit for MAT131 and MAT132. If you received a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement AB Calculus exam, you receive credit for MAT131. However, you should still take the Stony Brook math placement exam.

When is the placement exam given?

The placement exam is usually given during Orientation, and twice-weekly during the summer. It is also given at other times during the school year, most commonly in the Fall, in January, and during Spring Break. For details, check the current schedule on the Math Department web page.

Do I have to take the placement exam if I've already taken calculus?

Yes.

Why do I have to take the placement exam if I've already taken calculus in high school?

Because the content and grading of mathematics courses vary, we have no way of knowing what material you have learned. The only way we can reliably assess your preparation is to have you take our math placement exam. Much of mathematics is sequential: if you have not mastered the prerequisite material, you will almost certainly struggle with the new material.

Even if you have college credit for the prerequisite material (via transfer or advanced placement), the math placement exam will tell you what areas of mathematics you will be expected to know but still need to work on.

What topics will be tested on the exam?

Here is a detailed syllabus of the material on the placement exams.

How many math placement exams are there?

There are two different math placement exams: one covers parts I and II of the syllabus. The other covers parts II and III.

Do I have to take both exams?

No.

Which exam should I take?

The best way to decide which exam you should take is to attempt all of the sections of the practice exam. As a rough guideline, if you have taken a semester of calculus, scoring a B or better, you should probably take the exam on parts II and III.

How should I prepare for the exam?

You should review the math that you have previously studied until you feel prepared to take the exam. This is not meant to be quick or easy, but it is important. The placement exam tests both elementary and more advanced skills, and if you do not demonstrate competence in the elementary skills, your abilities on the advanced skills do not count. You should then do the practice exam as many times as you can. Do as many practice problems as you can find.

What happens during the exam?

The exam is multiple choice. You enter your answers on a bubble sheet.

What should I bring to the exam?

Two #2 pencils and a good attitude.

How long is the exam?

Each exam takes 90 minutes.

Are calculators allowed during the exam?

No. Part of what is tested on the exam is your ability to do calculations.

How is the exam graded?

The exam is graded by computer. For this reason, you need to be very careful when filling in your ID number.

The exam is divided into sections. The questions in section one generally test material that is more basic than that in section two. Similarly, the material in section two is generally more basic than that in section three -- the material in any given section should be more basic than that in the following section.

Your placement level is determined by the first section on which you score badly. What does this mean? This means that even if you get, say, all of the calculus questions correct, but do not correctly answer the question on addition of fractions you will place into an introductory math course where you will be taught to add fractions!

What happens after the exam?

After you take the exam, during Orientation, you will be given a colored sheet of paper. This form will give your placement score, and tell you which math course you have placed into. If you have just missed placing into a first year MAT course, the form will tell you the areas with which you had difficulty. It will provide suggestions for further review, and explain your options.

You must show this form to your Program Advisor in order to register. You need to keep this form, because you may be asked to submit it during the first week of your math class.

May I retake the exam?

Yes. If you are unhappy with your placement score, you may retake the exam.

How many times may I retake the exam?

You may take the exam at most twice during any academic year. Thus, if you are unhappy with a placement score you received during Orientation, you may take the exam again in the fall or in January, but not both.

Can I get transfer credits by taking the placement exam?

No. The exam neither gives nor takes away transfer credits.

What are the various undergraduate math courses offered by Stony Brook?

Here is a detailed description of the undergraduate math courses offered at Stony Brook.

How do the different placement levels relate to these different courses?

Here is a table relating placement scores to math courses.