Math Placement Exam

Math Sample Questions and Study Topics (requires Acrobat Reader software)

If you are enrolled in either of the two SAL accelerated degree programs (Liberal Studies or Organizational Leadership), you must successfully complete MATH108, Discovery in Mathematics, to complete the math requirement for the degree. You must test into MATH108; that is, you cannot simply enroll in MATH108 without first passing MATH090 with a final grade of MP or achieving the minimum required score on the Math Placement Exam to test out of MATH090. Achieving the minimum required score on the Math Placement Exam enables you to skip MATH090. For accelerated students, there are only two possible outcomes when you take the Math Placement Exam:

You take the Math Placement Exam and test into MATH090, Elementary Algebra. You must take MATH090 and MATH108 to complete the math requirement for a SAL accelerated degree. The 3.0 credit hours for MATH090 do not count towards the 124.0 hours you need to earn a U of I degree, and MATH090 is not offered in the accelerated format. You must have a final grade of MP (math proficiency) in MATH090 to enroll in MATH108.
You take the Math Placement Exam and test out of MATH090. You may enroll directly into MATH108 to complete the math requirement for a SAL degree.

NOTE: This Web page relates only to the two SAL accelerated degree programs. Other degree programs offered through the University of Indianapolis have unique and varying math requirements to obtain a baccalaureate degree. Consult your Key Advisor for specific details.

Math Competency Required

You must demonstrate math competency to graduate from U of I. There are six ways to demonstrate math competency:

Achieving a score of at least 550 on the math portion of the SAT exam, taken within the last two years.
Receiving a passing grade in a college-level math course of 3.0 credit hours or more, taken within the last three years.
Receiving a grade of C or higher in MATH105, Intermediate Algebra.
Passing the math department placement test at the MATH105 level (that is, testing out of MATH105).
Earning a passing grade in high school or college calculus.
And, for students whose major requires no mathematics beyond MATH108 (that is, accelerated students), receiving a passing grade (MP) in MATH090, or passing the math department placement test at the MATH090 level (that is, testing out of MATH090).

You must also meet the mathematics course requirements in your degree program. The SAL Dean cannot waive these requirements. They are university requirements, not School for Adult Learning requirements. If you put off completing math proficiency until the end of your studies at U of I, your graduation could be delayed by as much as one year. Why? Because MATH090 and MATH105 are not offered in the accelerated format; each is a 15-week Extended Programs course. Further, the credit hours for MATH090 do not count towards the 124.0 hours required for a degree.

Likewise, MATH108, although available in the accelerated format, is a 10-week course, not a 5-week course. Hence, it takes two full semesters, plus 3.0 additional elective credit hours, to complete the math requirement and the minimum credit hour requirement, if you have to take both courses.

Free Math Exam Offered Daily

You can test into MATH090 or MATH108 by taking the Math Placement Exam. The Math Placement Exam is offered daily to enable students to meet the U of I competency requirement (see the Academic Catalog for more information). It is given on a walk-in basis in the School for Adult Learning office, Esch Hall 103M, any time we are open (Mon-Thu, 8 AM to 7 PM; Fri 8 AM to 4:30 PM) beginning NO LATER THAN 6:00 PM on weekdays or beginning NO LATER THAN 3:30 PM on Fridays. It is a free exam; there is no fee. You may only take the Math Placement Exam once.

The exam consists of 42 multiple-choice questions. The first 21 are Arithmetic questions; the last 21 are Algebra and some geometry questions. There is a time limit of 50 minutes. Calculators are not permitted during testing; scratch paper will be provided for your calculations. Your final score on the Math Placement Exam equals the number of correct responses minus one-fourth of the number of questions tried and missed. Omitted questions are not graded. Therefore, you have a better chance of testing into MATH108 if you are highly accurate on at least 10 problems in each section than if you carelessly mark answers to all 42 questions (that is, if you guess).

Math Sample Questions and Study Topics (requires Acrobat Reader software)

If you can't answer the questions on this test, you aren't ready for the math courses required for a SAL degree. It's as simple as that.

You Cannot Fail The Exam

YOU CANNOT FAIL THE MATH PLACEMENT EXAM. It is a PLACEMENT exam, not an ADMISSIONS exam or an ENROLLMENT exam. It doesn't affect your GPA. You won't be withdrawn from the university if you score too low. It doesn't affect your enrollment or financial aid eligibility. It is used simply to decide which math course to take first. If you score below a set minimum on the Math Placement Exam you must take MATH090 first. If you score above the set minimum, you may skip MATH090 and go straight to MATH108. That's all there is to it.

Math Requirement Cannot Be Waived

The SAL dean cannot waive a university graduation requirement. Don't wait until you thought you were going to graduate to find out that you still have two math courses to go. The math requirement will not be waived. This could delay your graduation by as much as one full year.

So let's recap the Math Placement Exam:

It's free.
It takes 50 minutes.
It doesn't affect your GPA or enrollment eligibility.
You can't fail the exam--you can only test into the first math course that's right for you.
It's offered daily on a walk-in basis for your convenience.
If you can't answer the questions on this exam, you aren't ready for the SAL math courses. It's as simple as that.

Take The Exam Now

So what are you waiting for? If you are a SAL student and have not yet taken the Math Placement Exam, PLEASE take the Math Placement Exam as soon as possible so that completion of the mathematics degree requirement does not interfere with your plans to graduate.

If you don't want to take the Math Placement Exam, simply enroll in MATH090 as your first math course. Questions about the math proficiency requirement should be directed to the Testing Administrator at (317) 788-3389, toll-free at (800) 232-8634, ext. 3389, or via e-mail at: sal@uindy.edu.

Math Sample Questions and Study Topics (requires Acrobat Reader software)

Note for Prospective Graduate Students

If you intend to go on to a graduate business program (M.B.A., etc.) after completion of your undergraduate degree, we strongly recommend that you take MATH150, Finite Mathematics, and MATH220, Elementary Statistics, as an undergraduate student. These courses not only help qualify you for graduate admission but will help you prepare for the coursework involved in a graduate business program.