Do college placement tests matter?
Yes, the results of your college placement test really matter. If you don’t do well, you could face the prospect of spending several semesters and thousands of dollars taking remedial classes before you can even begin to receive college credits. Students often make the mistake of going into their college placement tests “cold,” and they end up paying dearly. Take the time to prepare – you’ll be glad you did.
What is math placement?
Colleges and community colleges use math placement tests to determine which math course is appropriate for each incoming student. Students who do poorly are placed into lower level courses such as Introductory Algebra. Students who do well are placed into higher level courses such as College Algebra or Pre-Calculus. Math placement is a critical step for every incoming student, so make sure you prepare thoroughly for the test.
What should I study for a college math placement test?
You should study the following topics to make sure that your college math placement test prep covers everything you need to know.
- Algebraic Expressions
- Equations and Inequalities
- Word Problems
- Graphing and Functions
- Systems of Equations
- Polynomials
- Factoring
- Radicals
- Quadratics
- Imaginary Numbers
- Logarithms
- Geometry
How long are math placement tests?
Math placement tests are typically 30 to 60 minutes long. Most math placement tests are untimed, however, so you can take as long as you need to finish the test (although you’re usually required to complete the test on the same day that you start it).
What is a college placement test?
A college placement test measures an incoming student’s academic ability (primarily in math and English) so that the college can accurately place the student into the courses that match their skills. A good score on your college placement test will allow you to skip remedial courses, saving you significant time and money, so it’s very important to prepare for the test.
Does everyone take a placement test in college?
Just about everyone going to a two-year college has to take a placement test, and most students going to public four-year colleges do as well. Many private four-year colleges also use placement tests.
What’s the best way to prepare for a college placement test?
To prepare for a college placement test, make sure your review goes far beyond the typical study guide by including comprehensive instruction, guided practice, and interactive tests. Diagnostic quizzes, background lessons, and grade reports are also very helpful tools.
The instruction you receive must be direct and to the point, and it should only cover the topics that are on the exam - nothing more and nothing less. For example, math placement will rarely require knowledge of concepts beyond College Algebra. The best college placement test prep must be incredibly efficient.
Let’s face it. College math placement test prep books and practice questions are not enough, and classes and tutors are too expensive. The best solution is an online test prep course that builds the teacher into the program.
Happy to report I got every question on my placement test correct and placed in the top percentile thanks to math help.Kanishk Pandey - May 2025
Your way of teaching made the topics so easy to understand. The most important things that helped me on my math placement test were the intro videos and the tests.Omar Alhusayn - May 2025
I haven't taken a math course since 2005, when I graduated high school. I prepared for my math placement with this program and passed with a 90%. Thanks!Robert Figueroa - March 2025
What makes MathHelp.com different?
What is the Placement Test?
Placement testing is a practice that many colleges and universities use to assess college readiness and determine which classes a student should initially take. Since most two-year colleges have open, non-competitive admissions policies, many students are admitted without college-level academic qualifications. Placement tests assess abilities in English, mathematics and reading; they may also be used in other disciplines such as foreign languages, computer and internet technologies, health and natural sciences. The goal is to offer low-scoring students remedial coursework to prepare them for regular coursework. Less-prepared students are placed into various remedial situations, from adult basic education through various levels of developmental college courses.
Many students do not understand the high-stakes nature of placement testing. Lack of preparation is also cited as a problem. According to a study by Rosenbaum, Schuetz and Foran, roughly three quarters of students surveyed say that they did not prepare for their placement tests.
Once students receive their placement, they either may or must begin taking developmental classes as prerequisites to credit-bearing college level classes that count toward a degree. Most students are unaware that developmental courses do not count toward a degree.