Math Placement Assessment
Math Placement at Loyola
You need a math placement only if your program of study includes MATH 110, MATH 117, MATH 118, MATH 130, MATH 131 or MATH 161, either as required course work or a prerequisite. You do not need a math placement if you only intend to take MATH108 or STAT103 to satisfy Loyola's Quantitative Analysis core requirement.
If you are unsure if you need a math placement, new/incoming students should check their Student Portal (www.luc.edu/studentportal) and current/continuing students should check with their academic advisor.
Students must have a math placement using one of the methods below before they will be allowed to register for a calculus class (MATH 130, MATH131 or MATH161) or a precalculus class (MATH100, MATH 110, MATH117 or MATH118).
Find out
- your current math placement.
- how to submit
Math placement can be accomplished in four ways:
- Submit ACT or SAT scores.
- Submit AP calculus and/or IB Math HL scores.
- Take the ALEKS MPA (math placement assessment). See the MPA instructions on how to take ALEKS.
- Fill out this request form to use final high school calculus and precalculus grades of a yearlong class from within the last 2 years. Use your Loyola email address and LOCUS password. to access the form. The term "Final grades" means: If your transcript lists a final grade, then that is your final grade. If the transcript does not specify a final grade, then your last grade in a yearlong course is your final grade. If your grades are given quarterly, then your fourth quarter grade is your final grade. If your grades are given every trimester, then your third trimester is your final grade. If your grades are given every semester, then your second semester grade is your final grade. This option can only be used if you have received at least a B- in a high school calculus or precalculus class, and your official transcript has been submitted to Loyola. If you meet these requirements and your high school transcripts will place you higher than your current math placement, you may request this option.
The highest placement from these four methods is the definitive one. If you are registering before Loyola has received final high school transcripts, you must place using one of the other methods. You may later request a new placement based on your final high school grades.
Depending on your major, starting in MATH 100 may delay your path to graduating in four years. It is of course important to start in a class where you are ready to succeed, but it is also important to keep on track for graduation. Please check the requirements for your degree.
While the ALEKS MPA is available to you, you may take it as often as you like. However, if you do not take it by the "last day to add and swap class," (see the LUC official calendar for that exact date) AND you are enrolled in MATH 100, MATH 117 or MATH 118, you are locked into that class. You will not have access to ALEKS MPA again. After the "last day to add and swap class" date, even if you withdraw from your math class, you will need to repeat that class in a future term.
While ALEKS is available to you, you are able to take the MPA as many times as you want in order to get the placement you need. After five assessments, students pay about $15 for every batch of an additional five assessments and six months of access to Learning Modules, which expire no later than January 31 of each year. If you wish to retake ALEKS after a fifth attempt, you must contact PlacementTest@luc.edu to get set up in the system for a new bundle of five attempts. Unfortunately, unused attempts in any bundle expire each year on January 31. For each term for students enrolled in MATH 100, MATH 117, MATH 118, access to the MPA ends at 5 pm on the “Last day to add and swap class” as determined by the university calendar. See https://www.luc.edu/academics/schedules/index.shtml
After your first attempt in each bundle, ALEKS creates learning modules to help you study.
If you do not know in which math course you need to enroll, you can review the Course Catalog web page of your major, check your Student Portal, or consult with your assigned Academic Advisor.
Here are the details of how the different criteria give placements into different math courses.
|
ACT Math subscore |
SAT-R Math subscore (after 3/1/2016) |
|
0–23: MATH 100 24–25: MATH 110, or MATH 117 26: MATH 118 27–36: MATH 130, MATH 131 or MATH 161 |
0 - 560: MATH 100 570–600: MATH 110 or 117 610–620: MATH 118 630–800: MATH 130, MATH 131 or MATH 161 |
| AP Precalculus |
AP Calculus AB or BC |
|
1 or 2: MATH 100 For important information, please see AP Precalculus credit. |
1: MATH 100 For important information, please see AP Calculus credit. |
| SAT II, Math 1C or SAT Math Level 1 Subject Test |
SAT II, Math 2C or SAT Math Level 2 Subject Test |
| 200–534: MATH 100 535–634: MATH 110 or MATH 117 635–800: MATH 118 |
200–534: MATH 100 535–634: MATH 118 635–800: MATH 130, 131, or 161 |
| IB HL |
|
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches: 6-7: MATH 161 credit; take MATH 162 or 132 Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation: 6-7: 3 hours college credit; placement into MATH 131 or MATH 161 |
Placement into a math course based on the ALEKS placement assessment. Read the MPA instructions on how to take ALEKS. Access to the MPA ends each term at 5 pm on the "Last day to add and swap class" according to the university calendar. See https://www.luc.edu/academics/schedules/index.shtml.
| MPA score |
|
0 - 44: MATH 100 45 - 59: MATH 110 or 117 60 - 74: MATH 118 75 - 100: MATH 130, 131 or 161 |
Placement into a math course is based on the final (as defined above) high school grades of a yearlong course from within the last 2 years:
A in high school calculus places one into MATH 130, MATH 131 or MATH 161.
B in high school calculus places one into MATH 118.
A or B in high school precalculus places one into MATH 110 or MATH 117.
IB course treated as AP Calculus: IB HL Mathematics: analysis and approaches
A in IB HL Mathematics: applications and interpretation: MATH 118
B in IB HL Mathematics: applications and interpretation: MATH 110 or MATH 117
IB courses treated as precalculus:
IB SL Mathematics: applications and interpretation
IB SL Mathematics: analysis and approaches
No high school calculus or precalculus or a grade below B- in calculus or precalculus: MATH 100
An “A” in calculus includes a grade of A- or above in a yearlong high school calculus class. This does not have to be AP calculus, but it should cover all standard topics in differential calculus. A “B” includes a B- or above.
A precalculus class should be a yearlong class intended as the final prerequisite class before calculus.
If you do not know if you need one of these math courses or which math course you need to enroll in, review the web pages of your major or program, check your Student Portal, or consult with your Orientation Academic Advisor. Please email PlacementTest@luc.edu with any other questions.
What is the MPA?
The current MPA is ALEKS PPL ("ALEKS"), Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces, Placement Preparation and Learning. ALEKS is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system, which uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn’t know. ALEKS then provides the student individualized topics (Learning Modules) which the student can use to learn the material with which the student had difficulty. When using the Learning Modules, ALEKS also provides the advantages of one-on-one instruction, 24/7, from virtually any Web-based computer for a fraction of the cost of a human tutor.
Please be aware that the Learning Modules will be available to you for at most six months, if started within six months of your first MPA, but ending on January 31.
What if I need accommodations for the MPA?
Students who require accommodations due to a documented disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities at least one week in advance of their scheduled MPA date. Additional information about utilizing accommodations for the MPA can be found here: https://www.luc.edu/sac/placementtests/
Math Placement at Loyola
You need a math placement only if your program of study includes MATH 110, MATH 117, MATH 118, MATH 130, MATH 131 or MATH 161, either as required course work or a prerequisite. You do not need a math placement if you only intend to take MATH108 or STAT103 to satisfy Loyola's Quantitative Analysis core requirement.
If you are unsure if you need a math placement, new/incoming students should check their Student Portal (www.luc.edu/studentportal) and current/continuing students should check with their academic advisor.
Students must have a math placement using one of the methods below before they will be allowed to register for a calculus class (MATH 130, MATH131 or MATH161) or a precalculus class (MATH100, MATH 110, MATH117 or MATH118).
Find out
- your current math placement.
- how to submit
Math placement can be accomplished in four ways:
- Submit ACT or SAT scores.
- Submit AP calculus and/or IB Math HL scores.
- Take the ALEKS MPA (math placement assessment). See the MPA instructions on how to take ALEKS.
- Fill out this request form to use final high school calculus and precalculus grades of a yearlong class from within the last 2 years. Use your Loyola email address and LOCUS password. to access the form. The term "Final grades" means: If your transcript lists a final grade, then that is your final grade. If the transcript does not specify a final grade, then your last grade in a yearlong course is your final grade. If your grades are given quarterly, then your fourth quarter grade is your final grade. If your grades are given every trimester, then your third trimester is your final grade. If your grades are given every semester, then your second semester grade is your final grade. This option can only be used if you have received at least a B- in a high school calculus or precalculus class, and your official transcript has been submitted to Loyola. If you meet these requirements and your high school transcripts will place you higher than your current math placement, you may request this option.
The highest placement from these four methods is the definitive one. If you are registering before Loyola has received final high school transcripts, you must place using one of the other methods. You may later request a new placement based on your final high school grades.
Depending on your major, starting in MATH 100 may delay your path to graduating in four years. It is of course important to start in a class where you are ready to succeed, but it is also important to keep on track for graduation. Please check the requirements for your degree.
While the ALEKS MPA is available to you, you may take it as often as you like. However, if you do not take it by the "last day to add and swap class," (see the LUC official calendar for that exact date) AND you are enrolled in MATH 100, MATH 117 or MATH 118, you are locked into that class. You will not have access to ALEKS MPA again. After the "last day to add and swap class" date, even if you withdraw from your math class, you will need to repeat that class in a future term.
While ALEKS is available to you, you are able to take the MPA as many times as you want in order to get the placement you need. After five assessments, students pay about $15 for every batch of an additional five assessments and six months of access to Learning Modules, which expire no later than January 31 of each year. If you wish to retake ALEKS after a fifth attempt, you must contact PlacementTest@luc.edu to get set up in the system for a new bundle of five attempts. Unfortunately, unused attempts in any bundle expire each year on January 31. For each term for students enrolled in MATH 100, MATH 117, MATH 118, access to the MPA ends at 5 pm on the “Last day to add and swap class” as determined by the university calendar. See https://www.luc.edu/academics/schedules/index.shtml
After your first attempt in each bundle, ALEKS creates learning modules to help you study.
If you do not know in which math course you need to enroll, you can review the Course Catalog web page of your major, check your Student Portal, or consult with your assigned Academic Advisor.
Here are the details of how the different criteria give placements into different math courses.
|
ACT Math subscore |
SAT-R Math subscore (after 3/1/2016) |
|
0–23: MATH 100 24–25: MATH 110, or MATH 117 26: MATH 118 27–36: MATH 130, MATH 131 or MATH 161 |
0 - 560: MATH 100 570–600: MATH 110 or 117 610–620: MATH 118 630–800: MATH 130, MATH 131 or MATH 161 |
| AP Precalculus |
AP Calculus AB or BC |
|
1 or 2: MATH 100 For important information, please see AP Precalculus credit. |
1: MATH 100 For important information, please see AP Calculus credit. |
| SAT II, Math 1C or SAT Math Level 1 Subject Test |
SAT II, Math 2C or SAT Math Level 2 Subject Test |
| 200–534: MATH 100 535–634: MATH 110 or MATH 117 635–800: MATH 118 |
200–534: MATH 100 535–634: MATH 118 635–800: MATH 130, 131, or 161 |
| IB HL |
|
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches: 6-7: MATH 161 credit; take MATH 162 or 132 Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation: 6-7: 3 hours college credit; placement into MATH 131 or MATH 161 |
Placement into a math course based on the ALEKS placement assessment. Read the MPA instructions on how to take ALEKS. Access to the MPA ends each term at 5 pm on the "Last day to add and swap class" according to the university calendar. See https://www.luc.edu/academics/schedules/index.shtml.
| MPA score |
|
0 - 44: MATH 100 45 - 59: MATH 110 or 117 60 - 74: MATH 118 75 - 100: MATH 130, 131 or 161 |
Placement into a math course is based on the final (as defined above) high school grades of a yearlong course from within the last 2 years:
A in high school calculus places one into MATH 130, MATH 131 or MATH 161.
B in high school calculus places one into MATH 118.
A or B in high school precalculus places one into MATH 110 or MATH 117.
IB course treated as AP Calculus: IB HL Mathematics: analysis and approaches
A in IB HL Mathematics: applications and interpretation: MATH 118
B in IB HL Mathematics: applications and interpretation: MATH 110 or MATH 117
IB courses treated as precalculus:
IB SL Mathematics: applications and interpretation
IB SL Mathematics: analysis and approaches
No high school calculus or precalculus or a grade below B- in calculus or precalculus: MATH 100
An “A” in calculus includes a grade of A- or above in a yearlong high school calculus class. This does not have to be AP calculus, but it should cover all standard topics in differential calculus. A “B” includes a B- or above.
A precalculus class should be a yearlong class intended as the final prerequisite class before calculus.
If you do not know if you need one of these math courses or which math course you need to enroll in, review the web pages of your major or program, check your Student Portal, or consult with your Orientation Academic Advisor. Please email PlacementTest@luc.edu with any other questions.