College of Science and Technology

Mathematics Placement Information

 All incoming freshmen or transfer students will be registered for mathematics placement. Students will be assigned to their first mathematics courses based on information in the following table: 

Course Placement Requirements:
Placement Requirements

Placement Type

MATH 101E

MATH 101/103

MATH 110/111

MATH 131

SAT Math

Below 480

480-510

520-570

570 or higher

ACT Math

Below 18

18-20

21-23

24 or higher

Algebra Test

Below 15

15-19

20 or higher

 

Precalculus Test

 

 

13-16

17 or higher

Table 1: Course placement requirements/eligibility for first semester new freshman mathematics courses. Column: Mathematics course desired. Row: Placement requirement based on standardized test or Department of Mathematics and Statistics Placement Exams.   

 

IMPORTANT: All students, regardless of College affiliation, lacking ACT/SAT and failing to complete a math placement exam will automatically be placed into MATH 101E.

PLEASE NOTE (Existing/Current/Continuing Students): Placement is ONLY available to new, incoming students. Students currently taking courses or who have already taken courses at NC A &T are not eligible for mathematics placement. Current/continuing students who need math prerequisites may request a Banner override using the following form 

Placement Registration by Major: 

Students will be registered into either a precalculus or algebra testing group. Students majoring in the College of Engineering and a subset of College of Science & Technology majors (specifically Mathematics, Physics, Geomatics, and Chemistry Education) will be assigned in a Precalculus Placement Exam Group. All other students (College of Education, College of Business & Economics, College of Agriculture, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science, College of Health Sciences, Center of Academic Excellence, and the remaining College of Science & Technology majors) will be assigned in an Algebra Placement Exam Group. Information will be sent via email (official A & T aggies.ncat.edu email) as to how to access and complete the placement exam. [Default password assigned to new users:First 4 characters of username plus the last 4 digits of Banner ID.]

The PreCalculus Placement Exam is intended for incoming freshmen whose first required math course is MATH 131-Calculus I according to their major curriculum guides. The Algebra Placement Exam is intended for all other incoming freshmen and students who score 12 or below on the PreCalculus Placement Exam

Math 101E Funda of Alge Trig I. This is an enhanced MATH 101 course designed for students not meeting MATH 101 course Prerequisites. The course topics include numbers and their properties, polynomials, rational expressions, rational exponents, radicals, equations and inequalities in one variable, relations and functions. The course will meet three hours per week for course content lecturing and two additional hours per week for faculty-led supplemental instruction. Prerequisite: An SAT Main score less than 480, or ACT Math score less than 18, or MATH Department Algebra Placement Test score less than 15. This is a remedial course that meets 5 days a week and is intended for students without ACT/SAT score, without a mathematics placement score, or with scores too low to meet the prerequisites for any other course.

Math 101 Fundamentals of Algebra and Trigonometry I. Numbers and their properties polynomials, rational expressions, rational exponents, radicals, equations and inequalities in one variable, relations and functions are studied. Prerequisites: An SAT MATH score 480-510 or SAT Math II level score 430-460 or ACT Math score 18-20 or Math Department Algebra Test Score between 15 and 19. This course is intended for students with majors in the College of Education, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and the College of Health Sciences. 

Math 103 Col Alge Trig for En Sci I. This course covers number systems, exponents, radicals, functions, linear and quadratic equations, complex numbers, inequalities, and graphs of polynomial and rational functions. Prerequisites: An SAT Math score 480 and 510; or ACT Math score between 18-20; or SAT Subject MATH Level II test score between 430 and 460 ; or N.C. A&T Math Department-developed Algebra Placement Test score between 15 and 19, or at least a "C" in Math 101E. This course is intended for students with majors in the College of Business and Economics, College of Agriculture, College of Engineering, College of Science & Technology who do not meet the prerequisites for either Math 110, Math 111 or Math 131. 

Math 107 Math Literacy and Explorations. This course presents a survey of topics that apply to mathematics in personal life in order to provide general mathematical literacy and skepticism. Topics include personal mathematics, growth rates, statistical literacy, basic probability, as well as understanding and describing data numerically and visually. The course is intended for non-STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) majors. the course may be taken before, after, or concurrently with MATH 108. This course is intended for students with majors in the College of Education, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and the College of Health Sciences. This course counts as a mathematics general education requirement, has no prerequisites, and does not require placement. 

Math 108 Mathematics in Society. This course focuses on applications of mathematics relevant to groups of people in society. Mathematical topics are covered from an application driven perspective. Concepts include voting theory, finance, apportionment, task scheduling, and cryptography. The course is intended for non-STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) majors and may be taken before, after, or concurrently with MATH 107. This course is intended for students with majors in the College of Education, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and the College of Health Sciences. This course counts as a mathematics general education requirement, has no prerequisites, and does not require placement. 

Math 110 Precalculus for Engineers and Scientists. Algebraic properties of the number system, fundamental operations, exponents and radicals, functions and graphs, solutions of equations and systems of equations, trigonometric functions and identities, inequalities, exponentials and logarithms, and the binomial theorem will be studied. Prerequisites: An SATM score 520-570 or an ACT Math score 21-23, or a Math Dept Placement Test Scores: Algebra test score at least 20 or Pre-Calculus test scores at least 13-16, or at least a C or better in Math 102. This course is intended for students with majors in the College of Engineering or College of Science and Technology either as a first major course or for students who do not meet the prerequisites for Math 131. 

Math 111 College Algebra and Trigonometry. This course is a review of basic algebra; first and second degree equations; polynomial and rational functions-systems of equations-inequalities, right triangle trigonometry; and trigonometric identities and equations. Prerequisites: An SATM score 520-570 or an ACT Math score 21-23, or a Math Dept Algebra test score at least 20, or a passing grade in Math 102. This course is intended for students with majors in the College of Business and Economics, College of Agriculture, and select majors in the College of Science & Technology. 

Math 131 Calculus I. Limits and continuity of functions, the derivative, applications of the derivative, the definite integral and applications of the definite integral will be studied. Prerequisites: SATM score at least 570 or an ACT Math score at least 24 or a Math Dept Precalc test score at least 17, or a "C-" or better in MATH 104, MATH 110 or MATH 111. This course is intended for students with majors in the College of Engineering and a subset of College of Science & Technology majors -- specifically Mathematics, Physics, Geomatics, and Chemistry Education).

Algebra and Precalculus Placement Exams:


The Algebra Placement Test is intended for incoming freshmen or transferring students whose first required math course is one of the following according to their major curriculum guides:

  • MATH 101-Fundamentals of Algebra & Trigonometry I
  • MATH 103-College Algebra & Trigonometry for Engineers and Scientists I
  • MATH 110-Pre-calculus
  • MATH 111-College Algebra & Trigonometry

and whose SAT Math score or ACT Math score is below the required cut-off score for taking the required math course but wish to be placed into the required math course through this placement test.

Students who do not have a SAT or ACT Math score and whose first required math course in their major degree program curriculum guides is either MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 110 or MATH 111 are required to take Algebra placement test for an appropriate first math course placement.

The Algebra Placement Test is a multiple-choice test with a total of 35 questions, covering the following seven competency areas in algebra.

  • Numerical and Algebraic Expressions
  • Linear Expressions and Equations
  • Quadratic Expressions and Equations
  • Rational Expressions and Equations
  • Exponential Expressions and Equations
  • Elementary Functions and Inequalities
  • Geometric and Graphical Quantities




The Pre-Calculus Placement Test is a multiple-choice test with a total of 30 questions covering the following six competency areas in precalculus.

  • Numerical & Algebraic Expressions, Functions and Inequalities
  • Linear Expressions and Equations
  • Quadratic & Rational Expressions and Equations
  • Exponential & Logarithmic Expressions and Equations
  • Geometric & Graphical Quantities
  • Trigonometry

 

For questions or inquires about the NCA&T math placement tests, please email Dr. John Paul Roop, Math Placement Coordinator, at jproop@ncat.edu, or Dr. Guoqing Tang, Math & Statistics Department Chair, at tang@ncat.edu.