General Information

If you choose a major or program which requires calculus (for example, biology, chemistry, engineering, computer science, prehealthcare), you may be required to take the Mathematics Placement Exam (MPE) to determine whether you may register for Calculus I (MTH 1321) or its prerequisite, Precalculus (MTH 1304). No credit will be given for this placement exam. The following chart gives specific information, based on either SAT or ACT scores, on MPE requirements and exemptions:

STUDENT'S SAT or ACT SCORE	MATH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENT OR RECOMMENDATION
SAT < 550 or ACT < 24	Student is required to take the MPE
550 ≤ SAT < 600 or 24 ≤ ACT < 28	Student may enroll in MTH 1304 without taking the MPE or may take the MPE to see if she/he qualifies to skip MTH 1304 and begin with MTH 1321
600 ≤ SAT < 650 or 28 ≤ ACT < 31	Student may enroll in MTH 1304 without taking the MPE but is strongly advised to take the MPE to see if she/he qualifies to skip MTH 1304 and begin with MTH 1321
SAT ≥ 650 or ACT ≥ 31	Student need not take the MPE and is strongly advised to enroll in MATH 1321 instead of MTH 1304.
SAT ≥ 690 or ACT ≥ 33	Student may enroll in MATH 1321-H1 (Honors Calculus 1)

Students planning to take Precalculus for Business (MTH 1308) or Calculus for Business (MTH 1309) do not have to take this placement examination.

For further information (for example, dates/time/location for the math placement exam), please call 710-3562 or email Margaret Salinas at Margaret_Salinas@baylor.edu. DO NOT bring pencils or paper to take this exam; this material will be provided for you. Calculators are not allowed during this test.

Preparing for the MPE

We strongly suggest that students review their math skills at least one month prior to taking Baylor's mathematics placement exam. This examination, which is one hour in length, is over basic college algebra, geometry, and trigonometry skills. There are 31 questions on our placement examination. Students are allowed to take our MPE only one time.

We advise that students search the web for various internet math placement exam sites and to practice online mathematics exams that involve college algebra, geometry, and trigonometry problems. One site that we recommend for college algebra and geometry (however, it has very little trigonometry) is California's On-line Mathematical Analysis Readiness Test. This test is free of charge and students can try this exam as many times as they wish to help in their preparation for our examination. A very good site, also free to students, for a practice trigonometry test is the University of Texas at Tyler's Trigonometry Practice Exam. Since internet content is constantly changing, we encourage students to enlist a search engine (for example, Google or Yahoo) to find other practice placement examinations on the topics of college algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.

Honor Code Information

We have a zero tolerance policy in place against cheating on the MPE. Baylor has an Honor Code in place and any students caught cheating will be immediately excused from the exam and their names will be given to Baylor's Office of Academic Integrity.