Math Eligibility for Transfer Students, Re-Admits, and Non-Degree Seeking Students
Math Placement for Incoming Students (Transfer, Readmit, NDS)
COLLEGE/TRANSFER MATH CREDIT | DO I NEED TO TAKE THE PPL ASSESSMENT | PPL ASSESSMENT - read before taking the assessment |
The information below is for incoming students classified as Transfer students, readmits, non-degree seeking, UA South , or Distance Campus. Students attending Freshman Orientation should refer to the freshman math placement website.
Everything you need to know about the PPL Assessment, Transfer Math Credit, and Math Placement is on this page. Please read this page before emailing or calling the Math Department. Email is the preferred form of contact so students can get information in writing.
Math Requirements: Each major at the UA has a specific math requirement set by the major. Some transfer students will complete their requirement prior to attending the UA, while others may need additional courses. Many UA courses have specific math related eligibility requirement that are enforced in the registration system. This includes most MATH courses as well as MCB 181R, CHEM 141/151/161, ENGR 102A/B, PHYS 102, SBS 200, ISTA 116, and other courses. Those requirements could include taking a placement exam, even if you have completed some college level math courses at your previous school.
If you want to take one of these courses, you need one or more of the following: an appropriate UA ALEKS PPL Placement Assessement percentage or appropriate and recent math transfer credit.
UA Incoming students need to find out:
- If your transfer math course or courses satisfy a UA Math requirement or prerequisite. Do you have a transfer Math course(s) or credit?
- Courses from outside of Arizona may require an evaluation through our online form.
- If you have completed a Math Department approved prerequisite at a level below Calculus I within the last 3 semesters (18 months) and want to register into the next UA Math course, contact the Math Placement Office to update your placement.
- Students who want to take Math 129 or a higher level math course do not need to test, but need prerequisite credit in the UA system prior to the beginning of the semester.
- How can I check if my credit is in the UA system? - Wait until one week before your orientation date to check this. If it is not in the UA system, email an unofficial copy (must be from the college or an unofficial AP/IB etc. score report) to the Math Placement Office. Please include your orientation date.
- View the UA policy for AP credit or other credit by exam.
- Out-of-state college level Math courses require an evaluation.
- How to become eligible for a UA Math course? See rules here.
- If you are required to take the UA ALEKS PPL Assessment. There is a $26 fee for testing. Access is through the Next Steps Center.
- Note that this test is for entry into courses at or below the level of Calculus I for students who do not have recent or appropriate transfer credit. If you are done with your Math requirements or plan on taking courses above the level of Calculus I (Math 129, 223, 254, etc.), then the test is not required. Most transfer students or UA South students do not need to take the test.
- Do I Need to Take the PPL Assessment? There is a $26 fee for every attempt at the PPL assessment charged to your UA bursar account.
- Note that this test is for entry into courses at or below the level of Calculus I for students who do not have recent or appropriate transfer credit. If you are done with your Math requirements or plan on taking courses above the level of Calculus I (Math 129, 223, 254, etc.), then the test is not required. Most transfer students or UA South students do not need to take the test.
Do I need to take the PPL Assessment?
- Non-degree seeking and Re-admitted students cannot access the PPL Assessment until they have registered for classes.
- If you are done with your UA Math requirements, you do not need to take the PPL Assessment.
- If you have not taken a college level math course and plan to at UA, you need to take the PPL Assessment unless you want to take Math 100 for review. No score is required for entry into Math 100.
- If you are not done with your Math (at or below level of Calculus I) requirements and your prerequisite for courses at or below the UA Calculus level (Math 122A+B, 125) was completed more than 3 semesters ago (18 months), you need to take the PPL Assessment.
- If you have prerequisite credit for an approved Calculus I or higher level course, you do not need to take the PPL Assessment.
- Students who wish to take UA MATH 112 must have an appropriate score on the PPL Assessment in order to be eligible. Intermediate Algebra is not a prerequisite.
- PHIL 110 and LING 123 satisfy the foundation math requirement for some majors and do not have a placement test score requirement. Consult your academic advisor before taking one of these courses.
- A recent college level intermediate algebra course can place students into Math 105, 106, or 107 only.
About the PPL Assessment
- There is a $26 fee for every attempt at the PPL assessment charged to your UA bursar account.
- The Assessment is proctored through an online proctoring service called Examity. Students need high speed internet, a webcam, and a microphone. Access to Examity is through your Next Steps Center.
- Examity Proctoring Quick Guide - You will need this guide to navigate the testing process.
- Read about the Placement Assessment here. Scores expire after one year.
- You can review for the Placement Assessment.
- You can use blank scratch paper, a writing utensil, and an approved calculator.
- Scores are processed into the UA system several times a day. Check Next Steps 12-24 hours after testing. Note that your placement message in your Next Steps Center is based on the requirements for your current major and may not include all courses.
- What score do I need to take a particular Math course? You don't have to take the highest level math course that you place into. Many students opt to take a lower level course. See a math advisor at orientation about this option.
- Students who need access to screen reading technology for testing should contact the Math Placement Office to access the test. This is not available through the Next Steps Center.
- Students are to take the Math Placement test without the assistance of any persons, textbooks, online materials, or any other assistance. Any violation of this will be considered cheating and a violation of the UA Code of Conduct. There can be serious consequences to artificially high placement testing scores. It is important to make an honest attempt at the test. Once you complete the test, your score is final regardless of any technical difficulties you may encounter during the exam.
- You can retest through Examity. There is a retesting fee, $26 per attempt. There is a 24 hour waiting period between tests.
- Once your first test score is processed, you will have access to a free Prep and Learning Module available through your Next Steps Center. This module may not be available after classes begin. Review is strongly recommended before testing. You can test up to 5 times.
- When you retest, look for
and click on PLACEMENT ASSESSMENT. - If you are not able to test remotely through Examity (no access to high speed internet, webcam/microphone not available), please contact the Math Placement Office for an alternative way to test.
- FAQs for Testing