Test-Out Exams

If you believe that your mathematics placement score does not accurately reflect your mathematics ability level, you may test out of the class you have been placed into. As you register for classes, you should sign up for the mathematics course corresponding to your placement level. Within the first five days of class, you may take a test-out exam and move to the next class if you score 70% or better.

Mastery of Skills

You must have complete mastery of all material to test out. Many students who pass a class in high school need to repeat that class in college. The placement level gives us an indication of what you remember from that class.

For example, if you have taken precalculus in high school but cannot recall algebra and trigonometry facts, and cannot remember how to do precalculus problems, then you should retake precalculus in college and not try to test out of the course.

It is better to take a class in college reviewing material from high school than to take a course where you do not remember prerequisite material. Remember, the term "prerequisite" means that mastery of skills is assumed. So, for example, since precalculus is a prerequisite for calculus, it will be assumed that precalculus material has been mastered. These skills will not be reviewed in the calculus course.

Registration for Test-Out Exams

To register for a mathematics test-out exam, contact the Mathematics office at 608.342.1743 or email Barb Barnet at barnetb@uwplatt.edu. Please provide your name, email, phone number, the name of the course you desire to test out of, and the date of the exam you are registering for. You must register at least 24 hours prior to the date of the exam.

Test-out dates for the Baraboo Sauk County campus occur in the first five days of classes and are arranged after you contact the department.

Upcoming Test-Out Dates

  • Test out exams for the Platteville campus: Monday and Tuesday, January 22-23 from 4-6 p.m. in Boebel Hall, room 104.

Details of Test-Out Exams

  • Mathematics test-out exams are typically two hours long. Please arrive to your exam fifteen minutes early.
  • You are strongly encouraged to carefully review the relevant material before you take the exam.
  • The Mathematics Department does not provide any review materials for test-out exams.
  • If you are attempting a test-out exam for a course in which you are currently registered, you must complete the test-out exam by the fifth day of class.
  • Please bring a pencil with an eraser, a scientific calculator (for MATH 12,15, and 1830 only), a current photo ID, and payment (see below).
  • Certain calculators are prohibited, see list below.

Test-Out Fees

You will need to pay a $20 per credit test-out fee before you will be allowed to take the test-out exam. Cash, or check, made out to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for the appropriate amount listed below, will be accepted. You will not be allowed to take the exam until the fee is paid. The university does not accept $100 bills.

UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County accepts checks only, made out to the appropriate location.

The $20 per credit fees for each class are as follows:

  • MATH 0005 Basic Mathematics ($40, UW Baraboo Sauk County campus only)
  • MATH 0010 Elementary Algebra ($60, UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus only)
  • MATH 0012 Mathematical Problem Solving ($60)
  • MATH 0015 Intermediate Algebra ($60)
  • MATH 1530 College Algebra ($60)
  • MATH 1830 Elementary Statistics ($60)
  • MATH 2450 Pre-calculus ($100)
  • MATH 2530 Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry ($60)
  • MATH 2640 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I ($80)
  • MATH 2650 Calculus I with Applications ($100, UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus only)

Test-Out Policies

  1. Test-out exams are administered by the Mathematics Department and take place on the UW-Platteville campus, Baraboo Sauk County campus.
  2. You may not take a test-out exam for a UW-Platteville mathematics course for which you have already been assigned a grade. However, you are still eligible to take a test-out exam for a course from which you have withdrawn.
  3. You will earn credit for a course if you score 70% or better on the test-out exam for that course.
  4. A test-out exam can only be completed once.
  5. The Mathematics program adheres to the guidelines related to test-out exams as printed in the University Undergraduate Catalog.

Calculator Policy for Test-Out Exams

MATH 0012 Mathematical Problem Solving
Scientific calculator only, but a TI-30XS or 34 MultiView calculator is not allowed; a graphing calculator is not allowed.

MATH 0015 Intermediate Algebra
Scientific calculator only, but a TI-30XS or 34 MultiView calculator is not allowed; a graphing calculator is not allowed.

MATH 1530, MATH 2450, MATH 2530 and MATH 2640
No calculators are allowed. The exams are written so calculators are not needed.

MATH 1830 Elementary Statistics
Scientific or graphing calculator, but a CAS calculator is not allowed.