Math Placement Exam

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Math Placement at UNL

The University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) requires almost all new, incoming students to a achieve a math placement before scheduling their New Student Enrollment (NSE) advising.  Even if you have completed college-level math courses and are only planning to enroll in advanced math courses at UNL, achieving a math placement can still be required.  New, incoming students will achieve a math placement by completing the Advising Inventory or by completing the Math Placement Exam (MPE).  Students will work with their New Student Enrollment advisor to determine their first math course based on their math placement, overall student record, and planned degree requirements.  Several departments at UNL use your math placement as part of their course prerequisites.  Your math placement will not impact your admission or your ability to transfer math course credit to the university.

In order to register for a math course at UNL, new and current students must satisfy the prerequisite for that math course.  The prerequisite is satisfied by achieving a qualifying math placement before NSE advising, by taking the MPE to achieve a math placement after enrolling at UNL, or by completing the prerequisite course(s) in college with a grade of 'P' (pass) or 'C' or better.  If the prerequisite course was taken more than once, the most recent grade is the applicable one.  The MPE covers Algebra and Precalculus/Trigonometry material.  So, the qualifying MPE placement for MATH 107: Calculus II or higher is the same as for MATH 106: Calculus I plus having completed Calculus I or higher with the minimum required grade.  Students in-progress with a math course may be placed based on their in-progress course and their achieved math placement.

The information below about preparing for, scoring, and completing the MPE is primarily for students who are required to take the MPE.  Students who have started math coursework at UNL should not retake the MPE unless directed to do so by the Math Department or their academic advisor.

Preparing for the MPE

There is a practice exam available below. You should try the practice exam before you take the MPE, and you should review any topics that went poorly on the practice exam.  This is particularly important if you are not taking a math course currently.

Practice Math Placement Exam Answers to the Practice Math Placement Exam

Scoring the MPE

On the MPE, only wrong answers are penalized. Do Not Guess! Each part of the Math Placement Exam is scored as follows: 1 point for each blank answer, 3 points for each correct answer, and 0 points for each wrong answer. Since each part of the MPE has 10 questions, each part will be scored out of 30.

If your score is 19 or less in any part, you might want to review using our free online Math Textbooks or a Schaum's Outline series study guide. There are also other online resources that can help you review for the Math Placement Exam, but we don't currently recommend a specific online resource.

  1. Review for Part 1 (BA): Schaum's Outline of Elementary Algebra
  2. Review for Part 2 (AA): Intermediate Algebra or Schaum's Outline of Intermediate Algebra
  3. Review for Part 3 (PC): College Algebra or Schaum's Outline of Precalculus (skip trigonometry)
  4. Review for Part 4 (TR): College Trigonometry or Schaum's Outline of Precalculus

Completing the MPE

You may take the MPE up to three times during your time at UNL. Only one attempt is allowed every 24 hours. If your first attempt does not reflect your ability, review and practice before trying again. Each new attempt requires you to complete all parts of the exam.

Take this exam honestly and follow all directions. Being placed into the wrong course can delay your progress and cost you time and money. The goal is to place you in a course where you can succeed.

The MPE has four parts: Beginning Algebra (BA), Advanced Algebra (AA), Precalculus Algebra (PC), and Trigonometry (TR). The exam begins with Part AA. You will have 20 minutes to complete each part.

Instructions
  1. Take the exam on your own. Do not use outside help, as this may result in incorrect placement.
  2. Have blank scratch paper and writing utensils ready (no notes or books). Calculators are allowed, including graphing calculators. Calculators with advanced symbolic math capabilities (CAS) are not allowed.
  3. Choose a time when you can work without interruptions for at least one hour.
  4. Restart your computer before beginning (this helps avoid technical issues). Log in using your NUID and TrueYou password.
  5. Your time for Part AA begins when you click “Proceed to the next part, Part AA (Algebra).”
  6. Do not use your browser’s back or forward buttons, as this may cause errors. Use the “Previous Question” and “Next Question” buttons within the MPE system.
  7. Answer or review all ten questions in each part before clicking “Grade this part.” Clicking “Grade this part” too early may result in incorrect placement.
  8. After completing Part AA, the system will direct you to either Part BA or Part PC based on your results. Only complete Part BA if prompted. The next section begins when you click “Proceed.”
  9. Continue until you complete all required parts. Then click “Grade the full Math Placement Exam” and “Log out and finish.” If you do not complete these steps, your results may not be recorded or uploaded to MyRED, which could delay advising and course registration.
  10. Your placement is based on your performance across all parts of the exam, not a single section. Results are uploaded to MyRED each weekday morning, after which you can schedule advising or register for eligible math courses.
Accommodations

The Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office can assist students taking the MPE. To receive accommodations, you must register with SSD in advance (117 Louise Pound Hall, 402-472-3787, https://ssd.unl.edu/). Approved accommodations will be provided through SSD using the same online MPE system. All students, including those with accommodations, must follow the same attempt limits described above.

Questions

For questions, contact:

  • New Student Enrollment: 402-472-4646
  • Math Department: 402-472-3731

 

Take the Math Placement Exam

Trouble?

Please see our Course Override Request Policy and Procedure page for issues with enrolling in Math courses.

Please contact New Student Enrollment for issues with scheduling an NSE advising appointment.

Questions

If you have any other questions, contact Doug Pellatz.