Math placement testing information

All degrees at UT have a mathematics requirement. How a student will fulfill that requirement varies from degree to degree. The degree you plan to pursue, your Math ACT (or Math SAT) score, and the score from your math placement test(s) will be used by your adviser to determine the mathematics required and at what level you will start. It is important to begin at the appropriate course that will allow you to proceed through all required mathematics courses in a timely manner without being placed in a course above your current ability. Wrong placement can be costly in terms of time and money.

NOTE: Any student with ACT/SAT or placement test scores more than two years old must retake the appropriate placement tests.

Trigonometry Placement Test:

This test is required of all students wishing to enroll in calculus (MATH 1850 or MATH 1920). Students planning to enroll in calculus (MATH 1850) must have a Math ACT score of 20 or higher (Math SAT of 480 or higher), and should have had a prior trigonometry course.

College Algebra Placement Test:

This test is required of all students wishing to enroll in calculus (MATH 1850) with Math ACT scores of 20-26 (Math SAT of 480-600). It is also required of all students wishing to enroll in life sciences mathematics (MATH 1750) with Math ACT scores less than 22 (Math SAT less than 520).

Elementary Algebra Placement Test:

This test is required of all students with Math ACT below 20 (Math SAT below 480) or no ACT or SAT scores.

For specific questions regarding which tests to take, contact your college (see phone number in your welcome letter).

Return to the Placement Homepage