Mathematics Skills Assessment Test

MATHEMATICS SKILLS ASSESSMENT TESTS

There are two math skills assessment tests, B and D, which cover the topics listed below. The test questions on both exams are multiple choice, with no partial credit. Each test is 75 minutes long, and you may use any battery-operated calculator (including graphing calculators but not a QWERTY keyboard machine).

The D test is given to students with ACT Math scores of 25 or higher (SAT math scores of 570 or higher). It includes questions on intermediate and advanced algebra, geometry, and trigonometry and is designed primarily to indicate a student's readiness for calculus. This test has 25 problems. Students can place at Course Code L, M, N, or U (undetermined) from this test.

Click here for sample problems for the D Test.*

The B test is given to students with ACT Math scores of 24 or less (SAT math scores of 560 or less). It includes questions on arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. This test has 40 problems. A student can place at Course Codes N, R, S, T, or U (undetermined), from the B test.

Click here for sample problems for the B Test.*

  • Most transfer students are required to take the B test. International transfer students would qualify to take the D test. Evaluation of deferred or general credit may exempt students from this test.
  • Students with a raw score 35 or higher on the B test automatically qualify for the D test. 
* These are practice problems similar to the types of problems that are on the Math Skills Assessment tests.

MATH SKILLS ASSESSMENT TEST TOPICS

MATH B TEST TOPICS

  1. Arithmetic of signed numbers, fractions, mixed numbers, decimals, scientific notation
  2. The number line -- rational and real numbers
  3. Properties of numbers -- distributive property, prime factors, divisibility, order of operations, least common multiple, greatest common divisor
  4. Exponents -- integral and fractional exponents, laws of exponents, simplification of expressions containing exponents and radicals
  5. Applied problems and formulas -- word problems, percent, ratio and proportion, geometric formulas, units of measure
  6. Linear equations -- slope, intercepts, slope-intercept form, parallel lines, solving linear equations
  7. Solving linear inequalities and inequalities involving absolute value
  8. Graphing -- ordered pairs, linear equations and inequalities, parabolas, and other equations
  9. Pythagorean Theorem, distance in the plane, perimeter, area and basic properties of geometric figures including triangles, circles, and parallelograms
  10. Systems of equations in two and three variables, and applications
  11. Polynomials -- addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
  12. Factoring -- common monomial factor, quadratics, by grouping
  13. Solving quadratic equations, complex numbers
  14. Simplifying rational expressions, complex fractions, solving fractional equations
  15. Logarithms and exponentials
  16. Right triangle trigonometry

MATH D TEST TOPICS

  1. Fundamental concepts of algebra -- including all topics on the B test listed above
  2. Equations and inequalities -- linear and quadratic equations, fractional equations, equations with radicals, equations quadratic in form, inequalities and sets, equations and inequalities in absolute value, quadratic inequalities, systems of two equations in two variables
  3. Functions -- coordinate systems, relations, one to one functions, domain and range, graphs of functions (expansions, contractions, translations and reflections), determination of symmetry and asymptotes, composite and inverse functions
  4. Quadratic functions (properties and graphs), graphs of polynomial functions of degree >2, rational functions (properties and graphs), conic sections (standard forms and graphs)
  5. Exponential and logarithmic functions, properties and graphs, solving log and exponential equations
  6. Right triangle trigonometry, angles, evaluation of trig and inverse trig functions
  7. General trigonometry, trig functions and their properties, evaluating trig functions, reference angles, graphs of trig and inverse trig functions, amplitutde, phase shift
  8. Analytic trigonometry, trig identities and equations, addition formulas and multiple angle formulas, sum and product formulas, law of sines and cosines, vectors
  9. Complex numbers, definition, conjugates, inverses, complex roots of equations, trig form of complex numbers, powers and roots of complex numbers, DeMoivre's theorem