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Math Placement Information FAQ

  • All students must satisfy the Eastern Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Curriculum math requirements. This includes all full-time and part-first-time transfer, readmitted and continuing students.

  • All students must satisfy their Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Tier I Math requirement for their respective degree program of study within their first 30 credits earned at Eastern. The possible options for the LAC Tier I Math courses are:

    MAT 135P Math For Liberal Arts Plus
    MAT 139P Number Systems Plus
    MAT 155P Precalculus Mathematics Plus
    MAT 135 Math For Liberal Arts
    MAT 155 Precalculus Mathematics
    MAT 195 Math for Business, Economics, Health Science, & Data Science
    MAT 243 Calculus I with Technology

    Students who fail any of these courses in any given semester must take the course again the following semester. If a student fails to complete these courses within the first 30 credits earned at Eastern, he/she will not be allowed to register for additional courses unless his/her registration includes the required LAC Tier I Math course.

  • Required LAC Tier I Math Course

    1. Your SAT Math Score (or ACT Score) will determine your placement.
    2. Accuplacer Test: Students who do not have a SAT math score (or ACT Score) , or believe they may be prepared for a higher level math course than their SAT math score (or ACT Score) indicates may choose to take the Accuplacer test. If your Accuplacer test results places you in a higher course than your SAT math score (or ACT Score) indicates, then your Accuplacer test results will determine your placement.

    The following chart indicates the course you are eligible to take based on your SAT math score (or ACT score), or advanced placement high school math score or Accuplacer test results. (New SAT Math scores as of May 9, 2016)

    Math Placement Information

    Advanced Placement (AP) Information:
    Students with an AP Calculus score of 3 or higher, will receive credit for MAT 243. Consult with your advisor to determine if additional math courses are required as determined by your major.

    Students with an AP Statistics score of 3 or higher, will receive credit for MAT 216. Consult with your advisor to determine your required LAC Tier I Math course.

    Special Note for Students in the Honors Program:
    Students admitted into Eastern's Honors Program are exempt from taking any math placement test. Consult with your advisor to determine your required LAC Tier I Math course.

    Special Note on Transfer Information:
    Transfer students who have received credit for MAT 098, MAT 099, Math 1XX or Math 2XX are placed into MAT 135P, MAT 139P or MAT 155P (choice of course determined with advisor). Transfer students seeking to place into MAT 135 or MAT 155 must take the Accuplacer test.

    Transfer students who have received credit for MAT 216 or MAT 101 are placed into MAT 135, MAT 139P, MAT 155 or MAT 155P (choice of course determined with advisor).

  • ACCUPLACER is a computerized adaptive multiple choice untimed test. This means that your correct/incorrect responses will determine the number and type of problems that you will see. Therefore, as long as your responses are correct the computer will keep giving you harder questions. This technique selects just the right questions for your ability level. Because the test works this way, you must answer every question when it is first given. You can change your answer to a particular question before moving on to the next question, but you cannot leave a question out or come back to it later to change your answer. If you do not know the answer to a question, try to eliminate one or more of the choices. Then pick from the remaining choices.At Eastern, the test is divided into two categories of material, which are Elementary Algebra and College-Level Mathematics. The test will begin with the Elementary Algebra material in which there are a total of 12 questions. For the College-Level Mathematics section there are a total of 20 questions.

    Sample of Topics Covered in Elementary Algebra

    • operations with integers and rational numbers
    • computations with integers and negative rationals
    • the use of absolute values, and ordering
    • operations with algebraic expressions
    • adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing polynomials
    • simplifying exponents
    • simplifying algebraic fractions
    • factoring
    • translating written phrases into algebraic expressions
    • solving equations, inequalities, quadratic equations
    • solving verbal problems presented in an algebraic context

    Sample of Topic Covered in College-Level Mathematics

    • simplifying rational algebraic expressions
    • factoring and expanding polynomials
    • manipulating roots and exponents
    • solving linear, quadratic, and inequalities
    • system of equations
    • trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential functions
    • practical problems

  • Anyone who scored below 550 on SAT math or 22 on ACT.

  • Please contact the Advising Center at (860) 465 - 0443 to schedule an Accuplacer test session.

    You must contact the English Department for English placement test information.

  • You should bring your Eastern student ID and a few #2 pencils. The only calculator you can use is the one provided by computer.

    Do not bring your personal calculator

  • Upon your arrival, you will be directed to the appropriate computers for testing. Please have a seat and await further instructions from the math proctor. You will be responsible for being prepared to test and testing in a serious manner.

  • Once you have completed the test, the math proctor will print three copies of the score report, of which you will receive one for your records. The score report will provide you with your math placement results instructing you of the math course you should register for.

  • Visit practice for Accuplacer and view

    1. Improve skills with free learning resources
    2. Download and practice with free sample questions

     Additional links:

    Sample practice problems for the Accuplacer Test

    Answer Key for sample practice problems for the Accuplacer Test

    PreAlgebra/Elementary  : Here you will find interactive worksheets (some with video), online worksheets, and printed worksheets

  • The possible mathematics courses you will place into are listed below.

    MAT 099 - Algebra Essentials Overview
    This three-credit course counts toward your GPA and toward full-time status, but does not count toward graduation. After successful completion of this course, you MUST take MAT 135P, 139P or 155P (choice of course determined with advisor) immediately. This course falls under the MAC participation policy, and has an attendance policy. Refer to the Math Foundations Program website for details.

    MAT 135P - Math for Liberal Arts Plus Overview
     This four-credit course counts toward graduation and fulfills the General Education Math Requirement (GER IIIA) or LAC Tier I Math requirement. This course falls under the Eastern LAC policy, the MAC participation policy, and has an attendance policy. Refer to the Math Foundations Program website for details.

    MAT 139P - Number Systems Plus Overview
    This four-credit course fulfills the General Education Math Requirement (GER IIIA) or LAC Tier I Math requirement. This course is intended for Elementary (non-math) majors only. This course falls under the Eastern LAC policy, and has an attendance policy. Refer to the Math Foundations Program website for details.

    MAT 155P - Precalculus Mathematics Plus Overview
    This five-credit course fulfills the General Education Math Requirement (GER IIIA) or LAC Tier I Math requirement. This course falls under the Eastern LAC policy, the MAC participation policy, and has an attendance policy. Refer to the Math Foundations Program website for details.

    MAT 135 - Math For Liberal Arts Overview
    This three-credit course fulfills the General Education Math Requirement (GER IIIA) or LAC Tier I Math requirement. This course falls under the Eastern LAC policy and has an attendance policy. Refer to the Math Foundations Program website for details.

    MAT 155 - Precalculus Mathematics Overview
    This four-credit course fulfills the General Education Math Requirement (GER IIIA) or LAC Tier I Math requirement. This course falls under the Eastern LAC policy and has an attendance policy. Refer to the Math Foundations Program website for details.

    MAT 195 - Math for Business, Economics, Health Science, & Data Science Overview
    This four-credit course fulfills the General Education Math Requirement (GER IIIA) or LAC Tier I Math requirement. This course falls under the Eastern LAC policy.

    MAT 243 - Calculus I with Technology Overview
    This four-credit course fulfills the General Education Math Requirement (GER IIIA) or LAC Tier I Math requirement. This course falls under the Eastern LAC policy.

  • You can take an equivalent math course elsewhere. To do so, you must submit to the Registrar's office at Eastern an Approval to Take Courses Outside of Eastern form which is located at the Advising Center or the School of Continuing Education. Refer to the Course equivalency information website for assists with course selection. After successfully completing the course, you must have your transcripts sent immediately to Eastern.

  • Students can receive assistance for the above courses in the Mathematics Achievement Center (MAC). Please visit the MAC website for details.

Mrs. Kathleen Dale
Science Building, Room 166
Email: dalek@easternct.edu
Phone: (860) 465 - 4589