About Math Placement at WIU

Mathematics placement at WIU is based on mathematics courses taken in high school and on the math ACT score. While the official procedure is described in the document below, you can unofficially determine your math placement or find out whether you need to take the non-credit Math 099.

Mathematics Placement at WIU

Your initial math placement at WIU is determined by your Math ACT score and subscores and the math courses you passed with a C grade or better in high school. It is stongly recommended that students in categories marked with an * in the table below seek to advance their placement level by taking the Placement Exam. Some students are not eligible to take the placement exam based on their Math ACT score and courses completed in high school.

Your final placement will be determined after you fill out the additional information requested at the top of the Math Placement Cover Sheet. You can determine your probable final placement by following the steps below:

How to determine placement:

  1. Find the letter that best describes the sequence of math courses you have taken or are taking from Part I.
  2. Locate and mark the column under that letter on the placement grid in Part II.
  3. Find your math ACT score from the card given to you at check-in (under MA) or on your Math Placement Cover Sheet. Follow the row with that score in it across until it intersects with the column you marked in #2.
  4. Circle that box and refer to Part III to discover your math placement.

Part I. Category for Highest Level High School Course Completed (grade C or higher unless otherwise noted)

A - Algebra I and/or geometry or less
B - Advanced algebra junior year or earlier (no senior math course)
C - Advanced algebra senior year
D - Through advanced algebra with non pre-calculus senior year (prob/stat, transition, etc.)
E - Pre-calculus junior year or before (No senior math course)
F - Pre-calculus senior year
G - Non-Advanced Placement (AP) calculus with a grade of C
H - AP calculus with a grade of C or non AP calculus with a B or better
I - AP calculus with grade of B or higher

Part II. Placement Grid

Categories for highest level high school course complete

Math ACT
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
0-17
1
1
1
*1
*1
*2
*2
*2
*2
18-20
1
1
*1
*1
*1
*2
*2
*2
*2
21-22
*1
*1
*2
*2
*3
*3
4
5
6
23-25
*1
3
3
3
*3
*4
5
6
6
26-27
*2
3
3
3
*4
*5
6
6
7
28-36
*2
3
3
3
*4
6
6
7
7

Part III. Explanation of numbers in Placement Grid

1 - Math 099
2 - Math 100
3 - Math 100, 101, 102, 106, 123, 128, Stat 171
4 - Math 100, 101, 102, 106, 123, 128, 129, Stat 171
5 - Math 100, 101, 102, 106, 123, 128, 129, 137, 139, Stat 171
6 - Math 100, 101, 102, 106, 123, 128, 129, 133, 137, 139, Stat 171
7 - Math 100, 101, 102, 106, 123, 128, 129, 133, 134, 137, 139, Stat 171

Approved by the Mathematics Department 05/15/06