This article gives important information about what SSCC's math placement test measures and does not measure, along with some guidance in placing students. It is intended only for advisors.
The placement level given by the placement printout is not mandatory. Good placement practice uses the placement test, high school background or college transfer credits, plus information from conversing with the student. If a student refuses your placement advice and insists on signing up for courses at a higher level than you think they are ready then you may want to write a note on their advising form and tell the student to discuss their decision with their professor.
There are actually two math placement tests. The arithmetic portion is a bought test from ASSET; the algebra portion is one written by SSCC professors at least ten years ago. ASSET's scoring mechanism is used for both tests, and also for both the reading and writing placement tests. Scoring is non-linear. This means that the scores are not simply based upon the percentage of total that were correct. The minimum possible score on any of the four tests is 23; the maximum possible is 55. Scoring is likely based upon a statistical distribution I haven't been able to determine, and it wouldn't mean much to most people reading this anyway.
Placement ranges were reviewed for several years and the current scale was established in 1994. Math or English faculty may open their ranges for review at any time.
The math placement tests are multiple choice skills tests. They do not test reasoning or creative problem-solving ability, only retention of skills. No calculator is allowed.
The arithmetic placement test consists of skills learned in Math 101 Basic Math.
The algebra placement test consists of skills learned in Math 117 Elementary Algebra. It is important to realize that we are not testing Math 118 Intermediate Algebra skills.
Thus a high combined placement score does not necessarily indicate a student is ready for College Algebra or Calculus. All it shows is that the student remembers how to do arithmetic and remembers the skills from their first year of algebra in high school or middle school. Nonetheless, retention of math skills is a good indicator of future math success and deserves some respect.
Here is the scale established for math placement, as a combination of both the arithmetic and algebra placement tests:
46 - 62: ABLE (Adult Basic & Literacy Education)
63 - 74: Math 101 Basic Math
75 - 85: Math 117 Elementary Algebra
86 - 110: Math 118 Intermediate Algebra or higher level math course. See catalog for appropriate prerequisite or program requirement.
Placement is not mandatory. The scale is merely a helpful and important guide to making a placement recommendation. What follows is some advice about how to determine proper placement based upon the placement test recommendation.
ABLE placement: This is the one placement that should be most rigidly adhered to. An assessment done several years ago on students who placed into ABLE but entered Math 101 without going to ABLE demonstrably indicated a strong chance of failure in Math 101. (p < 0.0001)
It is a good practice to walk these students over to the ABLE office. Students are understandably anxious to begin their college classes and some may view this as a negative roadblock to their progress, but ABLE does a good job of preparing these students to handle Math 101 and this should only be viewed as a positive.
Math 101 placement: Students placing into Math 101 tend to agree with this placement. Non-traditional students, especially, recognize when they are rusty. Those who never passed an algebra course in high school need to take Math 101 before Math 117 Elementary Algebra. Those who earned a C or D in high school algebra, even if recently, should take Math 101, since a C or D in high school is often a courtesy passing grade these days. Refer exceptions to math faculty.
If you see a 23 score on the algebra portion of the placement test then the student invariably left the algebra portion blank because they don't know any. Obviously these students will need Math 101, end of story.
A student placing into this range who has passed two years or more of college-prep math, i.e., first year algebra and above, may do fine taking Math 117 as their first course. In most cases their arithmetic skills come right back and they quickly relearn pre-algebra. If such a student has reservations about taking Math 117 first then Math 101 is probably the best choice.
Why is it possible that someone placing in Math 101 should take Math 117 or, in rare cases, even higher? If you walked in off the street cold and someone handed you an arithmetic and algebra test would you do as well as your potential? Some don't, only because of lack of practice. That is why high school background should also be considered as a factor in a placement decision.
Math 117 placement: It is rare that the placement test overplaces a student, but it is possible for someone who is good at arithmetic but has never had algebra to place in Math 117. These students must take Math 101 first--see the prerequisite for Math 117.
It is not uncommon for someone to underplace into Math 117. Poor arithmetic skills can distort the combined score. In this case an algebra score of around 49 or higher indicates excellent retention of Math 117 level skills, which is more significant than retention of arithmetic skills. Arithmetic comes back sufficiently for these people.
Thus, someone with three years of college prep math (two years of algebra and a year of geometry) who has a high algebra score and a low arithmetic score can usually handle Math 118 Intermediate Algebra. But a student with this background with a low algebra score is better off starting in Math 117 Elementary Algebra because they have forgotten much of their basic algebra. If they resist and want to start higher they should discuss this decision with a math professor.
Math 118 or higher placement: Placing into the highest range only indicates that the student is competent in arithmetic and beginning algebra (Math 117) skills. It is unusual, but a student can overplace into Math 118 Intermediate Algebra. This happens when a student who has only taken first year high school algebra, and maybe geometry, demonstrates mastery of their algebra knowledge. This is a tough call, but such a student may be ready for Math 118 despite not having all the prerequisites. Is this student an A or high B student? Maturity is a factor also. Such a student signing up for Math 118 should also discuss this decision with their professor since it technically violates the prerequisite.
Under most circumstances the following guidelines, based mostly on prerequisites, work very well. College-prep math is anything starting with a first year algebra or above. Common high school course names are Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Advanced Math, Calculus.
Three years college-prep: This can be a tough call. Such a student could take Math 118, 120, 124, 141, 142 or 160.
A student with a very strong arithmetic score but a not so strong algebra score may be better off taking Math 118 first. If their high school math grades are not that strong then Math 118, again, may be best. Converse with the student. If math is one of their harder subjects or they feel pretty rusty at it then Math 118 is best.
Some people in this category simply need an algebra refresher course (Math 118) before moving on to the college-level courses.
A student who has some confidence and ease at math, backed up with credible grades, is most likely ready to take one of the college-level courses (Math 120 and above, listed above). Of that list, Math 142 College Trigonometry and Math 160 Statistical Concepts require some maturity for success. By maturity we mean a student with experience learning or ready to handle an adult, analytical level.
Four years college-prep: There aren't very many students in this category, but unless they've been out of high school for some time these students can generally handle Math 120, 124, 141, 142 or 160. Those who have solid and fresh algebra skills could also take one of the calculus courses, Math 222 or Math 241, as a first course.
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