Math Placement

All students wishing to enroll in a precalculus or calculus course at CU must take the online Math Readiness Test prior to enrolling in a math class. Click on the blue button on the right to access the test. The test score will be combined with other student information to generate one of three possible placements: Calculus, Precalculus, or Not Calculus/Precalculus. We recommend that you take the Math Readiness Test as soon as possible because delaying could impact your ability to enroll in math courses. Results remain valid for one year, so it is recommended that continuing students take the test shortly before the semester in which they plan to enroll in precalculus or calculus.

• A Calculus placement will allow a student to enroll in Calculus 1 (MATH 1300 or APPM 1350 or APPM 1340).
• A Precalculus placement will allow a student to enroll in Precalculus (MATH 1150 or APPM 1235) or Mathematical Tools for Economists 2 (ECON 1088). 

Students are encouraged to review the study materials and work through a practice test before taking the actual test in a distraction-free environment. Please make note of the test conditions:

• The 60-minute Math Readiness Test will consist of 40 multiple choice questions. Students interested in qualifying for Calculus must complete the entire test. Students interested in qualifying for Precalculus may submit the test after completing the first 20 questions. There will be only one correct answer per question. Partial credit will not be awarded.
• The only resources allowed are pencils (or pens) and blank scratch paper. Books, notes, calculators, electronic devices, the internet, and other resources are not permitted.
• New students should complete the exam as soon as possible. The date that you take the Math Readiness Test could impact your ability to enroll in math courses! 
• For students who have taken a CU Precalculus course: If you earned a grade below C- or received a grade of W, you must retake the course in order to qualify for Calculus. You are not eligible to qualify for Calculus by taking the Math Readiness Test or Proctored Math Placement Test.
• Test takers who require additional time to complete the test online due to a documented disability should visit Disability Services in the Center for Community, Room N220, email dsinfo@colorado.edu, or call 303-492-8671 prior to taking the readiness test. You will be asked to register for accommodations with Disability Services and provide the appropriate documentation. After you have received disability accommodations for extended time, it is extremely important that you contact mathplacement@colorado.edu before starting the test to activate additional time.
• Important note: When you start the Math Readiness Test, you should plan to complete it in one sitting or your incomplete score will be submitted and you will be locked out. If that happens, contact mathplacement@colorado.edu.

When you are ready, click the blue button in the navigation box on the right side of this page.

1. Log in using your CU Identikey username and password.

2. On the Enroll in CU Boulder Math Readiness Test page, click Enroll in Course, then Go to the Course.

3. On the Canvas home page, select the course CU Boulder Math Readiness Test.

4. Review the study materials and take the Practice Test.

5. When you are ready, take the official Math Readiness Test. We strongly recommend using the Chrome browser.

Placement results will be available within 2 business days. Students can view their placement results in Canvas under "Grades" or by going to the Buff Portal.

Students who feel they have not been placed in the appropriate math eligibility category based on the Math Readiness Test may take a proctored math placement test to demonstrate their math proficiency. See additional information on this below, and on the New Student & Family Programs Website.

All students are required to take the Math Readiness Test first. Those who would like to improve their placement may attempt a proctored math placement test for another opportunity to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the topics necessary to be successful in precalculus or calculus 1 at CU Boulder. The proctored test score also determines the placement: Calculus, Precalculus, or Not Calculus/Precalculus; it will not make students eligible for Calculus 2.

Spring 2025 registration: For students who have submitted the Math Readiness Test and would like to improve their math placements, an on-campus Proctored Math Placement Test will be offered before the first day of class. Details will be posted here by mid-December.

Important: Students should prepare well prior to taking this test, as it is set up to be taken only once. After completion of the test, math placement results will be emailed within 2 business days. You can find more information about placement assessments on the New Student & Family Programs Website. 

For students wishing to qualify for Precalculus, another option is the Math Readiness Prep Course. See below for additional information.

For students hoping to qualify for Precalculus, we recommend completing the Math Readiness Prep Course which will review topics from algebra and analytic geometry. Successful completion of this course will allow you to take the Online Proctored Math Placement Test immediately for a possible placement of Precalculus. This prep course is for students who have submitted the Math Readiness Test and did not qualify for Precalculus or Calculus. It is also for students who would like to review algebra and analytic geometry before submitting the Math Readiness Test.

For students hoping to qualify for Calculus, we recommend completing the Calculus 1 Readiness Prep Course which will review Precalculus topics. This prep course is designed for

• Students who wish to review Precalculus before taking the Math Readiness Test for the first time.
• Students who received a Precalculus (or lower) placement and would like to qualify for Calculus.
• Students who received a Calculus placement and would like to review Precalculus before beginning their Calculus 1 course.

At the completion of the course, students who would like to improve their math placement will need to sign up to take the Proctored Math Placement Test in order to qualify for Calculus. Note that this prep course is intended for students who have already completed a Precalculus course and wish to review the material. Students who have never taken Precalculus should enroll in a full-semester Precalculus course. 

All students who will be taking a precalculus or calculus 1 course at CU must complete the Math Readiness Test, with the following exceptions:

• Successful completion of prerequisite coursework at the college level (either at CU Boulder or via approved transfer).
• Successful completion of the AP Calculus AB or BC test with the requisite exam score.

EXCEPTION: All incoming first-year Engineering students must complete the Math Readiness Test regardless of previous math college credit (transfer, dual enrollment, AP/IB). This is because Engineering students are pre-enrolled in some of their courses before the start of the semester, including coursework which may be dependent on the Math Readiness Test score.  Missing the deadline to take the Test could affect a student’s ability to enroll in classes needed in the first semester.  We need this score in our systems because these pre-enrollment processes start before AP/IB/Transfer credits post to student records.  Engineering students with subsequent transfer/AB college credit for calculus will be eligible to revise their mathematics class and course schedule during their enrollment window.

All incoming students are encouraged to consult their academic advisors for help in selecting an appropriate math course.