Math Placement Resources for Advisors or HS Teachers/Counselors/Recruiters Knowledge Base

Math Placement Resources for Advisors or HS Teachers/Counselors/Recruiters → Printer Friendly Version

1. Math Placement Advising Resources for U of A Advisors

1.1. Math Placement Overview

The Math Department has very strict course entrance requirements and students must qualify in order to enroll in a math course or any course that uses math placement.   

  • For MATH courses at or below the level of calculus I (Math 122A/B or 125), students can qualify through
    • SAT/ACT Math scores (first year students only). Scores expire after 2 years except for Math 125 (1 year)
    • The PPL Assessment (Math Placement Test). Scores expire after 2 year except Math 125 (1 year)
    • The Math 100 final (MCLG) for Math 106, 107, 108, and 112 placement. MCLG scores expire in the same way as PPL scores
    • An appropriate U of A Math course prerequisite
    • Transfer prerequisite (Math 112 or 120R) must be less than 2 years old for entry into Math 113, 116, 120R, 119A, 122A/B (120R prerequisite), 263
  • For courses at or above the level of Calculus II (Math 129), prerequisite courses/credit are required.   These do not expire.  The placement test scores (SAT/ACT/PPL) are not used for registration into these courses
  • You can view some of these requirements on our Math Course Placement website
  • Incoming students should refer to the information in the Math Placement section of their Next Steps Center
  • You can find more math placement information in our Math Placement, PPL, & Transfer Credit / Math Courses & Registration Knowledge Base

1.2. PPL Information

About the PPL Assessment (Math Placement Test)

The assessment is meant to see what a student knows without a lot of review, to try to match them up with the best course based on their background.  It is not an assessment  that you pass or fail. Students do not need a high percentage in order to qualify for a course, so should not think of the score on the regular ABCDE grading scale.   

Students should only take the PPL once or twice and should not retest without reviewing.  Students should not just keep testing until they get the score they want.  This is generally not a successful plan for the student. 

The PPL review module does not replace content that a student has never learned. It is meant for them to brush up on content they have already learned. 

About the PPL

  • It is online and students need a webcam and a microphone to complete it.
  • It takes about an hour, but students have up to 3 hours to complete it.
  • It must be completed in one sitting.  If they stop testing, the 3 hour time limit does not stop.
  • There is a 7 day waiting period between each attempt.  Students must review using the Prep and Learning Module for up to 5 hours before they can access a third attempt. 
  • There is a testing fee.
  • Students can retest.
  • Students can access a review module after their first try as long as their account has not expired.
  • A student's PPL account expires after 1 years from a first login to the PPL system or after the 3rd attempt at the PPL, or if the Math Department determines that the student is not able to access the PPL.
  • Violation of the PPL rules may result in an invalidated test score (removed from Uaccess, retest for a fee) and reported to the Dean of Students.
  • The Math Department reserves the right to invalidate a PPL score for any reason.
  • The Math Department reserves the right to require in-person testing for any reason.
  • The Math Department reserves the right to deny a request to take or retake the PPL for any reason.

Find PPL Scores

  • Scores are processed on the hour daily from 5am to 10pm.
  • Incoming students can view scores in their Next Steps Center.
  • PPL scores are on the Transfer Credit Report in Uaccess Student usually within 24 business hours of testing.
  • Advisors can view scores in Uaccess under Records and Enrollment, Transfer Credit Evaluation, Test Results, scroll to bottom of page (view all).
  • Students can view scores on their Unofficial Transcript in Uaccess Student if the scores are not on the Transfer Credit Report.  
  • Scores may appear with a status of "NO RULE" or "REJECTED". This does not mean the test score is rejected, only that the score does not award credit. The status can be ignored and does not prevent registration if the score has not expired.

Find more about the PPL though our FAQs

1.3. Invalidating PPL Test Scores

There are several rules for taking the PPL Assessment listed on the PPL Information Page.

Testing rules include:

  • Students must be sitting at a table or desk in a quiet well lit space.
  • The student's head, workspace, and hands must be in full view for the duration of the session as shown on the website.
  • Student cannot wear a hat or use headphones of any kind. 

It is the student's responsibility to read and understand all PPL testing rules. The test should be taken as it is an in-person proctored test. Outside materials, phones, websites, notes,  videos, or persons are NOT allowed. 

Any suspicious behavior or violation of testing rules may result in an invalidated test score and may be reported to the Dean of Students.   

  • If a student does not use the correct set-up as show on the website, then the testing session is not using a proctored setting and may result in an invalidated test score.
  • If a testing session is not fully recorded, the student may be required to retake it. If the video feed is stopped or covered during the testing session, then it is not fully recorded. 
  • The Math Department reserves the right to invalidate a test score for any reason. 
  • The Math Department reserves the right to deny a retest to any student for any reason.
  • The Math Department reserves the right to require any student to test in-person. 
  • Scores can be invalidated based on a mismatch between previous scores and/or math coursework. 
  • If a student has not been successful in a math course, or attempted a math course several times, it does not make sense for the student to try to retake the PPL to try to skip one or more courses.  This generally leads to cheating,  invalided test scores, or a failing grade. 
  • Invalidated scores are removed from the U of A system and the student will need to retake the PPL for a fee.

Students are provided with all of this information before taking the PPL through the website and their required questionnaire. 

1.4. Transfer Math Credit/Credit by Exam

Transfer Credit Info

1.5. Student Repeated a Math Course and Can't Add the Next Course

If a student does not get credit for a course, Uaccess may not recognize it for registration purposes. See some examples below:

  • A student took a transfer Math 112 course several years ago, then retook it at U of A and got a C or higher, but can't register for Math 113.
    • Uaccess is not recognizing the U of A Math 112 attempt with a grade of C or higher because credit was not awarded.
  • A student took Math 122B and got a D, then retook it and got a B.  This student is not able to register for Math 129.
    • Uaccess is not recognizing the Math 122B attempt with a grade of C or higher because credit was not awarded.

If you or a student comes across a situation like this, please direct the student to the Math Placement Office.  We would need to give the student a placement that will allow registration into the next course.  

1.6. MPLF Scores for FY Students

MPLF SCORES
We created some  MPLF scores that correspond to college math credit.

MPLF Score Transfer Credit
531 Math 107 credit
541 statistics (GSTA, 163, 263) or Math 107 credit
641 Math 112 credit (less than 2 years old) 
661 Math 120R credit (less than 2 years old)
663 Math 120R AP credit
810 Math 122B transfer credit
815 Math 125 AP credit
820 Math 129 credit
830 Math 223 credit

At or after FY orientation, if you think a student should be enrolled in a course,  but was dropped or didn't get it, it may be because
they already have credit that was verified through the Math Placement Office.  Check their Next Steps Center Math Placement message if you are not sure.

Other MPLF scores

  • MPLF scores look like SAT scores (400, 500, 520, etc.)
  • Other MPLF scores that don't look like a SAT score are based on ACT MATH scores. For example, MPLF 647 might look strange, but it is based on an ACT MATH score of 27, which is in the Math 113, 116, 120R score range since is it above 640.   If you see a strange looking score for a FY student, you should just check their math placement in the Next Steps Center proxy or compare it to the placement range here.  For Fall incoming FY students, you can view their placement in the Next Steps Center. 
  • More MPLF SAT/ACT conversions can be found here. 

1.7. MCLG Scores, Placement through Math 100

Math 100 and Placement

Math 100 is NOT a prerequisite to any U of A course. Students have to qualify for their "next" course through the Math 100 final exam (knowledge check) by achieving a certain number of topics on the final. These final exam scores appear on the student's record as MCLG scores. 

  • Students receive a MCLG score for placement if they have completed their Math 100 final. 
  • MCLG scores are NOT the same as PPL scores.
  • See the placement chart below for PPL vs MCLG scores

MCLG and PPL Scores

MCLG  Score PPL1/PPLN (PPL) Score Eligible Course Score Expiration 
0-24  0-14 Math 100 n/a
0-54 (Math 108/112 majors) 0-39 Math 100 n/a
25 or higher 15 or higher Math 106 or 107 2 years
55 40 or higher Math 108 or 112 2 years

**Math 106 and 107 are not prerequisites to Math 108 or 112. If a student gets a low Math 100 placement at the end of the course, like MCLG 10 or 25, they are far away from the knowledge base required for success in Math 108/112 and should retake Math 100.

What do these scores mean?

MCLG score Meaning Recommendation
MCLG 10

Student progressed through less than half of the content needed to qualify for Math 106 or 107. 

Student progressed through less than one fourth of the content needed to qualify for Math 108 or 112. 

Retake Math 100.  There are too many topics missing in your knowledge base and you are not ready to progress to a higher level math course.
MCLG 25- Math 106/107 majors only 

Math 106/107 majors only: Eligible for Math 106 or 107.

Math 106/107 majors: Enroll in Math 106 or 107 if that course will complete the foundation math requirement for your major. Math 106 and 107 are not prerequisites to Math 108 or 112.
MCLG 25- Math 108/112 majors 

Math 108/112 majors: Student progressed through less than half of the content needed to qualify for Math 112.

Math 108/112 majors: Retake Math 100 if your major requires Math 108 or 112.
MCLG 38 or 40- Math 106/107 majors only

Math 106/107 majors only: Eligible for Math 106 or 107.

Math 106/107 majors: Enroll in Math 106 or 107 if that course will complete the foundation math requirement for your major. Math 106 and 107 are not prerequisites to Math 108 or 112.
MCLG 38 to 40- Math 108/112 majors 

Math 108/112 majors: Student progressed through about 70% of the content needed to qualify for Math 112.

If you spend 15-20 hours doing math through your Math 100 materials or PPL Prep and Learning, you have a chance at placing into Math 108/112.  

If you do not spend 15-20 hours doing math after completing your Math 100 course, you should retake Math 100 if your major requires Math 108 or 112.
MCLG 55

Eligible to enroll in Math 106, 107, 108, 112.  

Make sure you enroll in the correct course based on your major. 

1.8. Math Requirement Designators

We have several math requirement designators attached to transfer math courses that do not have a UA equivalent, but can satisfy a requirement or can be used as a prerequisite. 

    • RD G105 is attached to a course that will satisfy a gstrand math requirement like PHIL 110 or Math 105.  
    • RD M112 is attached to a course that will satisfy Math 112 requirement, but is not a prerequisite to other math or science courses.
    • RD M114 is attached to a course that will satisfy Math 114 (finite math) for students in Eller.
    • RD M116 is usually attached to a course that transfers as Math 113 and means the course will satisfy UA Math 116.
    • RD GSTA is attached to a low level statistics course that seems to have similar content to courses like UA Math 163, Psyc 230, SBS 200, but does not have a college algebra (Math 112) or higher level prerequisite. The course can satisfy the Gstrand math requirement (Math 105), or a major statistics requirement (Math 163, Psyc 230, SBS 200 and possibly others), but NOT BOTH. GSTA courses cannot satisfy a Mstrand foundation math (Math 112) requirement and cannot double dip into the foundation math and major statistics requirement. 
    • RD BSTA is just like GSTA but can also satisfy BNAN 276.  
    • RD ML04 is attached to Math 112 transfer credit that is less than 2 years old and allows  registration into Math and lab science course that have a Math 112 prerequisite. 
    • RD ML05 is attached to Math 120R transfer credit that is less than 2 years old and allows  registration into Math and lab science course that have a  Math 120R prerequisite. 
    • RD ML06 is attached to Math 122B transfer credit that is less than 2 years old and allows  registration into Math and lab science course that have a  Math 122B prerequisite. 
    • RD ML07 is attached to Math 129 transfer credit that is less than 2 years old and allows  registration into Math and lab science course that have a  Math 129 prerequisite. 
    • RD ML0V is attached to Math 223 transfer credit that is less than 2 years old and allows  registration into Math and lab science course that have a  Math 223 prerequisite. 
    • RD ML0D is attached to Math 254 transfer credit that is less than 2 years old and allows  registration into Math and lab science course that have a  Math 254 prerequisite. 
    • RDs 302A, 302B, 302E are attached to transfer credit that can be used to satisfy Math 302A, 302B, or 302E respectively. 

1.9. Contact the Math Placement Office

For students

For advisors