1.1. New Items for Fall 2024

New for Fall 2024:

• New Prep for Calculus AP exam, PCL.  
  • A score of 3 or higher awards credit for Math 120R
  • Anticipated scores are not used for placement, so student will still need a placement through SAT/ACT or PPL for June FY orientation sessions
• New Scores for Math 106/107
  • PPL scores for entry into Math 106/107 are now 18-100 (not 15-100)
• ALGEBRA PLUS has ended and will not be offered after fall 2023.

Other 

• The PPL Assessment is no longer available year round. 
  • The test will be open March 1- the first full week of fall classes and October 1 through the first full  week of spring courses. 

1.2. 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 1 year except for Math 106/107 (2 years). 
  • The PPL Assessment (Math Placement Test). Scores expire after 1 year except Math 106/107 (2 years). 
  • The Math 100 final (MCLG) for Math 106, 107, 108, and 112 placement.
  • or an appropriate UArizona prerequisite
  • Transfer prerequisites must be less than 2 years old.  
• For courses at or above the level of Calculus II (Math 129), prerequisite courses/credit are required.   These do not expire. 
• You can view some of these requirements on our Math Course Placement website.
  • Details about some first and second year courses can be found here. 
• Incoming students should refer to the information in the Math Placement section of their Next Steps Center. 

1.3. PPL Resources and 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.   

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 72 hour waiting period between each 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 expired.
• A student's PPL account expires after 1 years from a first login to the PPL system or after the 5th attempt at the PPL, or if the Math Department determines that the student is not able to access the PPL.
• Students should take the PPL as if they are taking an in-person proctored test.  Students can use an approved calculator and blank scratch paper. Use of other devices, materials, notes, persons, websites, videos,  other unauthorized materials, or any suspicious behavior will result in an invalidated test score and may be reported to the Dean of Students as a violation of the University of Arizona Code of Conduct. 

 

1.4. How Do Students Access the PPL Assessment?

Access the PPL

• Incoming students access the PPL through their Next Steps Center.
• Other students access it here. 
• The PPL is available generally March 1 through the first week of fall classes and then October 1 through the first week of spring classes.  
• Students have to wait 72 hours between attempts at the test.

1.5. How Do I find PPL scores? How Do Students Find PPL Scores?

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.  

1.6. Why is the PPL Status "Rejected" or "No Rule"?

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 of the score has not expired.

1.7. Does my PPL/SAT/ACT/MPLF/MCLG score expire?

For entry into Math 108, 112, 113, 116, 119A, 120R, 122A, 125, 129, 163, 263, 302A, 302E, all test scores expire after 15 months. 

For entry into Math 106 or 107, all test scores expire after 2 years. 

1.8. Invalidating Test Scores

There are several rules about taking the PPL Assessment which can be found through the PPL Information Page. 

It is the student's responsibility to read about and follow the rules.   The test should be taken as it is an in-person proctored test. No outside materials, phones, websites, notes,  videos, or persons allowed.  Any suspicious behavior may result in an invalidated test score; may be reported to the Dean of Students.   

• If a testing session is not recorded, the student may be required to retake it.
• 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. 

1.9. More About the PPL Assessment

Find more about the PPL though our  FAQs. 

• Math Placement Test (PPL) Information
• Access the PPL Test 
• Review before testing
• After you test, you can review using Prep and Learning
• Math Placement Chart

1.10. Transfer Math Credit/Credit by Exam

Transfer Credit Info

• Arizona Math Transfer Chart
• Out-of-state math transfer database
• International transfer database
• AP Math Exams
• Math Transfer Credit Evaluation Forms
• I have math credit. What course can I take next? 
• FAQs about transfer credit or credit by exam (IB, CIE, other)

1.11. MPLF scores for FY students

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

MPLF Score	Transfer 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)
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 50 means the student did not have a placement a few days prior to orientation and is a Math 100 placement.  This is required for pre-scheduling of Math 196B.
• 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 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. 

1.12. MCLG, Math 100 Final Exam for Placement

Math 100 and Placement

• 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  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	15 months

Math 106 and 107 are not prerequisites to Math 108 or 112.   

1.13. Math 100 is not a prerequisite to any U of A course.

Math 100 is not  a prerequisite to any U of A course. Students have to qualify for the "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.  These are different from PPL scores and have a different range to qualify for the "next course".  You can find the required scores here.  These scores generally expire after 15 month like all other test scores (except for Math 106/107 placement test scores expire after 2 years).

Note that some students might place into Math 106/107 at the end of Math 100, but need Math 108/112 next.  Math 106/107 are not prerequisites to Math 108/112.  

Some students need more than one semester to review and need to take Math 100 more than once.  

If a student gets a  low Math 100 placement at the end of the course, like MCLG 10 or 25, then they are far away from the knowledge base required for success in Math 108/112 and should retake Math 100.   

1.14. Fall Enrollment in Math 129, 223, 254 pending credit for Math 122B/125 or 129

One June 1 of each year:

• Students enrolled in a summer Math 122B equivalent course  or awaiting AP Math 125 credit can add Math 129 for fall through Uaccess Student .
• Students enrolled in a summer Math 129 equivalent course or awaiting AP Math 129 can add Math 223 or 254 for fall through Uaccess Student.
• Students should make sure they are enrolled in an approved/equivalent class by checking the transfer website or submitting a Transfer Course evaluation form for pre-approval. 

We will verify prerequisites starting in early August. It is the student's responsibility to submit transcripts to prevent being dropped from fall courses. Students are messaged about this a few times before classes begin and may be dropped if they fail to respond or show successful completion of the prerequisite. 

You can find AP and other math transfer credit information here. 

 

1.15. 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 BNAD/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. 

1.16. Contact the Math Placement Office

For students

•  Contact the Math Placement Office. 

For advisors

• Direct students to placement@math.arizona.edu or the  Contact the Math Placement Office form.
• For quick help during orientation or priority registration, use UA Advising & Placement Support TEAM, Math Placement or general Math questions channel. 
• Note that items that are not quick questions should be directed to placement@math.arizona.edu 
• The Math Center is only for questions regarding Math or Statistics and Data Science majors/minors and is not for transfer credit, math placement or any related items.