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Placement in Mathematics Courses

Beginning with the fall of 2005 placement in Mathematics courses will be based on scores on the Mathematics portion of the SAT or and equivalent score on the ACT.

  • Placement level I requires a Math SAT score of 500 or better or an ACT score of at least 21.
  • Placement level II requires a Math SAT score of 540 or better or an ACT score of at least 23.

A challenge test will be made available for students who feel that their mathematical ability is greater than indicated by the above.  This test will include sections on Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, and Trigonometry, and placement in courses will depend on success in the areas needed for those courses.

Challenge Test

Information on the Math Challenge Test

The purpose of mathematics challenge test is to verify whether your mathematics skills are strong enough to ensure that you will be successful in a college level math course. The test consists of 30 questions on basic arithmetic, algebra and trigonometry skills.  Your score in the three areas of the test will determine will determine which Math courses are most appropriate for you.

Currently we do not have a set of sample questions for the new challenge test, but the sample below (taken from our previous placement test) will give you a rough idea of the kinds of questions you might expect in the algebra portions.  Unlike the sample below, the questions on the challenge test will not be multiple choice.

If you want to review skills before taking the test, we recommend reviewing the following skills:

  •     exponent rules
  •     simplifying polynomial expressions
  •     solving linear equations
  •     working with slope of lines
  •     basic trigonometry (if you plan to go on to Calculus)

The following web sites offer tutorials on basic algebraic skills.   They may be helpful in your review:

A comprehensive online source for help with algebra, offering the latest technology, lessons to teach or refresh old skills, calculators that show how to solve problems step-by-step, and interactive worksheets for testing skills.

Purplemath’s algebra modules give practical tips, hints, and examples, and point out common mistakes. They are cross-referenced, and some contain short quizzes.  Contents include:

  • Basic Triangle Values - Radicals (square roots)
  • Calculators - Scientific Notation
  • Canceling Units - Slope and Graphing
  • Domain and Range - Slope and y-intercept
  • Exponents - Slope of a straight line
  • Factoring Quadratics - Solving Inequalities
  • Function Notation - Straight-line equations
  • Functions - Translation (word problems)
  • Graphing "distance" problems
  • Induction Proofs "investment" problems
  • Intercepts "mixture" problems
  • Percent of... "work" problems
  • Piecewise Functions: - Variables definition of - Vertical Line Test graphing of

Sample Test Questions

Try taking this test without a calculator:
1.     If t-2 = 7, then t + 2 =
  a.   5 b.   9 c.   7 d.   11
2.     |-12 + 5| =
  a.   -17 b.   -7 c.   7 d.   17
3.     At what point does the line y = 2x - 3 cross the y-axis?
  a.   (0, -6) b.   (0, -3) c.   (0, -3/2) d.   (0, -2/3)
4.     A number n is multiplied by 8 and then 2 is added to the result.  Which of the following represents the outcome of these operations?
  .a.   n + 10 b.   8n + 2 c.   10n d.   8(n+2)
5.  If Bailey has x square yards of cloth, and cuts it into 5 equal pieces, how many square yards are in each piece?
a.   x/5 b.   x2/5 c.   5x d.   x-5
6.     Which of the following is equal to 48/44?
  a.   14 b.   4-2 c.   42 d.   44
7.    A 5-pound bag of flour sells for $1.29, while a 10-pound sack of flour sells for $2.18.  To the nearest cent, how much more per pound is the 5-pound bag?
  a.   $0.89 b.   $0.40 c.   $0.04 d.  $0.18
8.  Solve x2 - 3x + 2 = 0
  a.   x= -1& x=2 b.  x=1 & x= -2 c.x=-1 & x= -2 d.  x=1 & x=2
9.     In simplest form, -2x2y3 / 6(xy2)3 =
a.      -x/3y3 b.   -x/3y2 c.   -1/3x2y2 d.   -1/3xy3
10.     The graph of y = 3x-2 looks most like which of the following?  [Assume the range is the same on each graph].
a. b. c. d.
11.     (y - 8)2 =
  a.   y2-16y-64 b.   y2-16y+64 c.   y2+64 d.   y2-64
12.     If 2x - 1 = 4, then x =
a.   -5/2 b.   -3/2 c.   3/2 d.   5/2
13.     If y + 11 = 4 - 8y, then y = 
a.   -2 b.   -7/9 c.   7/9 d.   1
14.    13 + 12 = 
a.    1 b.   2 c.   5 d.   6
15.     y - 5(y - 3) =
  a.   -4y - 3 b. y2 - 8y + 15 c.   -4y + 15 d.  -4y - 15
16.     x4 + 3x3 + x =
a.   x(x3 + 3x2) b.   x(x3 + 3x2 + 1)
c.   x(4x3 + 3x2) d.   x(4x3 + 3x2 + 1)
17.     |6| - |5| =
  a.   11 b.   1 c.   -1 d.   -11
18.     For all positive values of r and s, (4rs2)0 =
a.   1 b.   4 c.   4r d.   4rs2
19.     This figure shows the graph of which of the following lines?
a.  x = 2 b.  y = 2 c.  x = y + 2 d.  y = x + 2
20.     In simplest form, 7x - 5(2x - 4) =
a.   -3x + 20 b.   -3x - 20 c.   14x2 - 38x + 20 d.   14x2 + 20
21.     If  -3x < 3, then
a.   x < -2 b.   x > -2 c.   x < -1 d.  x > -1
22.     Which of the following is a solution  of 8 - x < 5?
a. [3, °) b.  [-3, °) c.   (-°, 3] d.  (-°, -3]
23.     The number 9 is 6% of what number?
a.   54 b.   15 c.   150 d.   0.54
24. If the volume of a box with a width of 10 cm, and a length of 15 cm is 3000 cubic centimeters, what is the height of the box?
  a.   20 b.   50 c.   25 d.   10
25.     Consider the adjoining table that gives David's score on four 100-point tests.  If David's average score for the 4 tests was 91, what was his score on test IV?
TEST SCORE
I 88
II 84
III 98
IV x
a.   90 b.   91 c.   92 d.   94 
  Solutions to Sample Test:
1.   d 2.   c 3.   b 4.   b 5.   a
6.   d 7.   c 8.   d 9.   d 10.  d
11.  b 12.  d 13.  b 14.  b 15.  c
16.  b 17.  b 18.  a 19.  a 20.  a
21.  d 22.  a 23.  c 24.  a 25.  d
   
© 2004 Lenoir-Rhyne College              Page Manager:  Dick Hull ( dickhull@lrc.edu )