Math Placement Exam (MPE)

Math Placement Exam Information

First-year Students

• ALL first year students, regardless of SAT or AP/IB scores, must take the Math Placement Exam before coming to New Student Orientation. There are no exemptions from taking the Math Placement Exam for first-year students.

Transfer Students

• ALL transfer students are strongly encouraged to take the Math Placement Exam before coming to New Student Orientation.
• Students are required to take the Math Placement Exam if they do not have equivalent credit for MATH140, or if you are entering the School of Public Health (SPHL) or College of Behavioral & Social Sciences (BSOS).
• School of Engineering (ENGR) and School of Business (BMGT) transfer students do not need to take the Math Placement Exam.

Freshmen Connection Students

• ALL first year students, regardless of SAT or AP/IB scores, must take the Math Placement Exam before coming to New Student Orientation. There are no exemptions from taking the Math Placement Exam for first-year students.
• After submitting your Freshmen Connection enrollment form, you should proceed with completing the Math Placement Exam (MPE). MPE results are used to ensure that students are eligible to enroll in the math course associated with their intended major as well as any math-dependent courses. For more information see, ter.ps/fcmpe.

General MPE Information

The Math Placement Exam is an exam that determines what level math course(s) you should take, based on your knowledge of the subject. Administrators in the Math Department and your Academic Advisor use this information combined with SAT/ACT scores and previous course grades to evaluate your math skills.

Your score will automatically be sent to your academic advisor who will then help you to pick the right math courses when you are on campus for New Student Orientation. It is to your advantage to follow all Math Placement Exam instructions and policies. Soliciting outside help with the exam can only hurt you if it results in your placement into a math course/track beyond your true ability.

Problems? Contact math-place@umd.edu. Please include student full name, student UID, and statement of the issue.