Office of general education

qL Requirements

Students may satisfy the Quantitative Literacy requirement by obtaining a passing score on the Quantitative Literacy Exemption Test or by earning a passing grade in one of the following courses: Mathematics 102, Mathematics 115 or a higher-numbered mathematics course (except Mathematics 205 or Mathematics 305), or a college-level statistics course. A college level statistics course is defined as a course that includes as a prerequisite either Mathematics 111 (or a higher-level/higher-numbered mathematics course) or a placement examination result indicating an equivalent background in mathematics. As of the current date, statistics courses that meet the Quantitative Literacy requirement are: Business 205, Economics 370, Life Sciences 485, and Mathematics 241. Any other statistics course will satisfy this requirement if it requires one of the preceding statistics courses or Mathematics 111 (or higher) as a prerequisite and the department provides a course syllabus and official documentation of the change to the General Education Office. In addition, college algebra courses that transfer to ISU as Mathematics 018 will satisfy the Quantitative Literacy requirement. This revision of the Quantitative Literacy requirement is effective immediately.

In order to correctly place new students in mathematics courses at ISU, all new students are required to take a mathematics placement exam. The test can be taken on-line in less than an hour and must be completed before attending Summer Orientation in June. There is no charge to take the math placement test. Testing is available online http://www1.indstate.edu/fyp/mathplacement.htm .

Practice Test for QL

The COMPASS information provided below is done for your convenience. The Office of General Education does not administer this test. If you miss taking the test during Sycamore Advantage, it is given in the University Testing Office M-F and you should contact the Testing Office at Extension 7666 to set up an appointment. Test scores will appear on your DARS report or can be obtained from your advisor. The Office of General Education does not have access to these scores.

COMPASS

(COMputer-Adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System)

All students will be given a Math Placement Test at Sycamore Advantage. This test is designed to place you in the right mathematics course for your chosen major so that you are ready to succeed. The test is in multiple parts and takes about 1 hour. Unless you choose a Math intensive major, we are mostly interested in your Pre-Algebra and Algebra knowledge so that we can determine the number of math courses you will take at ISU. Please review these concepts before coming to Sycamore Advantage.

Pre-Algebra	Algebra
Basic Operations with integers	Substituting values in algebraic equations
Basic Operations with factions	Setting up equations for given situations
Basic Operations with decimals	Basic operations with polynomials
Exponents	Factoring polynomials
Ratios and proportions	Solving polynomial equations by factoring
Percentages	Formula manipulation
Conversions between fractions and decimals	Linear equations in one variable
Multiples and factors of integers (whole numbers)	Exponents
Absolute values of numbers	Linear inequalities in one variable
Averages (arithmetic means)	Rational expressions
Order concepts (greater than; less than)	Exponents
Estimation skills
Counting problems and simple probability

Please note, this practice test is different from the COMPASS in test in the following ways:

Questions are multiple choice on the COMPASS test, but not on the practice test.
You may work with pencil and paper to solve each question, but the answers on the official COMPASS test are entered into the computer.
A description is provided above every practice test question so you can get help, if needed. The actual COMPASS test will not identify topics.
MATH PLACEMENT PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS: (NEW TEST COMING SOON)
MATH PLACEMENT PRACTICE TEST ANSWERS: (NEW TEST COMING SOON)
To schedule a compass test please contact the University Testing Office

FAQ

How will the test work?	You will take the test sitting at a computer with enough room to use scratch paper. There is a built-in calculator in the testing program. You will answer the MULTIPLE CHOICE questions as they come up on the computer. The more right answers you give, the more likely you are to get more advanced questions. If you provide a string of wrong answers the test will end and placement made on the basis of what you were able to answer.
How will my COMPASS score be used?	Your score on the Pre-algebra portion will determine if you test out of Math 010 and whether you proceed to the Algebra portion. Your score on the Algebra portion will determine whether you 1) must take Math 011, 2) are encouraged to take Math 011 or 3) may take Math 102 or Math 111.
What happens if I get a low score on COMPASS and it places me in a class I am sure is too low for me?	Your advisor has discretion in placing you in Math 011, Math 102 or Math 111 but only if you do well enough on the Pre-algebra portion to get into the Algebra portion and do reasonably well on the Algebra portion. At that point you can use evidence from your High School math grades and your SAT/ACT to be placed in the higher level math course. You can always take the test again!
When and where can I take the COMPASS test (again)?	Many students will take the COMPASS exam during Sycamore Advantage. Those who do not, may take the COMPASS exam Monday through Friday in the University Testing Office (Room 231 of Erickson Hall) during the hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
What can I do to brush up before I (re)take COMPASS.	There are several things you can do. 1) you can practice on questions similar to those on COMPASS, 2) you can go to the Math Center (Root A-019) and use the PLATO software to re-learn the material you have forgotten.
What happens if I (re)take COMPASS and don’t test out of Math 010 or Math 011?	Eventually you must take the course into which you place. Math 010 and Math 011 are 3 hour courses that DO NOT COUNT TOWARD GRADUATION but DO COUNT TOWARD FULL-TIME STATUS for your parents’ health insurance and for financial aid.

QUANTITATIVE LITERACY REQUIREMENT CHANGE:

In order to correctly place new students in mathematics courses at ISU, all new students are required to take a mathematics placement exam. The Placement Test can be taken on-line in less than an hour and must be completed before attending Summer Orientation in June. There is no charge to take the math placement test. Testing is available online http://www1.indstate.edu/fyp/mathplacement.htm . Please note, the Office of General Education does not have access to these test scores. Contact the University Testing Office at 237-7666.
If you are already a student at ISU and you would like to be exempted from Math 102 contact the University Testing Office to schedule an exemption exam.

MATH PLACEMENT PRACTICE TEST

Your user login is your 991 number (included in your admission acceptance letter)
Your password is your last name (all lower case)

Note: Your password (which is your last name) must contain at least five (5) characters. If your last name is less than five (5) characters in length, start with your last name and then add letters from your first name until you reach five characters (e.g., last name: Doe; first name: John; password: doejo).

MATH PLACEMENT TEST

Your user login is your 991 number (included in your admission acceptance letter)
Your password is your last name (all lower case)

Note: Your password (which is your last name) must contain at least five (5) characters. If your last name is less than five (5) characters in length, start with your last name and then add letters from your first name until you reach five characters (e.g., last name: Doe; first name: John; password: doejo).