Mathematics

Placement

Our department aims to help students be successful by placing them in appropriate entry-level mathematics and statistics courses. 

Entry-level courses are MATH 070, 072, 103, 106, 112, 113, 115, 201, 211, 221, 271 and STAT 103, 219, 239.  With the exception of MATH 070, placement is mandatory for all who need to take an entry-level course unless they can provide evidence of the necessary course prerequisites. See MATH and STAT course descriptions for prerequisites. 

Students who do not meet the entry-level course prerequisites can be placed into the course if they meet the score requirements (given below) using one of the following measures of prerequisite math skills:

  • ACT Math score
  • SAT Math score
  • ALEKS PPL (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces; Placement, Preparation and Learning) exam score
  • ACCUPLACER AAF (Advanced Algebra and Functions) exam score
  • ACCUPLACER QAS (Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics) exam score
  • MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) Math score
  • MMA1 (St. Cloud State Multiple Measures) score which is partially based on an ACT Math score
  • MMA2 (St. Cloud State Multiple Measures) score which is partially based on an ACT Math score

Score Requirements

  • MATH 072 requires at minimum an ACT Math or MMA1 score of 20, a SAT Math score of 520, an ALEKS score of 31, a QAS score of 255, an AAF score of 245, or an MCA Math score of 1148.

  • MATH 103 requires at minimum an ACT Math or MMA1 score of 20, a SAT Math score of 520, an ALEKS score of 31, a QAS score of 255, an AAF score of 245, or an MCA Math score of 1150.

  • MATH 106 requires at minimum an ACT Math or MMA2 score of 22, a SAT Math score of 530, an ALEKS score of 46, an AAF score of 245, or an MCA Math score of 1158.

  • MATH 112 requires at minimum an ACT Math or MMA2 score of 22, a SAT Math score of 530, an ALEKS score of 46, an AAF score of 245, or an MCA Math score of 1158.

  • MATH 113 requires at minimum an ALEKS score of 61 or an AAF score of 255.

  • MATH 115 requires at minimum an ACT Math score of 24, a SAT score of 580, an ALEKS score of 61, or an AAF score of 250.

  • MATH 201 requires at minimum an ACT Math or MMA2 score of 22, a SAT Math score of 530, an ALEKS score of 46, an AAF score of 245, or an MCA Math score of 1158.

  • MATH 211 requires at minimum an ALEKS score of 61 or an AAF score of 255.

  • MATH 221 requires at minimum an ALEKS score of 76 or an AAF score of 263.

  • MATH 271 requires at minimum an ALEKS score of 76 or an AAF score of 263.

  • STAT 103 requires at minimum an ACT Math or MMA1 score of 20, a SAT Math score of 520, an ALEKS score of 31, a QAS score of 255, an AAF score of 245, or an MCA Math score of 1148.

  • STAT 219 requires at minimum an ACT Math score of 24, a SAT score of 580, an ALEKS score of 61 or an AAF score of 250.

  • STAT 239 requires at minimum an ACT Math score of 24, a SAT score of 580, an ALEKS score of 61 or an AAF score of 250.

Placement Notes

  • Effective May 1, 2023, the Testing Center no longer uses ALEKS PPL as the placement instrument. Instead, the Testing Center now uses the next generation ACCUPLACER exams for mathematics placement. 
  • A student who is currently taking or has taken a 100- or 200-level mathematics or statistics course may not take a placement exam for course placement without approval from the Mathematics and Statistics department chair.
  • A student with an ACT Math score less than 16, an SAT Math score less than 430, or a QAS score below 220 should speak with an adviser. 
  • ACT Math, SAT Math, MMA1, MMA2 and MCA Math scores are valid for five years and must be valid on the first day of class. Upon the expiration of ACT Math, SAT Math, MMA1, MMA2 and MCA Math scores, placement is based on ACCUPLACER or ALEKS exam scores.
  • ALEKS and ACCUPLACER scores are valid for two years.

Taking a Placement Exam

Additional Material