Update (8/17/23)
The next math proficiency exam is scheduled for Saturday August 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00pm – 5:00pm (CT). Registration for the August exam will open at midnight on August 11, 2023. Please read all the information on this page before emailing or calling with questions.
Registration information is below.
The Department of Mathematics offers proficiency examinations in MATH 220, 225, 231, 241, 285, and 415, to allow students to obtain college credit by demonstrating proficiency in the course material. A proficiency examination is comparable to a three-hour written final examination in that course, and a grade of B- or better is needed for course credit to be awarded. Proficiency examinations are not for placement or diagnostic purposes, but are only for awarding credit to students who demonstrate thorough knowledge of the course material.
These examinations demand more than an elementary acquaintance with the course material. The student must have solid command of the concepts and problem-solving skills for the course; therefore, students should attempt a proficiency examination only after proper study and preparation. Students may acquire a course syllabus from the Department of Mathematics syllabi webpage. An online search can provide study guides, practice exams, and even actual exams for recent offerings of these classes. (Note: Fall semester MATH 231 EL1/EL2 sections include material that is not part of the MATH 231 proficiency exam.) Students needing credit for MATH 221 may use MATH 220 to fill any such requirement.
Timing and Sign-Up for Proficiency Exams
Proficiency examinations are given twice during the fall semester, once near the beginning of spring semester, and once during the summer session. Students may register for only one exam for each exam date.
Registration for each exam will open until two weeks prior to the exam date.
August 26, 2023, Math Proficiency Exam Registration
Link: https://go.math.illinois.edu/proficiency-registration
Conflict Option
Students who cannot take the exam at the regular time because of religious obligations, conflicts with other proficiency exams outside the math department, scheduled university classes/labs, and other compelling academic conflicts, may request to take the conflict option. Conflict exams are typically scheduled for the Wednesday evening following the regular exam time. To request the conflict option, contact math-proficiency@illinois.edu at least one week before the exam date, indicating the proficiency exam you would like to take and providing details of your conflict (e.g., course and name/email of instructor in case of a conflict with a class). Conflict requests are subject to approval by the Undergraduate Office and will only be granted for compelling reasons such as those mentioned above (but not, for example, to accommodate personal travel schedules). When registering, list "conflict request" in the Accommodations question in addition to emailing.
Special Accommodations
Students who would like to request a special accommodation such as extended testing time must contact math-proficiency@illinois.edu immediately after registering for the exam. Students with disabilities should make sure to register with DRES and include the official DRES letter of accommodations; the Department of Mathematics cannot review medical information or use high school accommodation letters.
Canceling Your Exam
If you wish to cancel your registration for the exam, please fill out the following form: https://go.math.illinois.edu/cancel-proficiency
A student may cancel a signup without penalty until the date and time noted in the following table. If a student signs up for an examination but does not appear to take the exam on the exam date, that will count as an attempt (see "Number of Attempts" below).
|
Proficiency Exam Date |
Registration Period |
Cancellation Deadline |
Location |
| August 17, 2023 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. (New student MATH 220) |
N/A |
E-mail math-proficiency@illinois.edu prior to exam start date and time (August 17, 12:30pm) |
1320 Digital Computer Laboratory |
|
August 26, 2023 9:00 a.m. – noon 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. |
August 11, 2023, midnight – August 23, 2023, noon | August 23, 2023, 11:59 a.m. | 1320 Digital Computer Laboratory |
| September 30, 2023 9:00 a.m. – noon |
September 15, 2023 midnight – September 27, 2023 noon | September 27, 2023, 11:59 a.m. | 1320 Digital Computer Laboratory |
|
January 20, 2024 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
August New Student Proficiency Exam
For MATH 220 only, a two-hour, multiple-choice exam on the material covered in MATH 220 is given only to new first-time freshmen and new off-campus transfer students. Registration for the exam will open in early August and be available later than the usual registration deadlines. Registration will be online, but the exam will be held in person. This exam is offered only in August.
August 17, 2023 is the exam date for the 2023–24 academic year.
Click the following link to complete the New Student Proficiency Exam Registration: https://go.math.illinois.edu/newstudent
Note: this exam is not available to those who will be University Laboratory High School students in Fall 2023.
Students who need disability-related accommodations, such as extended testing time, should contact math-proficiency@illinois.edu with reason for conflict or request for accommodations (including their approved letter of accommodations) at least one week before the exam date.
Students may take an exam for MATH 220 at other times, but it will be a 3-hour exam.
Number of Attempts
For MATH 285 and 415, only one attempt per student is allowed. Two attempts are permitted for MATH 220, 225, 231, and 241. If you have previously taken one of these courses and received a grade, you are not eligible to sit for the proficiency exam.
Examination Conduct and Materials
All students sitting for proficiency exams agree to abide by the academic integrity and confidentiality expectations for our exams. Students may not use outside help of any sort, including calculators, notes, books, online materials, or assistance from others. Students must agree to maintain the confidentiality of the exam and not disclose exam questions to outside parties. Expectations and sanctions related to academic integrity are laid out in the university Student Code at https://studentcode.illinois.edu/article1/part4/1-402/
Students should bring pencils and erasers. Scratch paper will be provided.
Results
The assigned grade is Pass or Fail. Results of the proficiency will be available in the "Grades" section of the proficiency Moodle at within 2 business days after the exam date.
Please note that students cannot view their exams to see what they missed.
If a student passes their exam, it will take one to three months for the credit they have earned to appear on the official university record. Those who pass may use a screenshot of their Moodle result as interim proof of pass.
Note: The Department of Mathematics does not enforce prerequisites, and you do not need our approval to register for the next math course.
Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding mathematics proficiency exams, please contact:
Mathematics Undergraduate Office
313 Altgeld Hall
math-proficiency@illinois.edu
(217) 244-7310