The Math Placement and Assessment Exam

The Math Placement Exam (MPE) is a math assessment that most students are required to take upon entering the University. The MPE consists of 67 questions covering four main areas: arithmetic, algebra I, algebra II, and trigonometry. Testing takes place on-line before you come to orientation. The exams are then scored, and the results are provided to you and your academic advisor for use in the registration process during the morning of your advising. The Math Placement Exam MUST be taken before coming to orientation. Failure to do so may result in the inability to register for courses during your orientation.

Who Is Required To Take The Math Placement Exam?

First-year Students:
All incoming first-year students are required to take the MPE, regardless of SAT or Advanced Placement scores that they have earned. All entering first-year students are encouraged to study accordingly to ensure the best possible placement; first-year College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Clark School of Engineering majors should pay particular attention to the MPE since the two colleges base math course registration solely on MPE scoring and not SAT.

Transfer Students:
Transfer students do not have the take the Math Placement Exam if:
-They have completed a Calculus Course at their previous institution with the UMD equivalent of MAT140 and have received a 2.0 GPA in that course.
-They are enrolled as engineering or business majors. All other majors must take the math placement exam.
-When registering, please confirm your major on the registration screen.

Transfer students requesting exemption from the MPE must provide an official or unofficial transcript as documentation of course completion on the morning of their orientation program. All other transfer students should complete the on-line Math Placement Exam.

The University of Maryland urges all Transfer students to take the Math Placement Exam on-line before attending Orientation even if they have credit from another institution to ensure that the student has some sort of math placement eligibility on their transcript before attending Orientation.

Take The Practice Exam

The following practice MPE is provided to assist you in your preparation. Students taking the MPE are welcome to use a non-graphing calculator during testing. Additional practice questions, information, and policies that are associated with the MPE can be found at the Math Department website.

Take a practice Math Placement Exam online.

Take the Math Placement Exam

Take the Math Placement Exam online.

If you have any concerns, please contact the Math Department directly at place@math.umd.edu. You will receive a reply within the next business day.