The UW Math Placement Test

Taking the UW Math Placement Test

Information on the UW math placement test and retakes (including how to request retake permission) can be found below. Note that retakes should be requested as soon as possible to allow time for communications to be received and access to be processed in time for the above deadline.

Incoming Students

Incoming students are notified upon admission on which placement test(s) they need to take upon entry to the University and before their SOAR date.

UW-Madison students are required to take the Math B exam. Math B is the proctored version of the UW System Math placement test, while Math A is the non-proctored version of the placement test. Both versions are designed to test the same set of skills. The only difference is that Math B is proctored and UW-Madison does not accept Math A results. The Math B exam is offered both in-person as a paper and pencil test, and online via Live Remote Proctoring. Both freshman and transfer students taking the test after March 2023 can select any of the options labeled “Math B”.

All incoming freshmen must take the math placement test (Math B version), and transfer students are notified of their need to take it based on previous coursework. Students who do not have college transfer credits or college credits in mathematics and want to take math classes need to take the math placement test.

The SOAR website has more information on how to register for placement tests. The SOAR FAQs page has a section specific to placement tests.

Continuing Students

• Continuing students who have not taken the placement test yet are welcome to do so. Directions for continuing students can be found here.

Students who took their last math course over a year ago are strongly encouraged to take the math placement exam on an advisory basis, even if they are not required to. Placement based on their past work alone is often inaccurate.

Students that would like to retake the math placement test will find more information further down the page.

Viewing Scores

Students can view their placement test scores within two weeks after taking the exam by following these directions.

Math placement (in lieu of transfer credit for an equivalent math course) is based upon an algorithm. A student’s placement test scores are used in combination with the algorithm to determine appropriate math placement. Students with questions about how course selection and eligibility works based on placement test scores should refer to our New Student Placement & Enrollment page.

Contact placement@math.wisc.edu.