Department of Mathematics
University of Wisconsin – Madison

Review Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

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I am starting off in a math course and took the subject in high school/college, but I don’t feel that comfortable and would like to review before taking it. What do you suggest?

There are many different avenues to review before the semester begins or the first few weeks of the semester. The Math Learning Center offers review videos in the Math Learning Center Canvas page. You can self-enroll by click this link. Then navigate to Boosters to Start your Course. 

I am taking a course with a prerequisite course that I recently took. What are some recommended ways to review the prerequisite course material?

As you are starting a new course, you should always look over the work you did in your prerequisite course. When you are looking over your notes, make sure to go over some of the problems also. If you just took the course and did well, a quick review is usually all you need. If you need a more extensive review, you can look at the review videos in the Math Learning Center Canvas Page and check the resources listed on this page. You should also check with your instructor or TA to see if they can offer any advice. 

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COURSE RETAKES

Different schools and colleges at UW-Madison have varying policies regarding retakes of courses. For example, here is the College of Letters & Science’s page on retake policies. These may be slightly different for students in other schools or colleges (like CALS or Engineering), and so we strongly suggest that you speak to your advisor before retaking a course.

A common point to make, though, is that you cannot earn degree credit for the same course twice. If you earn credit for a course and take it again, you will not earn degree credit for the subsequent attempt. However, a course that you retake may still impact GPA calculations depending on your program(s).

Again, we strongly suggest that a student speak to their advisor before retaking a course.

Placement Test Retake, Precalculus & Calculus

Below are a number of resources for students to use if they’d like to review or prepare for retaking the math placement test, or for their precalculus or calculus course. Further down the page are review videos for some courses.

Placement Test Retake

I believe that my placement test is inaccurate and I should be placed into a course higher than the placement test indicated.

Retaking the placement test requires permission and there are additional review resources available. Please see here for more details on permission, policies, course selection, and review resources/suggestions.

If you decide to retake the placement test, you may consider the Precalculus and/or Calculus Boot Camp modules for preparation and review of relevant concepts. We recommend that you work through both Boot Camp modules if you are trying to place into calculus. These modules are only meant as a review of materials, and do not guarantee that you will be placed into a specific course.

After retaking the placement test and adjusting your enrollment based on the results, you may consider reviewing this page again for some suggestions on reviewing and preparing for whichever math course you’d like to enroll in.

Precalculus (MATH 96, 112, 113, 114, 171)

We have review and prep resources and suggestions for students who…

  • … are looking to review for their precalculus course based on their placement test results.
  • … are hoping to retake the placement test and would like to review for the retake exam.
  • … have completed one of the above precalculus courses and are planning on moving ahead to a subsequent math course, but would like more preparation.
  • … did not pass one of the above precalculus courses and plan to retake the course, but would like more preparation before doing so.

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I placed into MATH 96, 112, 113, 114, or 171 based on my placement test results and am planning to enroll in one of these courses, but I'd like more review and preparation before moving forward. What options do I have?

  1. You may consider the Precalculus Boot Camp module for preparation and review of relevant concepts.
  2. You may consider taking advantage of Math Learning Center (MLC) resources to get help and support in whichever math course you decide to enroll in.
  3. You may consider reviewing the MLC’s FAQ page for some answers to common questions that can help you with preparation.

I completed my MATH 96, 112, 113, 114, or 171 course and am planning on moving ahead to a subsequent math course, but would like more preparation. What can I do to prepare?

  1. You may consider taking advantage of the Precalculus Boot Camp module for preparation and review of relevant concepts.
  2. You may consider retaking the prerequisite math course to prepare for the subsequent one if you feel that you struggled in the prerequisite course.
    • Note for students who completed MATH 171: MATH 171 is only offered in the fall, so if you wish to take a different math course before moving forward and have questions, please reach out to placement@math.wisc.edu to discuss options. More info on precalculus/MATH 221 vs. MATH 171/217 sequencing can be found here.)
  3. You may consider taking advantage of Math Learning Center (MLC) resources to get help and support in whichever math course you decide to enroll in.

I did not pass my MATH 96, 112, 113, 114, or 171 course and plan to retake the course, but would like more preparation before doing so. What can I do to prepare?

  1. You may consider taking advantage of the Precalculus Boot Camp module for preparation and review of relevant concepts.
  2. You may consider retaking the prerequisite math course to the one you earned an F in.
    • Note for students who completed MATH 171: MATH 171 is only offered in the fall, so if you wish to take a different math course before moving forward and have questions, please reach out to placement@math.wisc.edu to discuss options. More info on precalculus/MATH 221 vs. MATH 171/217 sequencing can be found here.)
  3. You may consider taking advantage of Math Learning Center (MLC) resources to get help and support in whichever math course you decide to enroll in.

Calculus (MATH 211, 217, 221, 222, 234)

We have review and prep resources and suggestions for students who…

  • … are looking to review for their calculus course based on their placement test results.
  • … are hoping to retake the placement test and would like to review for the retake exam.
  • … have completed one of the above calculus courses and are planning on moving ahead to a subsequent math course, but would like more preparation.
  • … did not pass one of the above calculus courses and plan to retake the course, but would like more preparation before doing so.

NOTE: MATH 211 does not expect students to have a background in trigonometry. If you are planning on using Boot Camp resources to prepare for the course, you do not need to worry about the trig materials, as that is not expected of you to know before taking the course.

NOTE: we strongly suggest that you take both the Precalculus and Calculus Boot Camp modules if you would like to prepare for any of MATH 211, 217, or 221.

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I placed into MATH 211 or 221 based on my placement test results and am planning to enroll in one of these courses, but I'd like more review and preparation before moving forward. What options do I have?

  1. You may consider both the Precalculus and Calculus Boot Camp modules for preparation and review of relevant concepts.
  2. You may consider taking advantage of Math Learning Center (MLC) resources to get help and support in whichever math course you decide to enroll in.
  3. You may consider reviewing the MLC’s FAQ page for some answers to common questions that can help you with preparation.

I completed my MATH 211, 217, 221, 222, or 234 course and am planning on moving ahead to a subsequent math course, but would like more preparation. What can I do to prepare?

  1. You may consider taking advantage of the Calculus Boot Camp module for preparation and review of relevant concepts.
  2. You may consider retaking the prerequisite math course to prepare for the subsequent one if you feel that you struggled in the prerequisite course.
    • Note for students who completed MATH 217: MATH 217 is only offered in the spring, so if you wish to take a different math course before moving forward and have questions, please reach out to placement@math.wisc.edu to discuss options. More info on precalculus/MATH 221 vs. MATH 171/217 sequencing can be found here.)
  3. You may consider taking advantage of Math Learning Center (MLC) resources to get help and support in whichever math course you decide to enroll in.

I did not pass my MATH 211, 217, 221, 222, or 234 course and plan to retake the course, but would like more preparation before doing so. What can I do to prepare?

  1. You may consider taking advantage of the Calculus Boot Camp module for preparation and review of relevant concepts.
    • NOTE: MATH 211 does not expect students to have a background in trigonometry. If you are planning on using Boot Camp resources to prepare for the course, you do not need to worry about the trig materials, as that is not expected of you to know before taking the course.
    • NOTE: we strongly suggest that you take both the Precalculus and Calculus Boot Camp modules if you would like to prepare for any of MATH 211, 217, or 221.
  2. You may consider retaking the prerequisite math course to the one you earned an F in.
    • Note for students who completed MATH 217: MATH 217 is only offered in the spring, so if you wish to take a different math course before moving forward and have questions, please reach out to placement@math.wisc.edu to discuss options. More info on precalculus/MATH 221 vs. MATH 171/217 sequencing can be found here.)
  3. You may consider taking advantage of Math Learning Center (MLC) resources to get help and support in whichever math course you decide to enroll in.

Review Videos

Please know these reviews are given the first two days of the semester. See the MLC homepage for time and location, which will be posted later this summer. We will also offer study skill workshops throughout the semester.

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Review for MATH 171/211/221

Functions

Polynomials and Factoring

Trigonometric Functions

Exponential Functions

Logarithmic Functions

Review for MATH 222

Limits and Derivatives

Applications and Integration

Review for MATH 234

Methods of Integration

Vectors, Dot and Cross Products, Parametric Equations