Mathematics Placement Information

Precalculus and Calculus Placement

This section contains information about credit and prerequisite waivers for the following single-variable Precalculus and Calculus courses. Any questions should be sent to calcplacement@cmu.edu.

• 21-090 Precalculus
• 21-111 Differential Calculus
• 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus
• 21-122 Integration and Approximation

Incoming first-year and transfer students are placed into Precalculus and Calculus courses based on standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, AP, IB, Cambridge), as well as placement exams which are given during orientation week.

Standardized test scores

Students will receive credit for 21-111, 21-120, or 21-122 from AP, IB, or Cambridge exams, as described here: https://www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/registration/ap-transfer-credit.html

Students may receive a prerequisite waiver for 21-090 Precalculus with any of the following:

• An AP Precalculus Exam score of 5
• Any SAT Math score of at least 670
• Any ACT Math score of at least 29

Reporting standardized test scores

All AP, IB, and Cambridge scores should be reported directly to the CMU registrar as described here: https://www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/registration/ap-transfer-credit.html.

If a student submitted their qualifying SAT or ACT score during the CMU application process, they will automatically receive a prerequisite waiver for 21-090.

If they did not submit their SAT or ACT scores, or have an AP Precalculus score to submit, they can download (in PDF format) unofficial score reports (free of charge) from the College Board or the ACT, and then send the PDF file as an attachment to calcplacement@cmu.edu.

Precalculus and Calculus placement exams

The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers placement exams in person during orientation week for the following courses.

• 21-090 Precalculus
• 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus
• 21-122 Integration and Approximation

Students who pass a placement exam will receive a prerequisite waiver (not course credit) for the corresponding course.

Details about the content, schedule, and registration for these exams are at this page.