Placement Exams and Advisement

All students are required to take a math placement exam to determine your math course level. You do not need to take the math exam if you are:

• Receiving placement or transfer credit for the first math course required for your degree.
• Admitted into the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). You will take the exam, if required, on an individual basis.
• Admitted into the Life Sciences, B.S./Osteopathic Medicine, D.O. (B.S./D.O.) program. You will be contacted about B.S./D.O. next steps for enrollment directly.

Check your Admissions Portal in the Next Steps tab for instructions on how to get started.

The math placement exam is computer-based and administered through Canvas. There are two types of placement exams:

• Precalculus (40 multiple choice questions)
• Calculus (30 multiple choice questions)

You will take the precalculus exam first. If you receive a score of 35 or above, you will have the opportunity to take the calculus exam (a minimum score is required in order to place into Calculus). Please note that the calculus exam is a test to determine if you can place into a Calculus I course at New York Tech, it will not exempt you from taking Calculus. Each exam has a two-hour time limit and will be scored immediately.

We strongly advise you to take the math placement exam as soon as possible so that your math proficiency is at its best, and so that you can get the best class schedule before classes fill up. Learn more about taking the Math Placement Exam.

Although placement exams are not pass or fail, it is important for you to be prepared. We recommend reviewing the following topics before taking the exams:

• Precalculus: arithmetic, pre-algebra, and algebra
• Calculus: functions, limits, domains, logarithms, and trigonometry

The following resources offer free, easy-to-follow online videos that will help you in your review:

• Brightstorm
• Khan Academy

The following are sample practice problems, similar to the type of questions you will find on the placement exam:

• Sample Pre-Calculus Problems and Pre-Calculus Answer Key
• Sample Calculus Problems and Calculus Answer Key

Writing placement will be determined initially by SAT or ACT scores and may be revised following an in-class diagnostic essay evaluated by the professor. Official scores must be received in order to be properly placed into the appropriate writing course.

• Send your official SAT scores (New York Tech Code: 2561)
• Send your official ACT scores (New York Tech Code: 2832)

Students who were admitted under our test option policy but have SAT/ACT scores may submit these scores for placement purposes only. Those who do not have or do not wish to submit their scores will be placed in a first-year writing course based on a number of factors including overall high school performance, performance in high school English courses, and a writing diagnostic exam. If you are required to complete a writing diagnostic, it will be noted in your Admissions Portal, along with directions on how to complete it.

• The exam is required if you are from a country where English is not the first language.
• The exam is required if you have taken an English as a Second Language course in high school.
• The exam is required if you have not spent four years in a United States high school.

You may be exempt if you are receiving placement or transfer credit for FCWR 101 Writing I: Foundations of College Composition. Check your Admissions Portal to see if you need to take this exam.

Your performance on this exam will determine your first semester course placement and may affect the pace at which you can take major-related coursework throughout your academic career. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with the Versant English Placement Exam. The exam also includes a writing diagnostic, which is reviewed for appropriate level placement using the English Language Institute Student Outcomes for Reading and Writing.

Student Outcomes

All students are required to meet with an advisor to ensure a smooth registration process. Check your Admissions Portal to find out your next steps.

• Once you complete the math placement exam, you will be prompted to sign up for an advising appointment.
• If you are exempt from math, writing and/or English placement exams because you are receiving incoming credits, check your Admissions Portal for instructions on signing up for an advising appointment.

Fall 2024 registration will begin soon, instructions for advising appointments will be sent to your New York Tech email account.