Mathematics Assessment for Prospective Calculus Students

All students who wish to begin the study of calculus at Mount Holyoke must complete an online Mathematics Assessment. The results of the Assessment will help you decide if there is preparation you should do before arriving at Mount Holyoke and will assist the department in placing you in your first calculus course.

Scores and Course Selection

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers two ways to begin the study of calculus: Math 100A and 101. Most students begin with Math 101 (Calculus I). Multiple sections are offered at varying times.

100-Level

As a general rule, to begin with Math 101 you should be able to score at least 80/100 on the Mathematics Assessment. You can make use of the suggested review materials and re-try the Assessment (on the Mathematics Assessment link) until you feel that you have sufficiently strengthened your pre-calculus skills.

If your preparation in pre-calculus topics is weak, you should consider the sequence, Math 100A - 100B (Enriched Calculus I-A and I-B). This year-long course covers all of the material from Calculus I and also provides a thorough grounding in the algebraic, quantitative and geometric skills needed to continue with more advanced mathematics courses and with other courses in the curriculum that use mathematics. Admission to Math 100A is by permission of the instructor, based on the Assessment and other information about the student's mathematics background.

If you are uncertain about your placement choice, you may contact Professor Jilian McLeod by email (jmcleod).

200-Level Calculus

Students who have already studied calculus usually begin with Math 202 (Calculus II), but some begin with Math 203 (Calculus III). It is not necessary to complete the Mathematics Assessment for continuations of calculus, although you are welcome to do so if you're curious. For more information about these courses and the calculus preparation they require, as well as about introductory courses in the mathematical sciences other than calculus, see the Mathematics section of the First Year Curriculum Guide, particularly the subsection on Beginning the Study of Mathematics.

Accessing Mathematics Assessment

The Mathematics Assessment is on the Mount Holyoke Web site, and you need your Mount Holyoke email login and password to obtain access to this site.  This information was mailed to you in the May Admissions packet.

Using your Mount Holyoke login and password, you will be able to access the online Assessment.  Here's how you do it:

Open your browser to  https://euclid.mtholyoke.edu/

• Mac users with OSX should use Firefox or Safari; Mac users with OS9 should use Netscape 
• PC users can use Firefox, Mozilla or Internet Explorer

Once your browser has opened https://euclid.mtholyoke.edu/:

1. Select:  Math Assessment Summer 2008
2. Login with your MHC username and password.
3. Again choose Math Assessment Summer 2008

Read Instructions for Math Assessment before attempting this assessment.  It is also suggested that you review "Topics to Review" and practice "Trying out an online quiz" before you to take the Math Assessment.

If you have technical difficulties, please call the LITS help desk (413-538-2600) for assistance.

Even without a Mount Holyoke email account, you can find information about the Assessment on the Mathematics and Statistics Department Web site.  On this same Web site, a sample of the kinds of questions on the Assessment is available for downloading as a .pdf file, readable with Adobe Reader or with a number of other similar programs.  While this is not the actual Assessment, it is very typical of the kinds of problems that appear on the Assessment.  A set of answers for this sample is also provided.