Science & Engineering

Math Placement Test

The Mathematics Placement Test is designed to assess the level of your preparedness for college level mathematics. Almost all students will take at least one mathematics course during their time at Merrimack, so ensuring that you begin with one for which you are prepared is an important first step.  Your performance on this test will not adversely affect your admission status, your eligibility for financial aid, or your grade in any course. We do not want you to waste your time or your money taking a math course that is too hard for you or too easy for you; the results of this test will enable us to determine the appropriate math course for you to take based on your demonstrated ability and your choice of major.

Taking the Math Placement Test:

This test is available on-line through the college’s Blackboard Academic Suite. To take this test, follow the link below. Your Blackboard username is your last name followed by your first initial, or your last name followed by your first initial and your middle initial. Your Blackboard password is your student identification number followed by your 5-digit zip code. For example, if your name is Helena Kathleen Simpson, id #12345, zip code 01845, then your username = simpsonh or simpsonhk and your password = 1234501845. Once you log in, select the “course” Math Placement Test where you will find additional instructions about taking the test and interpreting your results. Here is the Blackboard link. 

As the on-line directions indicate, you will have one hour to complete the test. You should not use any books, notes, or calculators. You should not receive assistance from any individuals while taking this test. As soon as you complete the test, you will receive your test score. Refer back to the on-line directions for information about which math course is appropriate for your score and your choice of major. Within a few days after you complete the test, the Math Department will notify the Registrar’s Office of your test score and you will be able to register for an appropriate math course.

If you have any questions before, during, or after the test, please contact Dr. Michael St. Vincent in the Department of Mathematics at 978-837-3467 or by e-mail at Michael.StVincent@Merrimack.edu.

For First-Year Students:

All entering first year students must take the Merrimack College Mathematics Placement Test on-line by Friday, June 12, 2009. 

Taking the test by June 12 will make the results available to you and your advisor when you visit the campus during the June Orientation.  If you are not able to attend the orientation, you must still complete this placement test.  You are required to complete this test whether or not you intend to take a math course during your first semester.

For Transfer Students:

Transfer students who do not have credit for any college-level mathematics course must take the Merrimack College Mathematics Placement Test on-line before registering for courses whether or not you intend to take a math course during your first semester. 

Please refer to the Transfer Credit Evaluation Sheet which was sent to you by the Admissions Office; this document reflects the courses that Merrimack College has accepted in transfer.

If you are exempt from taking the Mathematics Placement Test because you already have credit for a college-level mathematics course, you may register for any of the following Merrimack College math courses:

  • MTH 1003 Introductory Mathematics for Business (intended primarily for business majors, does not satisfy a Math-Science requirement)
  • MTH 1016 Precalculus (intended primarily for science and engineering majors, does not satisfy a Math-Science requirement)
  • MTH 1111 Basic Statistics (satisfies a Math-Science requirement for students of all majors) 
  • MTH 1112 Adventures in Mathematics (satisfies a Math-Science requirement for students of all majors)
  • MTH 1314 Discrete Mathematics (intended primarily for math or computer science majors, but satisfies a Math-Science requirement for students of all majors)
  • MTH 1400 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers (intended primarily for elementary education co-majors, does not satisfy a Math-Science requirement)

In order to take any other Merrimack College math course, you must satisfy the additional prerequisite(s) listed in the college catalog for the particular course. If you have not taken a math course in several years, we strongly recommend that you take this placement test to accurately assess your preparedness for our math courses.

For Current Merrimack College Students:

Before you can register for any mathematics course at Merrimack College, you must demonstrate your ability to do college-level mathematics either by taking the Merrimack College Mathematics Placement Test (MPT) or by presenting transfer credit for a college-level math course from another academic institution. If you have transfer credit for a math course, you must still fulfill the stated prerequisites of any math course for which you wish to register. Our MPT is administered as a “course” through the college’s Blackboard Academic Suite.

If you have not taken the MPT but are enrolled in the MPT “course” on Blackboard, you can log in, read the directions, and complete the portions of the test that are appropriate for your major. When you have completed the MPT, send an e-mail to Dr. Michael St. Vincent in the Department of Mathematics at Michael.StVincent@Merrimack.edu informing him of this fact; in this e-mail, please indicate your major, so he can tell the Registrar’s Office which math courses you should be allowed to take.

If you have not taken the MPT and it is not listed on Blackboard as one of the course in which you are currently enrolled, contact Dr. Michael St. Vincent in the Department of Mathematics at 978-837-3467 or by e-mail at Michael.StVincent@Merrimack.edu. 

If you have previously taken the MPT but do not feel that the test result is an accurate reflection of you current level of mathematical ability, you may retake the test in a proctored environment by making an appointment with Mrs. Kathleen Mushow LeBlanc, Secretary of the Department of Mathematics, at 978-837-5499 or by e-mail at Kathleen.Mushow@Merrimack.edu.