Department of Mathematics - Credit by Exam (2024)

UMD_CMNS_Math_S1_CMYK

Credit by Exam

In order to help students transition to their studies at UMD, the Mathematics Department offers credit-by-exams forMATH 120, 121, 140, 141, 240, 241 and 246. Credit-by-exam for MATH 212, 213, 214 is offered only to graduate students. Credit-by-exams are offered only to degree-seeking students at UMD. Only one CBE may be taken at a time.

Upcoming Exam Date

Generally, exams will be given on the Thursday prior to the start of classes. Under special circumstances, exams may also be given during Uniform Finals, if requested. The next exam will be held on the following day:

  • August 22, 2024

We do not have the resources to offer credit-by-exams on demand. Please make sure that you will be available on the date above before applying.

Application and Posting of Grade (Updated September 2023)

You should complete the application at least one week before its scheduled date, to allow for the preparation of the exam (exception: if your orientation is within one week of the CBE, you may apply for the CBE after your orientation). ABSOLUTELY NO APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE DAY OF THE EXAM.

  1. Complete the Credit-by-Exam application form here: https://www-math.umd.edu/images/undergraduate/Credit_By_Exam_Form_-_Updated.pdf You must choose regular grading (not P/F) if you want the grade to be applied to your major or minor or general education.
  2. Email the completed application form and proof that you have taken a similar course elsewhere to in the same email for approval. On the subject heading of the email, please put: MATHxxx CBE - Your UID. (For security purposes, you no longer need to put your name on the subject heading of the email).If your application is approved, it will be returned to you so that you may take it to the Bursar's Office in the Lee Building to make the payment (currently $30). You will be given a receipt by the Bursar's Office. You will need to bring a print out of the approved application and the receipt to us on the day of the exam.
  3. Wait for the email updates from regarding additional details. You should start receiving the updates approximately one (1) week before the exam. If you do not receive such updates, please contact to make sure that your application is still in order.
  4. On the day of the exam, arrive at the front desk of the math building at the check-in time with your payment receipt, your approved CBE application, and your student ID (or driver's license). Additional documents may be required, and if so, they will be listed in the email. You will be checked in at the front desk and will be led to the exam site at 11:45 am.
  5. After you have taken the exam, you have the option to not turn it in for grading. If you don't turn in your exam for grading, nothing at all will appear on your official transcript. If you think you have performed poorly, then you probably don't want to turn the exam in for grading; if you turn it in for grading, you will get a grade.
  6. After the exam has been graded, you must come to the Undergraduate Math Office and sign a form saying that you either accept or reject the grade. A grade of "C-" or better must be obtained to establish credit-by-exam. If you reject the grade, a "W" will be recorded on your transcript. No course may be attempted more than once using credit-by-exam.
  7. If you do not hear back from us one week after you have taken the CBE, please contact .
  8. If you register to take a CBE and later need to cancel the registration, please kindly provide notice one business day in advance. There will be no refunds for cancellations or missed exams.

Approval Criteria

  1. Every application must be approved by the Math Undergraduate Office. Approval is not guaranteed.Credit-by-exam is only appropriate when a student haspassed a similar, accredited, math course elsewhere -- with a C- or better -- but is unable to transfer the credit to UMD due to some technicality. In particular, earning a 1, 2, or 3 on the AP disqualifies one from taking the credit-by-exam. Self-study is not an acceptable form of preparation for the CBE. In particular, credit-by-exam is not intended to be an option by which a student gets credit for a UMD course by auditing it and then taking the Proficiency Examination.The Undergraduate Advising Office reserves the right to deny CBE applications which it deems inappropriate.
  2. Credit-by-Exam may not be taken for courses in which the student has remained registered beyond the Schedule Adjustment Period, even with a transcript notation of "W."
  3. In order to be considered, a student must have:
    1. a minimum of 12 credit hours completed at UMD;
    2. a minimum GPA of 2.0;
    3. completed all prereqs or the approval of the department chair and the Senior Vice President and Provost.
    4. Note: (3a) and (3b) above may be waived for students in their first semester at UMD.
  4. Credit-by-exam will not be accepted for any part of the final 30 credits without permission of the Senior Vice President and Provost. With such permission, 6 of the final 30 credits may be by credit-by-exam.

Preparation

  1. These exams are generally given 12:00-2:00 pm. A MATH246 exam takes 20 minutes longer (12:00 - 2:20 pm).
  2. MATLAB may appear in MATH240 and MATH241 CBEs. It will definitely appear in MATH246 CBEs.
  3. Notes, books, calculators, smartphones, etc. are not allowed.
  4. Student are encouraged to review final exams from previous semesters, to prepare and to assess their readiness for the credit-by-exams tests. Final exams from previous semesters are available at the Mathematics Department'sTESTBANK. It is also very wise to check the list of topics for a course in ouronline syllabi.
  5. If you require ADA accommodation, you must secure an accommodation letter from the ADS Office on campus.
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P: 301.405.5047 | F: 301.314.0827

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Department of Mathematics - Credit by Exam (2024)

FAQs

Is C always the answer? ›

I'm sure you've heard this at some point “if you don't know the answer, always guess C. because it's the most common correct option”. That's just a myth, and generally there are no most common answers on multiple choice tests.

What happens if you don't pass the math placement test? ›

You can't fail a placement test for college. If you receive a low score, you'll be placed in developmental classes for that subject to help increase your knowledge of the topic before you advance to more rigorous courses.

Does guessing C work? ›

Myth 2: C is the best guess letter and is right more often than any other letter. C or H are right (and wrong) as often as any other answer choice. The only guess letter you don't want to use when you are completely guessing is E or K because they only show up on the math test.

What happens if I fail my Accuplacer test? ›

You can take the test as many times as you need to until you pass. The test is untimed and is open book. You may use your training materials as you test.

Is it better to guess b or c? ›

The truth is that it doesn't matter which letter you pick, only that you stick to the one you choose. The best strategy, and the one that will maximize your overall point gain, is to pick your favorite letter and fill it in for every blind guess.

Should I pick C if I don't know the answer? ›

Feel free to pick (C) if you'd like, but know that any LOTD you choose is likely to get you some points in the long run if you use it consistently. If you guess on 20 questions over the course of the test, about 5 of those should match your LOTD.

What is a good score for a math placement test? ›

A score of 30 or higher reflects that a student is adequately prepared for college-level mathematics. Higher level scores representative an adequate preparedness for higher level courses.

How many times can you take the math placement test? ›

Students aiming to take an Accuplacer exam for the fourth time may have to provide proof of remediation. Individual 4-year colleges may require a 24-hour waiting period between retakes, with the latter limited to one retest per semester and reviews of the subject matter strongly encouraged.

Is it OK to do bad on a college placement test? ›

You can't fail a placement exam, but the results may determine you are not ready to take college-level classes right away. If that happens, don't panic! Some schools offer a re-take; if you want to try again, give it a shot.

What's the easiest regents exam? ›

The easiest Regents exams might include:
  1. Living Environment (Biology): Students often find this exam relatively simple because it covers topics commonly taught in high school courses. ...
  2. Algebra I: For some students, math comes more naturally, so they may find the Algebra I Regents exam straightforward.
May 29, 2024

Is your first answer always right? ›

If you revise your first-instinct response and find out that the first response was correct, you experience regret and you can anticipate this regret. If you stick with your first response and an alternative turns out to be correct, there is also foreseeable regret, but it is weaker and more likely to fade with time.

What is the best guessing strategy for a test? ›

Eliminate the highest and lowest options. Certain questions have answers that are closely related or almost identical, except for one detail. This should be your clue to choose one of the two similar answers. The similar choices cannot both be correct, but either of them may be the correct answer.

How many people fail the ACCUPLACER? ›

Remember: No one passes or fails ACCUPLACER tests, but it's important to complete the test using your best effort, so you can get an accurate measure of your academic skills and be placed in the appropriate course.

Which is harder, SAT or ACCUPLACER? ›

Since the SAT is timed, you may find the SAT harder. On the other hand, since the ACCUPLACER is adaptive, you may find the SAT easier.

What is the lowest ACCUPLACER score? ›

The ESL Accuplacer tests have a scoring range of 20 to 120.

Is C the most probable answer? ›

C isn't any better or worse than any other letter, or any more likely to be the correct answer, but if you decide to stick with it for every blind guess you make, you'll have a better chance of success than if you try your best to be "random."

Is C the most common answer on SAT? ›

Let's be clear: it's not true that C is the “most common answer” on a given test. It's straight-up not, and guessing based on that is tantamount to relying on thaumaturgy to improve your SAT score.

What is the most likely answer on a multiple choice test? ›

However, the most general assumption is often that 'C' is the correct answer, due to which it can be called the most popular multiple choice answer.

What is the best answer to guess on the ACT? ›

For most of the ACT, there is no “best” letter to guess. Except… at the end of the Math section — then there is a best letter to guess on the ACT. Most people (and tutors) tell students that, if they have no idea on a question, to just guess answer choice “C” — the middle answer on most multiple choice tests.

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