Mathematics Proficiency Examinations
The Department of Mathematics offers proficiency examinations in certain undergraduate courses to allow students to obtain college credit by demonstrating proficiency in the course material. Some courses do not permit proficiency examinations; see "Exclusions" below. A proficiency examination is comparable to a three-hour written final examination in that course, and a grade of C- or better is needed in order for course credit to be awarded. Proficiency examinations are not for placement or diagnostic purposes, but are only for awarding credit to students who demonstrate thorough knowledge of the course material.
These examinations demand more than an elementary acquaintance with the course material. The student must have solid command of the concepts and problem solving skills for the course and therefore should attempt a proficiency examination only after proper study and preparation.
Timing and Sign-Up for Proficiency Exams
Proficiency examinations are normally given from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on the first and seventh Saturdays of each semester and on one Saturday during the summer session. Students must register for an examination in 313 Altgeld Hall by 5 p.m. the Wednesday preceding the date of the examination. If a student signs up for an examination but does not appear and write it, that will count as an attempt (see "Number of Attempts" below). However, a student may cancel a sign-up without penalty up until 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the examination date. Upcoming examination dates are:
August 27, 2011
October 8, 2011
January 21, 2012
March 3, 2012
June 16, 2012
Students may get a course syllabus from the Department of Mathematics syllabi webpage. Students may also check in the mathematics library (216 Altgeld Hall) for old exams to read to prepare for the exam.
For Math 220 only, a 27 item multiple choice exam on the material covered in Math 220 is given only to new entering students on the Thursday of New Student Welcome
Week. For Fall 2011 Semester this exam will be given:
Thursday, August 18, 2011, 1:00-2:30 p.m. in 314 Altgeld Hall
This is a walk-in exam; no sign-up is necessary. You must bring a valid photo ID and your UIN number. No calculators are allowed. For information about the material covered in Math 220, please see the syllabus for Math 220.
This is the only time a multiple choice exam is given. You may take an exam for Math 220 at other times, but it will be a 3-hour exam.
Exclusions
A proficiency examination is not allowed in the following situations:
- the student has completed two courses whose content is beyond the course for which credit is sought;
- the student has already taken the course and received either a failing grade or a grade of NC on a credit/no credit basis. In the latter case, the student has the option of taking a "special examination."
No proficiency examination is offered by the Department of Mathematics in a course which is cross-listed with and controlled by another department, e.g. Math 161, 357 or 463.
In addition, no proficiency examination is offered in the following math courses:
002, 012, 014, 016, 103, 117, 119, 181, 198, 199, 221, 249, 290, 299, 347, 348, 370, 390, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 470, 471, 472, 476, 477, 478, 479, 490, 496
For any undergraduate-level math course not listed above, the Department of Mathematics does offer a proficiency examination.
Campus-wide regulations on proficiency and special examinations are found in Rules 3-203 and 3-204 online at http://www.admin.illinois.edu/policy/code/.
Number of Attempts
For the following courses only, at most two attempts are permitted per student:
124, 125, 220, 225, 231, 234, 241
For all other courses, at most one attempt is permitted per student.