Proficiency Exam Schedule and Information for 2025
Who can take a proficiency exam?
Math proficiency exams are for students who wish to take higher level math classes. Students are not allowed to take a proficiency exam for any course in which he/she has had college level instruction.
What credit will I receive?
Proficiency exams are available for the following courses:
- MATH 1233 College Algebra (TCCNS=MATH 1314)
- MATH 1433 Plane Trigonometry (TCCNS=MATH 1316)
- MATH 1534 Precalculus (TCCNS=MATH 2412)
If a student feels that his/her algebra background is good, but has not had much trigonometry, the student should take the College Algebra Proficiency exam and upon passing that exam, take Trigonometry.
Any student wishing to begin in Calculus I must either pass the College Algebra and Trigonometry proficiency exams, or pass the Precalculus proficiency exam
How do I schedule the exam?
The proficiency exam dates are listed on the Proficiency Exam Schedule. Locations for the exam are also listed on the schedule.
What does the proficiency exam cover?
Exam content is described on the Proficiency Exam Schedule. A graphing calculator is required for the algebra, trigonometry and precalculus proficiency exams. Calculators are not allowed on the calculus proficiency exam.
What do I need on the day of the exam?
- Bring your paid receipt from the Business Office. Cost of the exam is $35
- Bring a photo ID
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have already taken this test previously or have taken this course (even one similar) you cannot take this test. Credit by examination assumes that you have had no formal classroom instruction, either as a regularly enrolled student or as an auditor in the courses being challenged.
CLEP and Placement
Another option includes taking CLEP exams to receive college credit for College Algebra, Precalculus, or Calculus I. These exams are more expensive than the math proficiency exams, but there are review materials that can be purchased for as little as $10 to help prepare for the exams. These review materials would most likely help the student prepare for math proficiency exams as well.
Information about different CLEP exams and corresponding study materials can be found at the CLEP Exams Page on College Board.
Placement and Precalculus Prerequisites
Students who have a TSI score high enough to be exempt from any developmental math classes and have either a Math ACT of 22, a Math SAT taken before February 2016 of 510, or a Math SAT taken after February 2016 of 540 are eligible to begin with Pre-calculus. A student without those exam scores may take an online departmental placement exam.
The Mathematics Department strongly recommends that a student who begins with Precalculus has had a fourth year of high school mathematics that includes a semester of trigonometry.
(COLLEGE ALGEBRA, TRIGONOMETRY, PRECALCULUS)
Students who have a TSI score high enough to be exempt from any developmental math classes are eligible to begin with College Algebra.
Precalculus Prerequisites: Students who have a TSI score high enough to be exempt from any developmental math classes and have either a Math ACT of 22, a Math SAT taken before February 2016 of 510, or a Math SAT taken after February 2016 of 540 are eligible to begin with Pre-calculus. A student without those exam scores may take an online departmental placement exam. For further information on the Precalculus placement exam, contact Dr. Cobb at sarah.cobb@msutexas.edu. The Math Department strongly recommends that a student who begins with Precalculus has had a fourth year of high school mathematics that includes a semester of trigonometry. Math proficiency exams are for students who wish to take higher level math classes. Students are not allowed to take a proficiency exam for any course in which he/she has had college level instruction.
Thursday, May 29th, 2025
Thursday, July 3rd, 2025
Thursday, August 21st, 2025
Tuesday, August 26th, 2025
Thursday, January 15th, 2026
Tuesday, January 20th, 2026
Students need to first pay at the Business office then bring the receipt and picture ID to the exam.
Cost of exam $35
Note: Other option includes taking CLEP exams to receive college credit for College Algebra, Precalculus, or Calculus I.
These exams are more expensive than the math proficiency exams, but there are review materials that can be purchased for as little as $10 to help prepare for the exams. These review materials would most likely help the student prepare for math proficiency exams as well.
Information about different CLEP exams and corresponding study materials can be found at https://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/exams.html and from pages accessed via links from this page.
If a student feels that his/her algebra background is good, but has not had much trigonometry, the student should take the College Algebra Proficiency exam and upon passing that exam, take Trigonometry. Any student wishing to begin in Calculus I must either pass the College Algebra and Trigonometry proficiency exams, or pass the Precalculus proficiency exam.
College Algebra Proficiency Exam Topics
Graphing Calculator required
1. Slope, Equation of a line
2. Solve Equations
3. Graphing
4. Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
5. Polynomial Division
6. Domain
7. Inequalities
8. Applications
9. Logarithms
10. Exponential Functions
11. Piecewise – Defined Functions
12. Systems of Equations
13. Composition of Functions
14. Variation
15. Increasing, Decreasing Functions
Trigonometry Proficiency Exam Topics
Graphing Calculator Required
1. Radian and Degree Measure
2. Compute Values for Sin θ, Cos θ, Tan θ
3. Special Angles (30°, 45°, 60°)
4. Right Triangles
5. Trig. Identities
6. Trig. Equations
7. Graphs
8. Inverse Trig. Functions
9. Simplifying Expressions
10. Law of Cosines
11. Law of Sines
12. Dot Product of Vectors
13. Vector Projections
14. Complex Numbers
Pre-Calculus Proficiency Exam Topics
Graphing Calculator Required
1. Logarithms
2. Simplify Algebraic Expressions
3. Evaluate Functions
4. Piecewise-Defined Functions
5. Absolute Value
6. Graphing
7. Solve Equations
8. Inequalities
9. Composition of Functions
10. Radian and Degree Measure
11. Find Values for Sin θ, Cos θ, Tan θ
12. Right Triangle Trig.
13. Special Angles
14. Trig. Identities
15. Trig. Equations
16. Inverse Trig. Functions
17. Simplify Trig. Expressions
18. Law of Sines
19. Law of Cosines