Math Placement
How to Place Into Your Desired Math Course
There are three ways that students can place into their math courses:
- ACT/SAT test scores
- The ALEKS Placement, Preparation, and Learning (PPL) Assessment
- The UNLV Math Department Placement Exam.
Use Your ACT and SAT Test Scores
UNLV uses your ACT and SAT test scores to initially determine the math course you are placed in. If you do not have an ACT or SAT test score or you would like to improve your current placement, you can change your placement with the ALEKS PPL Assessment or the UNLV Math Department Placement Exam
Complete the ALEKS Placement, Preparation, and Learning (PPL) Assessment
If you do not have a qualifying ACT/SAT score or credit for the math course you wish to enroll in, UNLV requires you to complete an ALEKS PPL assessment to determine readiness.
ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to identify a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The assessment asks up to 25 open-response questions and generally takes 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Once you finish the assessment, an individualized Prep and Learning Module is made available to refresh your knowledge on forgotten topics. You then have the opportunity to reassess and improve their placement.
This program is provided to UNLV admitted students at no cost, and ALEKS accounts remain active for one year.
Registration
The assessment can be completed in person in a computer lab on campus or virtually on a personal computer, laptop, or iPad.
To schedule an in-person placement assessment, complete our In-Person ALEKS PPL Assessment form.
To begin the virtual assessment process, log in to myUNLV, select the Resources tile, and read the instructions on the ALEKS link page.
Take the UNLV Math Department Placement Exam
The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers an alternative to ALEKS placement. Students may take a paper-and-pencil placement test instead of the web-based ALEKS placement. Visit the Department of Mathematics Proficiency Exam page for more information.
The NSHE Gateway Enrollment And Corequisite Policy
Effective fall 2021, Nevada public colleges and universities began requiring all new, beginning students to enroll in the gateway college-level English and math courses required for their program/major within their first year of study. Some gateway courses include college-level coursework only, while others include the same college-level coursework along with corequisite instruction. Corequisite instruction delivers in-class, in-time support to ensure student success. While enrollment in courses featuring corequisite instruction is open to all students, a qualifying test score is required to enroll in courses without the corequisite support.
Required Scores for Course Placement
| Desired UNLV Math Course | ACT Score | SAT Score | ALEKS Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math 120E + Math 20B (Corequisite Math - 5 credits) | <20 | <510 | <30 |
| Math 124E + Math 24B (Corequisite Math - 5 credits) | <22 | <530 | <46 |
| Math 126E + Math 26B (Corequisite Math - 5 credits) | <23 | <550 | <61 |
| Math 120 – Fundamentals of College Math | 20 | 510 | 30 or above |
| Math 124 – College Algebra | 22 | 530 | 46 or above |
| Math 126 – Precalculus I | 23 | 550 | 61 or above |
| Math 127 – Precalculus II | 25 | 580 | 61 or above and 41 or above trig score |
| Math 128 – Precalculus I & II | 25 | 580 | 61 or above and 41 or above trig score |
| Math 132 – Finite Mathematics | 24 | 580 | 61 or above |
| Math 181 – Elementary Calculus I | 28 | 650 | 76 or above |
College and Major Math Requirements
The math class (or classes) a student needs to complete at UNLV depends on the program of study. A list of majors can be found under each of the colleges below. If you have any questions or can not find your major, please contact your academic advisor.
| Major | Math Required | Gateway Math/Coreq Math* |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting, Economics BSBA, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, Real Estate | A grade of C or better in Math 127, 128, 132, 176, 181, or 182 | Math 124 |
| Economics BA | Math 124 | Math 124 |
*If the student does not place directly into the required math course for their chosen major, they must enroll in the corresponding Gateway/Corequisite course.
| Major | Math Required | Gateway Math/Coreq Math* |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Special Education, Secondary English, Secondary Art, Secondary Social Studies | Math 120 | Math 120E + 20B |
| Elementary Education | Any 6 credit college-level math 122 accepted; 122 + 123 strongly encouraged |
Math 120 or higher |
| Secondary Math | Math 181 | Math 126E + 26B |
| Secondary Biology, Secondary Physical Science, General Science | Math 181 | Math 126E + 26B |
*If the student does not place directly into the required math course for their chosen major, they must enroll in the corresponding Gateway/Corequisite course.
| Major | Math Required | Gateway Math/Coreq Math* |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Construction Management, Electrical Engineering, Entertainment Engineering & Design, Entertainment Technology & Design, Mechanical Engineering | Math 181 | Math 126 |
*If the student does not place directly into the required math course for their chosen major, they must enroll in the corresponding Gateway/Corequisite course.
| Major | Math Required | Gateway Math/Coreq Math* |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Art History, Dance, Film, Graphic Design & Media, Music, Theatre | Math 120 | Math 120E + 20B |
| Landscape Architecture | Math 126 | Math 126E + 26B |
| Architecture, Interior Architecture & Design | Math 126 + 127 or Math 128 | Math 126E + 26B |
*If the student does not place directly into the required math course for their chosen major, they must enroll in the corresponding Gateway/Corequisite course.
| Major | Math Required | Gateway Math/Coreq Math* |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Administration, Kinesiology, Nursing, Nutrition Sciences, Public Health | Math 124 | Math 124E + 24B |
| Comprehensive Medical Imaging | Math 126 + 127 or Math 128 | Math 126E + 26B |
| Health Physics | Math 181 + Math 182 | Math 126E + 26B |
*If the student does not place directly into the required math course for their chosen major, they must enroll in the corresponding Gateway/Corequisite course.
| Major | Math Required | Gateway Math/Coreq Math* |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality Management | Math 120 | Math 120E + 20B |
*If the student does not place directly into the required math course for their chosen major, they must enroll in the corresponding Gateway/Corequisite course.
| Major | Math Required | Gateway Math/Coreq Math* |
|---|---|---|
| African American & African Diaspora Studies, Anthropology, Asian & Asian American Studies, English, Gender & Sexuality Studies, History, Latinx & Latin American Studies, Multidisciplinary Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Social Science Studies, Sociology, World Languages & Cultures | Math 120 | Math 120E + 20B |
| Psychology | Math 124 | Math 124E + 24B |
*If the student does not place directly into the required math course for their chosen major, they must enroll in the corresponding Gateway/Corequisite course.
| Major | Math Required | Gateway Math/Coreq Math* |
|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics | Math 181 | Math 126 |
| Earth & Environmental Studies, General Sciences | Math 126 + 127 or Math 128 | Math 126 |
*If the student does not place directly into the required math course for their chosen major, they must enroll in the corresponding Gateway/Corequisite course.
| Major | Math Required | Gateway Math/Coreq Math* |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Journalism & Media Studies, Urban Studies | Math 120 | Math 120E + 20B |
| Social Work | Math 124 | Math 124E + 24B |
*If the student does not place directly into the required math course for their chosen major, they must enroll in the corresponding Gateway/Corequisite course.