Placement & Advising

Calculus Placement Guide

If you plan to register for Calculus at Tulane but aren't sure where to begin, we strongly recommend taking the ALEKS Mathematics Placement Assessment to evaluate your algebraic readiness.

ALEKS Placement Assessment

ALEKS is a self-diagnostic knowledge check that will help gauge your preparation. The assessment in ALEKS should be taken without the use of any outside tools (including calculators or AI). Only use the resources provided to you directly by ALEKS. Your score on the ALEKS assessment is for your benefit only and does not affect your ability to register for any MATH course.

ALEKS Placement Test Portal

Course Options & Placement Criteria

MATH 1150: Long Calculus I

ALEKS Score: 55–64

Recommended if you have taken precalculus or similar courses in high school but don’t feel comfortable jumping into calculus without a review.

Summer Action Plan: Select the Prep for Precalculus Module in ALEKS and work through it over the summer to increase your assessment score by at least five points before the semester begins.

MATH 1210: Calculus I

ALEKS Score: 65–84

Recommended if you have taken precalculus or equivalent courses and feel ready for Calculus I. This is also the correct choice if you took AP Calculus AB but scored below a 4 on the AP exam, or scored 85+ on ALEKS but have had no prior exposure to calculus.

Summer Action Plan: Select the Prep for Calculus 1 Module in ALEKS and work through it over the summer to increase your assessment score by at least five points before the semester begins.

MATH 1310: Consolidated Calculus

ALEKS Score: 85+

Recommended if you have taken AB or BC Calculus and did well, but do not have AP or dual-enrollment credits to transfer. This fast-paced course covers Calculus I and II in a single semester (earning credit for both upon achieving a grade of B- or better).

Summer Action Plan: Select the Prep for Calculus 2 Module in ALEKS and work through it over the summer to solidify your high school calculus understanding before the semester begins.

MATH 1220: Calculus II

AP AB Score: 4 or 5

Recommended if you have earned dual enrollment or AP credit for Calculus I (MATH 1210) by scoring a four or five on the AB Calculus exam (or the AB subscore of the BC Calculus exam).

MATH 2210: Calculus III

AP BC Score: 4 or 5

Recommended if you have earned dual enrollment or AP credit for both Calculus I (MATH 1210) and Calculus II (MATH 1220) by scoring a four or five on the BC Calculus exam.

Placement Advising

Michelle Lacey

Associate Chair & Director of Undergraduate Studies

mlacey1@tulane.edu

Related Resources

Mathematics Resources

Class Override Form Undergraduate Programs Clifford Research Library Sample Final Exams