Which Calculus Should I Take?
If you plan to take Calculus but aren't sure where you should start, we strongly recommend taking the ALEKS Mathematics Placement Assessment. ALEKS is a self-diagnostic knowledge check that will help gauge your preparation. Along with your ALEKS results, here are some general guidelines to help you decide:
- MATH 1150 (Long Calculus I): You’ve taken precalculus or similar courses in high school but don’t feel comfortable jumping into calculus without a review. If your ALEKS assessment indicates gaps in fundamental precalculus concepts, this is the recommended starting point.
- MATH 1210 (Calculus I): You’ve taken precalculus or equivalent courses and feel ready for Calculus I. This is also a good option if you’ve taken AB Calculus but scored below a 4 on the AP exam. A strong performance on the ALEKS assessment will confirm your readiness for this course.
- MATH 1310 (Consolidated Calculus): You’ve taken AB or BC Calculus and did well, but you don’t have AP or dual enrollment credits to transfer. You feel confident enough to cover Calculus I and II in a single semester (and get credit for both after earning a B- or better). Taking the ALEKS assessment can help verify that your foundational skills are sharp enough for this accelerated pace.
- MATH 1220 (Calculus II): You’ve earned dual enrollment or AP credit for Calculus I (MATH 1210) by scoring a 4 or 5 on the AB exam or 4 or 5 on the AB portion of the BC exam.
- MATH 2210 (Calculus III): You’ve earned dual enrollment or AP credit for Calculus I (MATH 1210) and Calculus II (MATH 1220) by scoring a 4 or 5 on the BC Calculus exam.
