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Prerequisite Criteria for Math Placement

 

All students must meet one of the following prerequisites before they may enroll in Math 2, 3C, 4C, 10A, 10B, 10C, 11, 18, 20A, 20B, or 20C at UC San Diego: 

Preparatory Math Classes

 

Math 2 Qualifying placement on the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE)
Math 3C

Qualifying placement on the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE)

Math 4C

AP Calculus AB (or  BC for 2020) Exam score 2 OR

SAT Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test score 600 or better OR

Grade of C- or better in Math 3C OR

Qualifying placement on the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE)

Calculus 10 Series

Math 10A

AP Calculus AB, AB Subscore (or BC for 2020) Exam score 2 OR

SAT Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test score 600 or higher OR

Grade of C- or better in Math 3C or Math 4C OR

Qualifying placement on the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE)

Math 10B

AP Calculus AB Exam score 3 or higher OR

Grade of C- or better in MATH 10A

Math 10C

AP Calculus BC Exam score 3 or higher OR

IB Mathematics Analyses & Approaches Higher Level score 5 or higher OR

Grade of C- or better in MATH 10B

Note: The IB Math AI HL is not UC transferable; therefore, it cannot be used as a prerequisite for UCSD Math course enrollment. Students who do not meet other prerequisites will need to take the MPE.

Calculus 20 Series

Math 20A

AP Calculus AB Exam score 3 OR

SAT Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test score 650 or higher OR

Grade of C- or better in Math 4C OR

Qualifying placement on the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE)

Math 20B

AP Calculus AB Exam score 4 or higher OR

AP Calculus BC Exam score 3 OR

IB Mathematics Analyses & Approaches Higher Level score 5 or higher OR

Grade of C- or better in Math 20A or 10B or 10C 

Note: The IB Math AI HL is not UC transferable; therefore, it cannot be used as a prerequisite for UCSD Math course enrollment. Students who do not meet other prerequisites will need to take the MPE.

Math 20C

AP Calculus BC Exam score 4 or higher OR

Grade of C- or better in Math 20B

Math 11 and Math 18

Math 11

AP Calculus BC Exam score 3 or higher

IB Mathematics Analyses & Approaches Higher Level score 5 or higher OR

Grade of C- or better in Math 10B

Note: The IB Math AI HL is not UC transferable; therefore, it cannot be used as a prerequisite for UCSD Math course enrollment. Students who do not meet other prerequisites will need to take the MPE.

Math 18

AP Calculus AB Exam score 3 or higher OR

AP Calculus BC Exam score 3 or higher OR

SAT Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test score 650 or higher OR

IB Mathematics Analyses & Approaches Higher Level score 5 or higher OR

Grade of C- or better in Math 4C or 10A OR

Qualifying placement on the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE)

Note: The IB Math AI HL is not UC transferable; therefore, it cannot be used as a prerequisite for UCSD Math course enrollment. Students who do not meet other prerequisites will need to take the MPE.

Equivalent Credit

Students with the following course credits will earn equivalent credit and will be able to enroll in the next level course in the sequence.

  • AP Calculus exam scores of 3 or higher
  • IB Mathematics Analyses & Approaches Higher Level score 5 or higher 
  • Course credit grade of C- or better in an approved calculus course from another college or university 
  • Foreign credit by exam for High Level Mathematics  (e.g., GCE); contact us for more information

Note: The IB Math AI HL is not UC transferable; therefore, it cannot be used as a prerequisite for UCSD Math course enrollment. Students who do not meet other prerequisites will need to take the MPE.


Expiration for Placement

  • The scores for the SAT Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test are valid for math placement for 2 years.
  • AP Calculus AB (or BC for 2020) score of a "2" is valid for math placement for 2 years.
  • The Math Placement Exam (MPE) is valid for one year.  
  • AP Calculus scores of (3,4,5) and the IB HL 5 or higher do not expire for earning credit.