Math Prerequisite Criteria
All students must meet a prerequisite criteria before they are elgible to enroll in math at UCSD. Review placement prerequisites for preparatory math and the two calculus series below.
Preparatory Math Classes
| Math 2 | Qualifying placement on the Math Placement Exam (MPE) |
| Math 3B |
Qualifying placement on the Math Placement Exam (MPE), OR Qualifying placement on the Math 2-to-3B Place-Up Pathway Exam (PUP-E) |
| Math 3C |
Math 3B OR Qualifying placement on the Math Placement Exam (MPE) |
| Math 4C |
AP Precalculus Exam score 4, OR AP Calculus AB (or AB sub score) Exam score 2, OR MATH 3C, OR Qualifying placement on the Math Placement Exam (MPE) |
Calculus 10 Series
| Math 10A |
AP Precalculus Exam score 4 or higher, OR AP Calculus AB (or AB sub score) Exam score 2, OR Math 3C or MATH 4C, OR Qualifying placement on the Math Placement Exam (MPE) |
| Math 10B |
AP Calculus AB Exam score 3 or higher, OR MATH 10A or MATH 20A |
| Math 10C |
AP Calculus BC Exam score 3 or higher, OR IB Mathematics Analyses & Approaches Higher Level score 5 or higher, OR MATH 10B or MATH 20B 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 Precalculus Exam score 5, OR AP Calculus AB Exam score 3, OR MATH 4C or MATH 10A, OR Qualifying placement on the 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 MATH 10B or MATH 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, OR IB Mathematics Analyses & Approaches Higher Level score 5 or higher, OR MATH 10B or MATH 20B 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 Precalculus Exam score 5, OR AP Calculus AB Exam score 3 or higher, OR AP Calculus BC Exam score 3 or higher, OR IB Mathematics Analyses & Approaches Higher Level score 5 or higher, OR MATH 4C or MATH 10A, OR Qualifying placement on the 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 in an approved for Transfer Equivalent Credit calculus course from another college or university
- Foreign credit by exam for Advanced Level (A-Level) Mathematics (e.g., GCE)
- Send email to mathtesting@ucsd.edu with your A-Level exam (such as GCE) and syllabus code for evaluation.
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 Math Placement
- AP Precalculus scores (4, 5) are valid for two years.
- AP Calculus AB score or AB subscore (2) is valid for two years.
- Math Placement Exam (MPE) placement is valid for one year.
- AP Calculus scores (3, 4, 5) and IB HL scores (5, 6, 7) earn equivalent credit and do not expire.
