Skip to main content

Prerequisite Criteria for Math Placement

 

All students must meet one of the following prerequisites before they may enroll in Math 2, 3B, 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 3B Qualifying placement on the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE)
Math 3C

Math 3B OR

Qualifying placement on the UCSD 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 UCSD 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 UCSD 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 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 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 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 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.