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.
