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Place Up Pathway Exam (PUP-Exam)

Students earn their initial math placement by taking the MPE.  The Place-Up Pathway (PUP) Exams are administered to students placed into preparatory math courses to see if they can "place-up" one level. 

Currently there are two PUP-Exams:

  • Math 2-to-3B (offered Fall Week 0, and Fall, Winter, Spring Week 10)
  • Math 3B-to-3C (offered only Fall Week 0)

Who needs to take the PUP-Exam?

Students with Math 2 placement are required to take the Math 2-to-3B PUP-Exam to move forward in math. Once students pass this PUP-Exam, they are placed into Math 3B you move up to the next course by passing each successful course (no more PUP-Exams are required).

Why take the PUP-Exam and not retake the MPE?

Math 2 covers focused preparatory math topics to develop mastery and knowledge needed for success in precalculus courses (3B and 3C).  Since students taking Math 2 have different knowledge bases, they can take Math 2 multiple times to master these foundational topics that are vital for future success.  For this reason, Math 2 does not have mid-terms and finals.  Therefore, the Math 2-to-3B PUP-Exam is similiar to a final exam in that it assesses students' mastery on focused Math 2 topics needed to promote to Math 3B.  

The MPE assigns an official math placement to students by assessing a large range of foundational topics learned in secondary mathematics courses.  The function of the MPE is to determine which UCSD math course best matches a students' current math preparedness.  The MPE is not designed to be used like a final exam to assess mastery of topics learned from one particular course.

Therefore, students on the Place-Up Pathway do not retake the MPE.

Where are PUP-Exams taken?

PUP-Exams are taken at the Triton Testing Center (TTC) in the basement of the Applied Physics and Mathematics (AP&M) building.  

PUP-Exams are online exams from the Prairie Learning application.

  • Eligible students must request access from mathtesting@ucsd.edu to take PUP-Exams.
  • Students must accept the invitation from Prairie Test to join a currently available PUP-Exam "class".
  • Students must schedule an appointment in advance to take the exam during the current PUP-Exam window.
  • Students should register as soon as possible as seats for PUP-Exams are limited.

Are there Practice Exams?

The Math 2-to-3B Practice Exam is offered Weeks 6-8 each quarter. Students should take the Practice Exam to:

  • Learn about the modality of testing on Prairie Test before taking the PUP-Exam.
  • Practice on the timing of the exam.  The practice exam is 45 minutes.
  • Practice testing without calculators (no calculators or virtual assistance are allowed on PUP-Exams). 

Are PUP-Exams and Practice Exams free?

All PUP-Exam and Practice Exams are free.

Can students retake the PUP-Exam?

Students with Math 2 placement must pass the Math 2-to-3B PUP-Exam to move forward in math.  Therefore, they need to retake the exam until they pass.  PUP-Exams can be taken once once per quarter (except Fall Week 0 and Fall Week 10).