Santa Clara University

Background and purpose of the exam

Many majors require one of the calculus courses, Math 11 or Math 30. Business majors, with a few exceptions, take Math 30 (Calculus for Business I), while Science and Engineering majors take Math 11 (Calculus and Analytic Geometry I). Both courses are traditional calculus courses and require that students have a solid background of high-school mathematics. The purpose of the Calculus Readiness Exam is to let you know if you have the mathematical knowledge that is a prerequisite for studying calculus at SCU.

Who should take the exam?

Students considering a major or minor in the following areas are required to take either Math 11 (Calculus and Analytic Geometry I) or Math 30 (Calculus for Business I), and should take the Calculus Readiness Exam.

Biochemistry
Biology                                                
Business (all majors and minors)           
Chemistry                                            
Combined Sciences                             
Computer Science                                        
Economics (in Arts and Sciences)
Engineering (all majors and minors)
Environmental Science
Mathematics
Physics and Engineering Physics
Psychology (Emphasis in Psychobiology)

To enroll in Math 11 or 30 you must have taken the online Calculus Readiness Exam. There is no minimum pass score.

EXCEPTION: You do not need to take the Calculus Readiness exam if you have received Advanced Placement credit for calculus (i.e., have earned a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam or a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam), as you will earn credit for Math 11 and Math 30 and do no need to enroll in these courses at SCU.

The Calculus Readiness exam is a 50-minute multiple-choice diagnostic test covering high school algebra. If you have decided on a major and/or minor not listed above, you will work with a faculty advisor during Summer Orientation to determine the appropriate mathematics course for your program of study. However, if you think you might like to take Math 11 or Math 30 to meet your university core requirement, you should take the Calculus Readiness Exam. 

Content of the exam

The exam tests the mathematics required for studying calculus. It consists of 33 multiple-choice questions covering high-school algebra and, for those taking the Math 11 form of the exam, 3 questions on trigonometry. On the basis of your exam score and in consultation with your Orientation advisor you will decide whether to take calculus (Math 11 or 30) or precalculus (Math 9), which is a review of algebra with some trigonometry. Students who do poorly on the exam are strongly encouraged to enroll in Math 9 before attempting Math 11 or Math 30.

Timing of the exam

The exam is intended to last 50 minutes. You should only take it when you will have 50 minutes for uninterrupted work. Students who need significantly more than 50 minutes for the exam may have difficulty in calculus courses in understanding the mathematics developed during class and in the text.

Printing your exam score

When you have completed the exam or when 50 minutes have elapsed you should click on the SCORE button. (You can only do this once.) A Calculus Readiness Exam Results page will appear on your screen containing your score, the elapsed time of the exam, and recommendations for which mathematics course is appropriate for you. Please print out this Results page and bring it with you to Orientation.

How do I take the exam?

You should take the Calculus Readiness Exam before attending Summer Orientation, using the Santa Clara University Ecampus webpage at www.scu.edu/ecampus. Instructions for taking the exam are included online.