The Exam:
The Exam is a computerized, multiple choice exam separated into two modules. The computer will only administer the second module if the results of the first module indicate the possibility of a higher placement. Thus some students will complete the exam by completing only the first module which is twelve questions on Elementary Algebra. The second module consists of twenty questions from Intermediate Algebra, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus. The exam is a "smart" exam in that it adjusts each question in difficulty level as well as topic based on the results of the previous questions. That is how placement can be made on so few questions.
The exam is designed to be taken without calculators. There is no problem on the exam that can not easily be completed without the use of a calculator. It is important for us to know for instance whether a student knows that -1 times -1 is +1 and not rely on a calculator for this. Knowledge in using a calculator and especially a graphing calculator will be of great advantage to the student when they enroll in mathematics courses at CCSU, but appropriate placement can be made with a test designed to be taken without the calculator.