Mathematics Placement Exams at Bridgewater State College--Mathematics Exam Descriptions   
 

Elementary Algebra: This test measures students' ability to solve problems that involve fundamental algebraic concepts. A total of 12 questions are administered in this test.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/accuplacer/accuplacer-tests.html
 

  • The first type involves operations with integers and rational numbers, and includes computation with integers and negative rationals, the use of absolute values, and ordering.
  • A second type involves operations with algebraic expressions using evaluation of simple formulas and expressions, and adding and subtracting monomials and polynomials. Questions involve multiplying and dividing monomials and polynomials, the evaluation of positive rational roots and exponents, simplifying algebraic fractions, and factoring.
  • The third type of question involves the solution of equations, inequalities, word problems. solving linear equations and inequalities, the solution of quadratic equations by factoring, solving verbal problems presented in an algebraic context, including geometric reasoning and graphing, and the translation of written phrases into algebraic expressions

Students demonstrating advanced mathematics skill may also be assessed from intermediate algebra through precalculus.  There are 20 questions on the College-Level Mathematics.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/accuplacer/accuplacer-tests.html
 

  • Algebraic operations includes simplifying rational algebraic expressions, factoring, expanding polynomials, and manipulating roots and exponents.
  • Solutions of equations and inequalities includes the solution of linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, equation systems and other algebraic equations.
  • Coordinate geometry includes plane geometry, the coordinate plane, straight lines, conics, sets of points in the plane, and graphs of algebraic functions.
  • Applications and other algebra topics ask about complex numbers, series and sequences, determinants, permutations and combinations, fractions, and word problems.
  • The last category, functions and trigonometry, presents questions about polynomials, algebraic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions.

Last Modified: February 1, 2007