lovablerin912

Hi I am a SMC student and this is my 3rd semester at SMC.
I am a horribly WEAK student at math so when I took the placement test at
SMC it came out to be the LOWEST which is math81.
So I took math81 at Spring at they were learning about the MOST basic stuff ever. However, since I was new student I didnt know about the deadline to drop a class with avoiding W. So right now I have a W on math81.
Although I suck at math I do not think I am a math81 level and in order to go up till IGETC math level which is math52, I have to take 4 classes to go up to math52.

they said that if you have a "grade" (which is W in my case) you CANT take the math placement test again. So, I called the math dpt to see what I can do and they said if I request a certain math level that I want to be in they will let me take the test again, but the problem is.. i do not know what level I am in and how GOOD i am to be a certain level. if I request a level than i probably have to study on my own to pass the placement test. PLEASE please help me.. for anyone who started from math81... or anyone who was in similar situation as I am.

PS. math is not a important course for me.. I am a Women Studie's major so its not required to take math to go to UCLA but its because of IGETC.

Thanks so much guys.

jk_91

Didn't you take the placement test when you first started out at SMC? In that case, why did you wait until your third semester to start on your math when you placed at the lowest level and have to take 4 classes before taking a transferable class?

I believe how it works at SMC is that you can't just tell them that you want to be placed in Math 52 and take a placement test that revolves around everything before that course (basic arithmetic, pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra). You have to take the placement test which starts at algebra and depending on whether you get the first question correct you're either asked a harder or easier question.

If you take the placement test again it is highly recommended that you PREPARE for it. This is actually said on SMC's site many, many times. This is a good overall review of the topics that will be on the test: TheMathPage: Arithmetic. Algebra. Trigonometry. Precalculus.

Good luck