Prospective Student Information (Applying to UT Fall 2023)

Fall 2023 applicants

More information regarding UT Austin math readiness policies for applicants here. 

Please do not attempt to purchase the UT math package as it is only available to currently enrolled UT Austin students.

Contact readiness@cns.utexas.edu with any questions.  

Newly Enrolled Student Information (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our incoming Longhorns, and congratulations on your choice to attend The University of Texas at Austin! We have you covered for calculus at UT. Like a foreign language, calculus skills are learned through training and practice. Resources like the Math Readiness Package provide you with support to learn and implement your skills.

Online access to the Math Readiness Package and the proctored UTMA is needed for many new, incoming students.

The Math Readiness Package is designed to assess new, incoming students’ calculus skills and is a one-time $50 purchase. Included in the package are learning modules, the required UTMA warmup assessment, testing directions for the UTMA and access to the package’s content. This online learning resource ensures that you take the calculus course that aligns with your knowledge and will give you the best opportunity for success. 

To help you determine if you should purchase the Math Readiness Package or if you need to take the UTMA, use the tool “Should I buy the Math Readiness Package?” 

  New, incoming students in the College of Natural Sciences need it.

CNS students are not eligible to be exempt as we use the UTMA for advising for other math and science courses including Chemistry and Physics. All CNS students will need the resources in the Math Readiness Package to take the UTMA and to prepare for any quantitative courses. Please discuss possible transferred credits with your academic advisor during orientation.

  Students in other colleges at The University of Texas at Austin may wait to learn if they need it.

We recommend waiting for your academic advising appointment at Orientation if you are not directed by your college to purchase the Math Readiness Package in your welcome email. Academic advisors are your specialists for course information for your first semester.

  Some new, incoming non-CNS students may be exempt.

Students not in Natural Sciences may be exempt if they:

• Have AP or IB test scores or transfer/dual-enrollment credit sufficient to claim credit for first-semester calculus.
• Scored 30 or higher on the ACT Math, or 670 or higher on the SAT Quantitative within the past year*.
• Have credit for M 305G (Preparation for Calculus) with a B- or higher.

*April 1, 2021 until present (Applies to both ACT and SAT scores.) 

Students can provide unofficial documentation showing that they meet any of the above exemptions by emailing it to the math ombudsperson for review.

UTMA exemptions are for newly admitted students only. 

High school transcripts are not an acceptable means of demonstrating UTMA exemption status. 

Cockrell School of Engineering students may be exempt.

You will be contacted by Engineering Student Services with your next steps.

Students who are NOT exempt and will be required to take the UTMA, Engineering students need to refer to their MyStatus instructions for the UTMA.

 Please use this step by step guide for the Math Readiness Package:

Please follow the "Click to Download" link in your electronic receipt to be taken to the learning modules and the warm-up assessment. Included in the package are learning modules, the required UTMA warmup assessment, testing directions for the UTMA, a link to the online proctored version of the UTMA, and access for one academic year to the package’s content.

You will also have access to revisit modules where improvement is possible to continue to hone your calculus skills. Please plan to spend a significant amount of time practicing in the learning modules before your assessment to fully prepare for the best outcome. Your professors may refer to these modules during your calculus class; UT has the resources to prepare you to be successful in calculus courses.

The Math Department will notify students who have not met the prerequisite requirement via Secure Academic Note (SAN) prior to the start of the semester for students enrolled in: M 305G, M 408C, M 408K, M 408N, M 408R, M 408Q.

Please read this information about the calculus prerequisite requirement: Click here for pre-calculus/calculus prerequisite information.

If you did not earn calculus placement on your first assessment:

Please do not worry if you need additional calculus preparation.

We recommend at least 40 hours working in the modules before a retake. Please work in the Math Readiness Package modules to make sure that you are ready for the rigor of The University of Texas at Austin’s calculus courses and wait to retake your second UTMA attempt until you have spent significant time in the learning modules.

The University has got your back to provide the resources you need to become prepared for the rigor of UT calculus coursework. We have several resources to ensure that you learn the content so you will not struggle in your class including access to the Math Readiness Package for the full spring semester. Thus, we encourage you to utilize the Math Readiness Package while you are enrolled in pre-calculus or calculus. You will have the support of your academic advisor at orientation to discuss your options.

Exchange students and students who graduate from TAMS having completed the equivalent of M408D, M408M, or M361K are exempt from the UT Math Assessment.

If you need additional support, we can help. Please send us an email with your EID and concern: readiness@cns.utexas.edu

Continuing UT Student Information (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)

The following UTMA information is for continuing students only

UTMA exemptions are for newly admitted students only. UTMA exemptions do not apply for continuing students. 

UTMA scores obtained in Summer 22 are valid through the Fall 22 and Spring 23 semesters. 

The complementary UTMA will provide the prerequisite requirement for the following courses: M 305G, M 408C, M 408K, M 408N, M 408R, or M 408Q.

Tutoring is available at student request from the Sanger Learning Center.

 

To help you determine if you need to take the UTMA, use the tool “Do I need to take the UTMA?” 

 

  

Registration FOR THE UTMA FOR spring 2023 PLACEMENT INTO spring COURSES is now closed

  

  Please review the Math Department UTMA Prerequisite Requirement Information:

Click here for pre-calculus/calculus prerequisite information. If you need additional support, we can help. Please send us an email with your EID and concern: readiness@cns.utexas.edu

 

  Optional $50 Math Readiness Package:

Click Here To Purchase The Optional Math Readiness Package.

Current UT students who would like to refresh or improve their math skills have the option to prepare for the UTMA with the Math Readiness Package that includes the online warm-up assessment and learning modules, and is highly encouraged by our Mathematics Department. Please plan to spend a significant amount of time practicing in the learning modules before your assessment to fully prepare for the best outcome. Your professors may refer to these modules during your calculus class.

Use the "Click to Download" link in your electronic receipt to be taken to the warm-up assessment. Included in the package are learning modules, the required UTMA warmup assessment, testing directions for the UTMA and access for all of spring semester to the package’s content. You will also have access to revisit modules where improvement is possible to continue to hone your calculus skills.

Current UT students will need to use the link on our website to access the UTMA.

UT Math Assessment Accommodations

 The UTMA has been designed to be as universally accessible as possible. The test is untimed and can be completed using personal devices/technology, therefore reducing the need for most individualized accommodations. Calculation is a skill being tested as part of the UTMA so calculators are not permitted on the exam. If you have a disability and have accessibility concerns about the UTMA, please contact readiness@cns.utexas.edu

Students may also contact Disability and Access for information on accommodations and accessibility services at UT.

Technology Requirements

 The UTMA can be taken on a computer, a tablet or your smartphone.

Our online proctoring technology requirements are:

1. Webcam
2. Microphone
3. Any standard up-to-date web browser

Academic Integrity

Please use academic integrity for the UT Math Assessment provided by the University's Honor Code. A fundamental principle for any educational institution, academic integrity is highly valued and seriously regarded at The University of Texas at Austin. More specifically, you and other students are expected to maintain absolute integrity and a high standard of individual honor in scholastic work undertaken at the University. 

Frequently Asked Questions (Newly admitted and currently enrolled students)

Who must take the UT Math Assessment?

• All College of Natural Sciences new, incoming, first-year students, with the purchase of the Math Readiness Package.
• Non-CNS students should meet with their academic advisor at Orientation to discuss if they are recommended to enroll in calculus at UT.
• Current UT Austin students who are enrolled in M 305G or M 408C/K/N/R/Q for the upcoming semester must take it. However, current UT students are not required to purchase the Math Readiness Package.

Why must I take the UT Math Assessment?

The prerequisite requirement is necessary to remain enrolled in pre-calculus and calculus courses. The UT Math Assessment is used to determine the mathematics course in which students at The University of Texas will have the greatest success. Upon completion of the assessment, your results are available in five hours and your academic advisor will review your results to make appropriate recommendations for course registration.

What Math Course am I prepared for?

Please visit the Mathematics prerequisite website for course details:

https://cns.utexas.edu/mpa-advising/math-prerequisites

Where do my UT Math Assessment and scores appear?

Your results are available five hours after your assessment and are added to your UT student profile which is accessible by your academic advisor. Your results are verified by the Mathematics Department before the semester begins, and you will be notified by the Mathematics Department if you do not meet the prerequisite requirement.

Is there a cost for taking the UT Math Assessment?

FOR CURRENT UT STUDENTS, THERE IS NO COST TO TAKE THE UT MATH ASSESSMENT. For new, incoming students, the Math Readiness Package, which includes the UT Math Assessment, costs $50. This includes learning modules, the UTMA warm-up practice questions, directions for the UTMA, the link to the online proctoring and access for the full semester to the package’s content. You have access to revisit modules for the full semester where improvement is possible to continue to hone your calculus skills.

What if I do not obtain the required minimum score for course placement?

UTMA scores obtained in Summer 22 are valid through the Fall 22 and Spring 23 semesters.  UTMA scores obtained in the Spring 23 semester are valid only for the Spring 23 semester.  After the Spring 23 semester, any UTMA scores will expire, are no longer valid, and must be retaken for any following semester. If you are unable to meet the required score after your second attempt, please contact your academic advisor to discuss your course schedule and options.

What math is covered in the online Math Readiness Package?

The online Math Readiness Package includes a warm-up assessment providing guidance on areas in which you should remediate. After completing the warm-up assessment, you will work through Learning Modules in topics including: Algebra, Exponents and Polynomial Functions, Rational and Radical Functions, Trigonometry, and Exponential and Logarithmic Functions.

Do I have to complete the Math Readiness Package modules before I can take the assessment?

The learning modules are for your benefit and we will leave it up to you to decide how much time you spend working in them. After you complete the warm-up assessment, a link will be added to your profile within a few days to take the online, proctored, UT Math Assessment.

What do I need and what am I allowed to use while taking the UTMA?

You will need a working video and microphone in order to take the UT math assessment, and you must uphold the UT Honor Code of integrity. The assessment should represent an honest reflection of your current math abilities and will place you in an appropriately rigorous class. Using any assistance (Googling, calculators, class notes, advice from others, etc.) during the UTMA is considered cheating and will result in your score being invalidated.

What if I'm having technical issues?

Please email Quest support with your EID and screenshots of the issue at questhelp@austin.utexas.edu.

What if I took the SAT Subject test in Math or have credit for Calculus through AP, IB, or CLEP?

All incoming College of Natural Sciences must take the UT Math Assessment. CNS students are not exempt as we use the UTMA for advising for other math and science courses including Chemistry and Physics.

AP, IB and CLEP scores may still be used for credit, but these scores do not exempt students in the above paragraph from purchasing and completing the Math Readiness Package.

Students not in Natural Sciences may be exempt if they:

• Have AP or IB test scores or transfer/dual-enrollment credit sufficient to claim credit for first-semester calculus.
• Scored 30 or higher on the ACT Math, or 670 or higher on the SAT Quantitative within the past year*.
• Have credit for M 305G (Preparation for Calculus) with a B- or higher.

*April 1, 2021 until present (Applies to both ACT and SAT scores.) 

The UT Math Readiness Package and its learning module materials are for your benefit, as they will allow you to see whether there are areas you would like to review before classes begin.

How long is my UT Math Assessment score valid?

UTMA scores obtained in Summer 22 are valid through the Fall 22 and Spring 23 semesters.  UTMA scores obtained in the Spring 23 semester are valid only for the Spring 23 semester.  After the Spring 23 semester, any UTMA scores will expire, are no longer valid, and must be retaken for any following semester. 

How long is my UT Math exemption valid?

UTMA exemptions granted in Summer 22 are valid through the Fall 22 and Spring 23 semesters. UTMA exemptions granted in the Spring 23 semester are valid only for the Spring 23 semester. After the Spring 23 semester, any UTMA exemptions granted for Fall 22 and Spring 23 are no longer valid and are considered expired.

Where do I go for Math advising help?

Your academic advisor that you meet with at orientation is your go-to person at UT for course detail discussion. You also can review the Mathematics Department’s advising website for additional information regarding UT Math courses.

How do I know if I should take the UT Math Assessment?

All new, incoming College of Natural Sciences students are required to purchase the Math Readiness Package. This includes completing the learning modules, the warm-up assessment and the UT Math Assessment.

The UTMA provides the prerequisite requirement for M 305G, M 408C, M 408K, M 408N, M 408R, or M 408Q.

Students can use this tool to determine if purchasing the Math Readiness Package is required: Do I need to buy the Math Readiness Package?

Do I need to take the assessment before attending my scheduled new student orientation session?

All new, incoming CNS students are required to purchase the Math Readiness Package and complete the UTMA before their new student orientation session.

Non-CNS students in another college intending to take calculus can wait until orientation to discuss their fall courses during their academic advising meeting. Students can enroll in a calculus course during orientation without a UTMA result.

Can you retest?

Yes, if you do not receive a score that places you in the calculus course that you wish to enroll in, you can reattempt the UTMA.

UTMA scores obtained in Summer 22 are valid through the Fall 22 and Spring 23 semesters.  UTMA scores obtained in the Spring 23 semester are valid only for the Spring 23 semester.  After the Spring 23 semester, any UTMA scores will expire, are no longer valid, and must be retaken for any following semester.

There is a required 24-hour waiting period to re-take the UTMA.

If an emergency prevents me from taking the assessment before my orientation, who should I contact?

Please email: readiness@cns.utexas.edu

What do I do for Duo / Two Factor Authentication Issues?

Frequently Asked Questions (Freshman fall 2023 applicants)

Admissions Applicant FAQs

Why do I need to prove Calculus Readiness during the admissions process?

Certain majors at UT require freshmen to be ready to take calculus their first year.  Freshmen Admission Applicants who are applying to any major in the Cockrell School of Engineering, Jackson School of Geosciences, or Environmental Science majors in the Colleges of Natural Sciences or Liberal Arts must show a minimum level of calculus readiness in order to be eligible for admission consideration to these majors.

Do I need to prove Calculus Readiness by the Admissions Deadline?

Yes, you must have your test scores, college transcript, or UT Math Assessment scores in by either the November 1 priority deadline or the final admissions deadline of December 1 for fall applicants and by October 1 for spring applicants.

Who should take the UT Math Assessment?

Students whom have not met the minimum level of calculus readiness through their SAT/ACT math scores, AP or IB scores, approved course credit from a college/university for Math or high school Calculus credit with a grade of B-, can take the UT Math Assessment to satisfy the calculus readiness requirement for freshmen applicants.

What are the benefits to taking the UT Math Assessment?

If you score a minimum of a 70, you not only met the calculus readiness requirement for admission consideration - but you also meet the score for placement into calculus and will not need to take another placement exam prior to enrollment.

How much does the UT Math Assessment cost?

The UTMA is free for admission applicants, as is the warmup if you want to practice prior to taking the exam.

What's the difference between the math package and the warmup for the UTMA? 

Applicants receive the warmup and two attempts to the UTMA. However, applicants do not have access to the math package until they are an enrolled UT Austin student. The warmup is accessible to applicants and can help you to prepare for the UTMA. Please do not attempt to purchase the math package.

When do I get my UTMA results and how do I share them with the Office of Admissions?

UTMA score results are typically available within 24 hours of taking the exam and can be viewed on quest. The Office of Admissions will receive the scores from the College of Natural Sciences automatically.

What happens if I don’t make at least a 70 on the UTMA?

If you don’t meet minimum score of a 70, you can take the assessment again as long as the admissions deadline has not passed.  If the admissions deadline has passed and you have not proven calculus readiness through the other methods, you will not be eligible for consideration for your major. You could still be admitted to another major and may need to take the UTMA again for calculus placement depending on the requirements for that major or internal transfer to the original major of application.

Should I create a UTEID in order to take the UTMA if I don’t already have a UTEID?

It is preferred that you apply for admission to the university first and take the UTMA after receiving your UTEID from the Office of Admissions. If you think you already have a UTEID, use the self-help tools to check for one. If the deadline is approaching and you are planning to take the UTMA before you receive your UTEID, you may create the EID using the self-help tools but double check with your admissions counselor to make sure a duplicate record was not created as it could cause delays with your admissions decision.

What do I do for Duo / Two Factor Authentication Issues?

If you have questions or are having problems with Duo two factor authentication please click here to learn how to troubleshoot common issues.

If those don't resolve your issue you will need to contact the ITS help desk at 512-475-9400.

What if I'm having technical issues?

Please email Quest support with your EID and screenshots of the issue at questhelp@austin.utexas.edu.

For more questions regarding the UTMA, please contact readiness@cns.utexas.edu.

Contact Us

Please send us an email with your EID and concern:

readiness@cns.utexas.edu

Students: Always include your UT EID in your messages.