Academic Placement Testing Program (APTP)
The Academic Placement Testing Program (APTP) is a cooperative program of Washington State public colleges and universities. Faculty from participating institutions have created the Mathematics Placement Test (MPT) to help students, with the assistance of their academic advisers, select first-year mathematics courses for which they are best prepared. The program is managed by the Office of Educational Assessment on behalf of participating institutions.
Math Placement Tests
Three versions of the test enable accurate placement of students with varying levels of academic preparation. Specific placement cutoffs reflect the content and difficulty level of each course. Students should choose among the tests based on the course in which they wish to enroll, their level of academic preparation, and the requirements of their institution.
- The General Math Placement Test (MPT-G) is directed toward students who have less than three or four years of high school math and who will be entering pre-calculus or general college-level math classes. Test content is aligned with the Washington State College Readiness Mathematics Standards, and a single college readiness cutoff is accepted at all Washington public post-secondary institutions.
Learn more about the MPT-G/CRMT
- The Intermediate Math Placement Test (MPT-I) is of the same level of difficulty at the MPT-G. It is directed toward students who have less than three or four years of high school math and who will be entering pre-calculus or general college-level math classes. The test covers Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, and Pre-Calculus I.
- The Advanced Math Placement Test (MPT-A) is directed toward students who have taken at least three or four years of high school math and who wish to enroll in Calculus. It covers Intermediate Algebra and Pre-Calculus I and II.
Sample problems have been developed to assist students in preparing for the test.
Test Sessions
Statewide Testing
APTP coordinates a large number of test dates throughout Washington, in Idaho, and in Alaska, during the months of May and June each year. Testing sessions are two hours long, including the seventy-five minute (1 hr 15 min) time limit for the test itself. Calculators are not needed or allowed. Online Registration opens in early February each year. Students who participate in Statewide testing can take advantage of the $15 test fee.
On-Campus Testing
Math Placement Tests are also offered On-Campus at participating institutions throughout the year. Testing sessions are two hours long, including the sixty minute (1 hr) time limit for the test itself. Calculators are not needed or allowed. The number and capacity of On-Campus test sessions may be limited, and test fees are higher than during Statewide testing.
Questions regarding exemption from testing should be directed to the mathematics department of the university the student plans to attend.
For more specific information about On-Campus testing at participating institutions, select an institution from the drop-down list.
Retesting
Statewide testing sessions are for first-time test takers ONLY. Attempts to test more than once during Statewide sessions will not be honored and fees will not be refunded or transferred.
Students who wish to take the Math Placement Test a second time may do so On-Campus after a minimum wait of two weeks. Students who wish to test a third time must wait a minimum of one year. Follow the links at the right to contact participating institutions directly.
