Placement and Credit

Titles of selected first-year math courses:

Universal¹ placement chart for General Education Math courses, and Math 1021 credit, by MACT or MSAT or ALEKS Scores, effective Fall 2023
ALEKS PPL Score²	MACT Score	MSAT Score	HS GPA or Prior College Credit	Course Credited (P grade)	Placement
			Math 1510, 1540, 1550, 1551³		Math 1520, 1552, or 1553
81 or higher⁴				Math 1021	Math 1551 (or lower courses)
76 or higher⁴				Math 1021	Math 1510 (or lower courses), or Math 1530, or Math 1550
61 or higher⁴	25 or higher⁵	590 or higher⁵		Math 1021	Math 1022,⁶ 1431,⁶ 1029, or 1100
41 or higher	21 or higher	530 or higher	C- or better in Math 1020		Math 1021, 1029, or 1100
35 or higher	19 or higher	510 or higher	Any college-level, gen ed math course		Math 1021 and 1020 concurrently,⁷ or Math 1029 or 1100
			HS GPA 3.00/4.0 or higher		Math 1029 or 1100
30 or higher	17 or higher	470 or higher			Math 1021 and 1020 concurrently,⁷ or Math 1029 and 1028 concurrently⁷
29 or lower	16 or lower	469 or lower			Math 1029 and 1028 concurrently⁷
¹ This chart applies universally to students in all majors and minors at LSU. When deciding which course to select from the above placement lists, the student should consider which math courses are required in his or her major or minor. ² A student can take ALEKS up to 5 times in one year. A student may attempt to improve the initial ALEKS score (and hence the math placement) by spending sufficient hours in the ALEKS Learning Module. ³ No student who has already received credit for a mathematics course numbered 1510 or above may be registered in a mathematics course numbered below 1510, unless given special permission by the Department of Mathematics. ⁴ Students can also earn Math 1021 credit (with a grade of P) via ALEKS, but should visit "Undergraduate Examinations" in the "Academic Regulations" chapter of the catalog for additional rules. ⁵ Credit (with a P grade) in Math 1021 based on MACT or MSAT is awarded to incoming or transfer students as long as the MACT or MSAT score is no more than 24 months old on the student’s first day of classes at LSU. ⁶ Credit in Math 1021 (however earned) is the prerequisite for Math 1022 and 1431. ⁷ The Math 1021 and 1020 linked coreq sections have the same section number; similarly for Math 1029 and 1028.

No student may receive more than nine semester hours of credit in mathematics courses numbered below 1510, with two exceptions:
(a) This nine-hour limit doesn’t apply to students who are pursuing the elementary education degree and following the 12-hour sequence specified in that curriculum, and:
(b) Math 1020 and 1028 don't count in the nine-hour limit mentioned above.

A student who receives a grade of "C-" or better in Math 1431, 1510, 1530, 1540, 1550, or 1551 will automatically receive retroactive credit (with grade P) for Math 1021.
A student who receives a grade of "C-" or better in Math 1552/1553/1554 will automatically receive retroactive credit (with grade P) in Math 1022.

LSU students who are taking calculus at another institution to transfer back to LSU for credit must meet the calculus prerequisites at that institution, which in most cases is not an ALEKS PPL score. An ALEKS PPL score is not needed for transfer credit in Math 1530 or 1550.

Placement and Credit by Scores on AP, CLEP, and IB Exams
Exam	Score	Credit (P grade)	Hours	Placement
AP Calculus AB score (or "AB subscore" on AP Calculus BC)	4+	Math 1021, 1550⁴	8	Math 1552/1553
AP Calculus AB (or "AB subscore" on AP Calculus BC)	3	Math 1021 and either Math 1431 or 1530⁴	6	No placement. Students wanting to take Math 1530, 1550, or 1551 should click here for the ALEKS tables.
AP Calculus BC	4+	Math 1021, 1022, 1550,⁴ 1552	15	Math 2057/2058
AP Calculus BC	3	Math 1021, 1550⁴	8	Math 1552/1553
CLEP College Alg	50+	Math 1021	3	Math 1022, 1431, 1100, or 1029
CLEP Calculus	56+	Math 1021, 1550⁴	8	Math 1552/1553
IB (International Baccalaureate) Math	5	Math 1021, 1550⁴	8	Math 1552/1553
IB (International Baccalaureate) Math	4	Math 1021 and either Math 1431 or 1530⁴	6	No placement. Students wanting to take Math 1530, 1550, or 1551 should click here for the ALEKS tables.
		⁴ ALEKS PPL not required for credit in Math 1530 or 1550.

LSU's math placement and credit exams:

Placement exams can improve a student's initial placement; they cannot lower a student's placement. Credit exams can give advanced-standing credits. For example, students who wish to register in Math 1552 must have credit in Math 1550 or 1551. One way to earn this credit is by passing the credit exam in Math 1550.

Placement and credit exams can be taken in the Office of Testing & Evaluation Services (TES; formerly called the Office for Assessment and Evaluation; 578-1145) in 51 Himes Hall (basement). Contact that office for test time and scheduling. Arrive 30 minutes before the test time, and bring a picture ID.

Placement and Credit by Scores on LSU's Algebra, Trig, and Calculus I Placement/Credit Exams
Algebra Exam	Trig Exam	Calculus I Exam	Credit (P grade)	Placement
		14 or higher	Math 1550⁴	Math 1552/1553
	13 or higher		Math 1022	Students wanting to take Math 1510, 1530, 1550, or 1551 should click here for the ALEKS calendar.
16 or higher			Math 1021⁵	Math 1022, 1029, 1100, or 1431,
⁴ ALEKS PPL not required for credit in Math 1530 or 1550. ⁵ Students admitted to LSU with low MACT, MSAT, and ALEKS scores who need credit in Math 1021 can try to score 16 or higher on the Algebra exam.

Last updated February 19, 2024.