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Department of Mathematics

Math Placement

All students must meet the prerequisite for any MATH course that they take at USC. For some courses this prerequisite is met after taking the Math Assessment of Prerequisites (MAP). This assessment allows students to gauge how their math skills translate into each relevant course.

 

About the MAP

The MAP is a timed, problem-solving assessment with three levels, each containing 10 questions to be solved in 30 minutes. You must complete MAP 1 and score 7 out of 10 before you can proceed to MAP 2, and a 7 out of 10 score on MAP 2 before you can proceed to MAP 3.

Topics covered in each level:

  • MAP 1 - Basic Skills: Numerical computation, Order of Operations, Graph Interpretation, Finding the Value of a Function, Finding the Equation of a Line, Solving Linear and Quadratic Equations
  • MAP 2 - Intermediate Skills: Finding the Domain of a Function, Solving Exponential and Logarithmic, Transformations of Functions, Factoring polynomials, Algebraic Simplification
  • MAP 3 - Advanced Skills: Compositions of Functions, Inverse Functions, Trigonometric Functions in a Right Triangle, Using Inverse Trigonometric Functions, Solving Trigonometric Equations, Using Trigonometric identities, Graphing Elementary Functions

We want you to be successful in whatever MATH classes you take. The MAP helps determine your current MATH knowledge level. Your score determines what 100-level classes you may register to take.

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