Getting Started: Choosing your Classes
Math Placement
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Many students are uncertain about which math class to take. Use this information as a guide. If you still have questions, talk to the ES advisor or to the Math Department.
Links on this page:
- The Math Placement exam
- Math 16A and 16B versus Math 1A and 1B
- Advanced Placement Scores (AP Scores)
- Math 32
- Student Learning Center Math Adjunct Courses and Tutoring Assistance
- Links to the Math Department
The Math Department offers a placement exam to help students determine which class they should take. The Math Department has found that the placement exam is a good predictor of a student's preparedness for Pre-Calculus (Math 32), and Calculus (Math 16A, and 1A). For the online math placement exam go to http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_placement
Choosing between Math 16A/16B and Math 1A/1B
Cal offers two introductory calculus series: Math 16A/16B and Math 1A/1B. Math 16A-16B covers many of the same basic topics as Math 1A-1B, but lacks in-depth calculus and is less rigorous and demanding.
Math 16A-16B is a more applied series of courses and is for life and social scientists. It fulfills the math requirement for ES students in the Biological or Social Science concentrations. It does NOT fulfill the Physical Science concentration math requirement.
Math 1A-1B is a more theoretically-based calculus sequence. It is the sequence that math majors, computer scientists, engineers, physical science majors, and some biological science majors (including ES physical science concentration students) are required to take.
It is important to note that Math 16A-16B is a terminal, one-year calculus sequence; in order to take Math 53 or Math 54, you must pass Math 1A-1B with a letter grade of C- or better. Students who think they might want to take more than just a year of math should take the Math 1 series.
Comparison between Math 16A-16B and Math 1A-1B:
| Math 16A-16B | Math 1A-1B | |
| Units | 3-3 | 4-4 |
| Focus | applied calculus | theoretical calculus |
| Fulfills the prerequisites for these math classes: | None. Students who complete 16B and then decide to take additional math will have to take Math 1B for reduced units before continuing with Math 53 or 54.. |
Math 53, 54, and then all other math classes |
| Satisfies these ES concentrations: | Biological Science, Social Science |
All: Biological Science, Social Science, Physical Science |
Advanced Placement (AP) Scores
AP exams can exempt a student from one or both of the calculus courses required for ES. See the chart below. However, students are not required to skip courses based on AP scores.
The Math Department has found that while an AP score of 3 or 4 shows that a student is ready to take college calculus, it is not an accurate indicator of how a student will do in a college math course. High school calculus is not necessarily the same as college calculus. If your AP score would allow you to enroll in Math 1B or 16B, but you feel that your math background is not as strong as you would like, you are not penalized for taking Math 1A or 16A. For example, if you received a 3 on the AB Math exam, and you take Math 1A, you will still receive 2.7 units for the AP test and 4 units for Math 1A.
To further help you decide, the Math deparment has a list of sample problems from previous final exams. Please contact the Math Undergraduate Advising Office for assistance.
AP Score Chart
| Exam | Score | Equivalent course(s) | Enroll in: |
| AB | 3,4, or 5 | Math 1A or Math 16A | Math 1B* or Math 16B* (see note below) |
| BC | 3 or 4 | Math 1A or Math 16A | Math 1B* or Math 16B* (see note below) |
| BC | 5 | Math 1A-1B | You have satisfied the entire calculus requirement for the ES major. If you would like to take more math, you may enroll in Math 53 or 54. |
| * Note: If you are not comfortable starting in Math 1B or 16B, you may enroll in Math 1A or 16A without penalty. | |||
If you are not prepared for calculus at the college level, you must take Math 32, Precalculus, during your first semester. The prerequisite for Math 32 is three years of high school math. See Plans 4 and 5 on the previous page, First Term Classes, for possible complete schedules.
Student Learning Center Adjunct Courses and Tutoring Assistance
To further help students with math classes at Cal, the Student Learning Center (SLC) offers Adjunct courses for Math 32, 16A, and 1A. These are 1 unit supplemental courses.
The SLC also offers tutoring, study groups, and exam reviews. Details about all of the SLC programs are available on their web site, http://slc.berkeley.edu.
Contacting the Math Department
The Math Department at Cal is very interested in ensuring that students are placed in the proper class. If you have questions about math classes that are not answered here, please contact an advisor for the Math department as follows:
| Thomas Brown brown@math.berkeley.edu (510) 642-0665 912 Evans Hall Berkeley, CA 94550-3840 |
Jennifer SIxt |
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Environmental Sciences
260 Mulford Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-3100
phnoe: 510-643-9479
fax: 510-643-3132
e-mail: es-help@nature.berkeley.edu
Modification Date: 10/09/2006