Preparing for College Math: A Roadmap for Success

Preparing for College Math: A Roadmap for Success

Table of Contents Introduction...3 Math Readiness Efforts at LCC Show Great Results...4 The Roadmap to Success in College Math...5 Scheduling Your Time to be Successful in College...6 Managing a College Schedule...7 Your First Quarter Schedule...7 Time Management Tool...7 Common Core Standards and Smarter Balanced Assessment...8 High School Transfer Agreement...10 Mathematics Pre-Requisite Flow Chart... 11 Board of Trustees Heidi Heywood, Chair Max Anderson, Vice Chair George Raiter Steve Vincent Thuy Vo President Christopher Bailey Contributors Dawn Draus, LCC Math Faculty Wendy Hall, Executive Director of Effectiveness & College Relations Angel Ruvalcaba, Advising and Testing Specialist Topics Covered on the LCC Placement Test(s)... 12 Calculators on the Placement Test... 13 Calculators in College Level Courses... 13 Sample LCC Placement Exam... 14 Practicing for the Math Placement Exam... 15 Math Boot Camp...16 LCC Contact Information...16 Quiz and Exam Solutions... 17 Some content in this publication is used with permission of State Fair Community College (SFCC). Lower Columbia College would also like to acknowledge the National Science Foundation for supporting the initial development of this handbook at SFCC. Accreditation Lower Columbia College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. LCC is tobacco-free. Lower Columbia College limits tobacco use to personal vehicles parked or driven on designated parking areas and roads. Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Reasonable Accommodation It is the policy of Lower Columbia College to provide equal opportunity in education and employment regardless of sex, race, color, marital status, creed, age, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, religious preference, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability. The Title IX Equal Opportunity Officer and Section 504 Disability and ADA Coordinator is Lisa Matye Edwards. Her office is in the LCC Admissions Center, Room 159; her telephone number is 360.442.2301. 2

Introduction Improving the pathway for success in math is at the heart of increasing student retention and completion rates in college. In Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties, a partnership between Lower Columbia College and local school districts is paving the way for substantial improvements in math success and, ultimately, college completion. This booklet was prepared to help spread the word about the efforts already in play, and to help parents and students better understand what it takes to be successful in college. Many students mistakenly believe that if they graduate from high school, they will automatically begin their college careers by taking college level courses. Unfortunately, this is not always the case as a majority of students entering community college in the United States require some type of remediation (in math or English, but predominantly in math). It has become common practice for students entering community colleges to take standardized placement exams to determine where they will begin their math studies. Incorrect or under placement can result in substantially increased costs for students who end up taking more math courses than they really need. Also, students accumulate extra credits that don t count toward any educational credential. Additionally, costs for pre-college courses are not covered by dual-enrollment programs such as Running Start. The information in this booklet can help both students and parents maximize the opportunities available to them to both prepare for and succeed in college. In this booklet: three ways to place into college level math at LCC Smarter Balanced Assessment administered in the 11th grade see page 8 High School Transcript Agreement (based on grades/courses in high school math) see page 10 LCC Placement Test (Pearson s MyMathTest) see page 12 3

Math Readiness Efforts at LCC Show Great Results A collaborative effort to prepare local high school graduates for college math studies is already showing significant results at Lower Columbia College (LCC). Over the last five years, the proportion of recent high school graduates moving directly into college level math at LCC has increased a full twenty points. Math instructors from LCC and local schools believe that the quality of high school math courses is not to blame for the large proportion of students testing into pre-college math in the past. Instead, interventions related to the math placement process, test preparation and curriculum alignment have resulted in significant change. Here are some of the results of collaboration between LCC and our local school districts: Significant Savings for Students Partnership efforts between LCC and local school districts equal big savings to students and their families. By taking advantage of the opportunities available, students save approximately $600 for every pre-college math class they don t have to take. Students who plan well and are able to bypass pre-college math altogether save over $2,000 in tuition and book fees. Alignment Instructors reviewed coursework and assignments to insure alignment between high school and college curriculum. Transcript Agreement Procedures are now in place to give qualifying high school students advanced placement into college level math courses at LCC. For example, students receiving qualifying grades in Algebra 2 or Calculus in high school can transfer into an appropriate college level math course at LCC without going through the placement testing process. Test Validity and Accuracy College faculty and testing staff reviewed and revised placement tests to more accurately assess student skills. Switching to Pearson s MyMathTest assessment from a previously used standardized test allows for much greater diagnostic capability in testing. The result is more accurate placement. MyMathTest is a fully integrated (online) system, which has also substantially reduced textbook costs for students. Unlike with standardized tests, MyMathTest assessment and practice test content was developed and is maintained by LCC faculty. Practice Tests LCC now offers free practice tests in area high schools and online, then shares scores with students and counselors to help them better understand and prepare for college math placement requirements. Practice tests can also help reduce text anxiety, boosting performance. Math Boot Camps Many math skills can become rusty with a lack of use, resulting at times in placement scores not truly reflective of a student s ability. In order to combat the rust factor and help students prepare for placement testing, LCC offers Math Boot Camps to refresh and help prepare students for the testing process. Many students who re-test after taking a Math Boot Camp actually place into a higher level course, saving them both time and money. Math Boot Camps are offered several times a year. Curriculum Reform Even with planning, some students will still require pre-college math courses at LCC. Math faculty have worked very hard over the past several years to completely revamp the pre-college math curriculum at LCC, resulting in a course sequence that is 25% shorter than in the past (the entire sequence of 20 credits was reduced to 15). Additionally, each 5-credit course was split into modules of 3 credits and 2 credits, which has resulted in drastically reduced withdrawal rates for those courses. 4

The Roadmap to Success in College Math Freshman and sophomore years of high school *Work hard in your math classes and try to get the best grades possible to enhance your college math placement prospects. *Stay current with basic arithmetic skills as well as algebra, and make sure you can do math without a calculator. Junior year of high school or before *Take a practice math test through LCC to increase self-awareness of your skill level. *Continue to enroll in math courses and work hard even if you ve met your high school graduation requirements. Senior year of high school *Don t stop taking math classes now, or you will be sure to lose some of the skills you ve acquired. *Consider taking a Math Boot Camp through LCC if you need to brush up on math skills you learned earlier in your high school career. *Take another practice test to re-assess your skill level and track progress. *Apply to colleges and don t forget to fill out your FAFSA (federal financial aid application). Post-high school graduation *Bring in your high school transcripts for evaluation and placement into college level math at LCC, or take a math placement test through the Testing Office. *If you think you should be in a higher level course after testing, sign up for a Math Boot Camp and re-take the placement exam. *Understand that the results of the math placement test determine where you start in the math sequence, and doing well can save you thousands of dollars and a year or more of classes. College math classes *Stay in your math sequence once you start. Taking breaks between courses decreases your chance of successful completion. *Visit the Learning Commons early and often to get any extra help you need understanding math concepts. *Always go to class and talk with your instructor before or after class, or during office hours about anything you don t understand. *Remind yourself (and your family) that by taking math at a community college instead of a university, you are saving yourself thousands of dollars in tuition a year (and your classes are probably much smaller, too). Transferring to a four-year institution *Know that community college transfer students do just as well in university courses as students who enroll as freshmen, and often do better. 5

Scheduling Your Time to be Successful in College Number of Credits Hours for the Quarter Typically 12 credits is considered full-time, but most students take 15 credits a quarter. + Number of Hours Spent Studying per Week (# of credits 2) For every 1 hour you spend in class you should expect to spend 2 hours outside of class studying and working on assignments. + Number of Hours You Plan to Work per Week Most students plan to work at least part time to help pay for college. + Number of Hours for any Other Regular Commitments of Your Time per Week Plan to join a club on campus, participate on a sports team, or volunteer your time? All of these things add to your weekly time commitments. = TOTAL Time Commitment per Week (add lines 1, 2, 3, and 4) If your total is more than 60 hours per week, you may be setting yourself up for a very stressful quarter that may not lead to academic success. New students not yet familiar with the demands of college are particularly vulnerable to schedule overload. 6

Managing a College Schedule Please use this page to plan your first quarter at LCC. Your First Quarter Schedule Class Credit Hours Study Hours Per Week Total Time Management Tool 7:00 a.m. 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 7

Common Core Standards and Smarter Balanced Assessment for Placement in Washington Community & Technical Colleges As part of a statewide agreement, Lower Columbia College (LCC) supports the use of the Common Core State Standards as a basis for preparing K-12 students for successful participation in higher education. Lower Columbia College also supports the use of the Smarter Balanced Assessment to evaluate student learning, including readiness for entry into college level math and English language arts courses. To that end, LCC has agreed to use the 11th grade Smarter Balanced scores of level 3 or 4 to place students into college level math and English courses without further placement testing. This agreement is also in effect for the other 33 Washington community and technical colleges. The Washington public baccalaureate institutions have endorsed a similar but separate agreement. Washington independent colleges and universities have also been invited to participate in the baccalaureate agreement. Students with college-ready scores in the 11th grade are highly encouraged to take additional math and English courses in the 12th grade. Students scoring at level 2 on the Smarter Balanced Assessment are encouraged to take advantage of the 12th grade transition courses that are currently being developed (for example, the Bridge to College Math course that will be offered locally). Students who complete a transition course with a B or better will also be considered college-ready, and will be able to enroll in college-level math and English courses without additional placement testing. Students may also continue to use the existing placement tests when enrolling at Lower Columbia College, including the Compass test for reading and writing (English) and Pearson s MyMathTest for math. Students who receive the qualifying test scores or grades noted above can use the College s traditional placement process to test into higher levels of math or English than what is covered under the agreement. The agreement applies to the high school graduating classes of 2016 through 2018 and will then be renewed or modified, based on the outcomes for students per the statewide agreement. The agreement only applies to high school students with Smarter Balanced 11th grade assessment scores admitted to and enrolling in the academic year immediately following high school graduation, or students enrolling in dual-credit courses (such as Running Start) as high school seniors. For more information about the Smarter Balanced Assessment and what that means for entry into Lower Columbia College, please contact the LCC Testing Office at 360.442.2353. 8

Agreement on the use of the Smarter Balanced 11th grade career and college readiness assessment for placement in Washington community and technical colleges SBAC 11 th grade assessment Score Level: 4 3 Mathematics Placement Options Available Based on Score Any entry college-level math course through Pre-Calculus I An entry college-level terminal math course not on the Calculus pathway An entry college-level pathway math course, contingent on a B or better in a Calculus pathway class in the senior year of high school English Placement Options Available Based on Score An entry college-level English course (including but not limited to English Composition or its equivalent) An entry college-level English course (including but not limited to English Composition or its equivalent) 2 An entry college-level terminal math course not on the Calculus pathway, contingent on a B or better in the statewide math college readiness/transition course 1 or through local institutional processes (transcript, high school GPA, additional testing, etc.) An entry college-level English course (including but not limited to English Composition or its equivalent), contingent on a B or better in a statewide English senior year college readiness/transition course 2 or through local institutional processes (transcript, high school GPA, additional testing, etc.) 1 Additional placement information, determined by local institutional processes (transcript, high school GPA, additional testing, etc.), needed for all entry-level courses Additional placement information, determined by local institutional processes (transcript, high school GPA, additional testing, etc.), needed for all entry-level courses Notes: 1. For all levels in math, placement into more advanced courses than designated in the agreement will depend on additional local institutional placement processes (transcript, high school GPA, additional testing, etc.). 2. For math, colleges may require additional placement information for initial entry into college-level math courses beginning in the winter term of the entry year following high school graduation. 3. For English, colleges may require additional placement information for initial entry into college-level courses beginning in the summer term following the first academic year after high school graduation. 4. For both math and English individual colleges may also extend the time period for honoring the scores for placement. 5. The transition courses will need to be approved by higher education institutions before placement can be guaranteed. Footnotes: 1 College readiness/transition course for students heading toward college math not on the calculus pathway currently being designed collaboratively by higher education faculty and high school teachers (to be offered at pilot site districts in 2014-15, available at scale in 2015-16) 2 Year 12 English college readiness/transition course currently being designed collaboratively by higher education faculty and high school teachers (to be offered at pilot site districts in 2014-15, available at scale in 2015-16) 9

High School Transfer Agreement The grid below establishes a minimum placement level at Lower Columbia College (LCC) based on the grade earned in the last mathematics course completed in high school. Please note that students will still need to take the placement exam at LCC for data purposes and to determine if their current skills and knowledge warrant a higher level of placement. LAST HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSE COMPLETED Algebra 2 Algebra 2 (with Trig) Statistics Math Analysis Pre-Calculus Calculus A First Tier First Tier Statistics First Tier Pre-Calc II - Trig Calculus I A- First Tier First Tier Statistics First Tier Pre-Calc II - Trig Calculus I GRADE EARNED B+ 098/099 First Tier Statistics First Tier First Tier Calculus I B 098/099 098/099 Statistics 098/099 First Tier Pre-Calc II - Trig B- Placement Test 098/099 Placement Test 098/099 098/099 Pre-Calc II - Trig C+ Placement Test Placement Test Placement Test Placement Test 098/099 First Tier C Placement Test Placement Test Placement Test Placement Test 098/099 First Tier O This agreement applies to students from the following nine local high schools: ü Castle Rock High School ü Kalama High School ü Kelso High School ü Mark Morris High School ü R.A. Long High School ü Three Rivers Christian ü Toutle Lake High School ü Wahkiakum High School ü Woodland High School O Students must provide an official high school transcript indicating the appropriate grade has been earned in the 2 nd semester of their most recent high school math course. ü 1 st semester grades may be used for provisional placement until official transcripts are available at the end of the school year. O Students must register for a mathematics course within one academic year of completing the qualifying high school mathematics course. O First tier college mathematics courses include: ü MATH& 107 Math in Society ü MATH 125 Applied College Algebra (Finite) ü MATH& 131 Math for Elementary Teachers I ü MATH& 141 Pre-Calculus I ü MATH 210 Elements of Statistics ü BUS 206 Statistical Methods 10 O Students may use either the transfer agreement or placement test results to determine their initial mathematics placement at LCC.

Mathematics Pre-Requisite Flow Chart PRE-COLLEGE 050 Whole Numbers 078 Pre-College Math I 079 Pre-College Math I Fulfills NO Pre-Requisites 074 Math Orientation Review Course ONLY MATH 088 fulfills the Minimum Computation Requirement for most Associate in Applied Science degrees. PRE-COLLEGE 088 Pre-College Math II 089 Pre-College Math II 098 Pre-College Math III 105 Math for Health Sciences Medical Assisting 106 Industrial Math Diesel and Machine Trades 099 Pre-College Math III Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math Majors 141 Pre-Calculus I Algebra 125 Applied College Algebra 210/206 Elements of Statistics 131 Math for Elementary Teachers I 107 Math in Society 215 Discrete Structures 142 Pre-Calculus II Trigonometry 151 Calculus I 148 Business Calculus Business Majors 211 Statistical Projects Nursing, Social Science, and Business Majors 132 Math for Elementary Teachers II Elementary Education Majors All Other AA-DTA Majors MATH 107, 125, 132, 141, and 210 fulfill the Minimum Quantitative Skills Requirement for the AA-DTA degrees. 220 Linear Algebra 152 Calculus II 153 Calculus III 240 Differential Equations 254 Calculus IV This chart is only intended to serve as a general guide to LCC s mathematics program. Please refer to the current LCC Catalog for full course descriptions and specific program/degree requirements. Revised May, 2013 Effective AY 2013-2014 11

Topics Covered on the LCC Placement Test(s): Pearson s MyMathTest ENTRY 10 Questions No Calculator 1 Hour Limit FUNDAMENTALS 15 Questions No Calculator 1 Hour Limit < 25% Adult Basic Education MATH 050 25% - 70% MATH 078 < 30% 70% MATH 079 30% - 70% 70% MATH 088 Math 105 Math 106 ALGEBRA 16 Questions Calculator Provided 1.5 Hour Limit < 25% MATH 089 25% - 75% MATH 098 75% < 25% MATH 099 ADVANCED 20 Questions Calculator Provided 2 Hour Limit 25% - 50% 50% - 75% MATH 141 Math 107 Math 125 Math 131 Math 210 MATH 142 Math 148 75% MATH 151 1. FUNDAMENTALS TEST a. Operations on Whole Numbers b. Operations on Integers c. Operations on Fractions d. Operations on Decimals e. Ratios, Proportions, and Percents 2. ENTRY TEST a. Solving Linear Equations b. Solving Linear Inequalities c. Graphing Linear Equations and Inequalities d. Find Equations of Lines e. Operations on Polynomials 4. ADVANCED TEST a. Solving Quadratic Equations b. Graphing Quadratic Equations c. Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations d. Operations on Matrices e. Evaluating Trigonometric Functions f. Graphing Trigonometric Functions g. Solving Trigonometric Equations h. Graphing Conic Sections i. Finding Equations of Conic Sections j. Applying Summation Notation k. Partial Fraction Decomposition l. Applying the Binomial Theorem 12 3. ALGEBRA TEST a. Factoring Polynomials b. Solving Systems of Linear Equations c. Operations on Rational Expressions d. Solving Rational Equations e. Operations on Radical Expressions f. Solving Radical Equations Minimum Computational Requirement for most AAS Degrees MATH 088, 105, or 106 Minimum Proficiency Requirement for AA-DTA MATH 099 Minimum Quantitative Skills Requirement for AA-DTA MATH 107, 112, 132, or 210

Calculators on the Placement Test Since the fundamentals test is assessing your ability to do arithmetic type problems, there are no calculators allowed on this part of the placement exam. You will be provided with a basic calculator (see image to the right) for the algebra and advanced portions. Calculators in College Level Courses Selecting an appropriate calculator depends on the math courses required for your area of study. If you are interested in business or one of the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) which require you to take calculus, then you should plan to invest in a graphing calculator. TI-84 is the current standard, but you should check with your instructor s course syllabus to see exactly what is allowed or required. Often, advanced graphing calculators such as the TI-89, TI-92, and TI-Nspire CAS are not allowed. Generally, a scientific calculator will suffice for non-stem majors who are not required to take calculus. You can usually find an inexpensive (less than $20) calculator that will perform all of the operations necessary. The TI-30XS is a nice option currently. Keep in mind that many pre-college math courses (those numbered below 100) do not allow the use of any calculator. Again, it is best to check the course syllabus for specific requirements. Calculator Quiz Are You Calculator Ready? Do you know how to use your calculator to solve college level math problems? Take this short quiz to find out. Solutions can be found on page 15. 1. -5 2 2. (-5) 2 3. 2 14 4. log 9 (Round to the nearest thousandth) 5 5. 8 2/3 6. 12 (Round to the nearest thousandth) 7. -4 + 5 8. e 2 3 + 2 (Round to the nearest thousandth) -2+ 5 3 9. (Round to the nearest thousandth) 10. 3-8 (Round to six decimal places) 13

Sample LCC Placement Exam Many standardized tests are multiple-choice. However, LCC usies an online program called MyMathTest (part of MyMathLab) which allows for free response questions. To get an idea of the type of questions that might be included on your placement test, complete each of the following problems. For this test, do not use a calculator. Solutions can be found on page 15. 1. Simplify the expression. Give your answer as a reduced fraction. 2. Simplify the expression. Give your answer as a mixed number. 3. Write 62.5% as a fraction. 4. Solve the equation. 5. Find the equation of the line given the pair of points. and 6. Simplify the radical expression. 7. Completely factor the polynomial. 8. Solve the system of equations. Give your answer as an ordered pair. 9. Solve the equation. 10. Solve the equation. 14

How many questions did you get right? 0-3 questions correct will likely place a student three steps below college level. o Generally this is a course entitled Pre-Algebra. o At LCC this course is MATH 078/078 Pre-College Math I. 4-5 questions correct will likely place a student two steps below college level. o Generally this is a course entitled Introductory Algebra. o At LCC this course is MATH 088/089 Pre-College Math II. 6-8 questions correct will likely place a student one step below college level. o Generally this is a course entitled Intermediate Algebra. o At LCC this course is MATH 098/099 Pre-College Math III. 9-10 questions correct will likely place a student in college level math. o Your interests and major will dictate which college level math course is right for you. Practicing for the Math Placement Exam All prospective students are encouraged to practice for the math placement exam. Practice materials are available online or on paper from the LCC Testing Office. Prospective students can visit the LCC Testing Office in person to request access, or visit the LCC website at lowercolumbia.edu/placement to request a math practice account online. Math practice materials were developed and are maintained by LCC math faculty. The material is similar, but not identical, to the actual math placement exam. LCC math faculty also developed and maintain content in the math placement exam. Math Practice Materials Practice Material Questions Paper Math Concepts Sample Content (Math 050-088) Sample Content (Math 89-99) Sample Content (Math 141-150) 30 Y 20 Y 44 Y Lines and Angles, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Adding Real Numbers, Decimals, Solve and Graph, Exponents, Number Lines, Linear Equations, Graph on the Number Line. Adding and Subtracting Polynomials, Factoring Common Factor, Solve Linear Equations, Solve Linear Systems, Rational Expressions, Simplify Radicals, Complete the Square, Graph Exponential Function. Solve Equations of Form x 2 =k, Solve Equations of Form (ax + b)2 = k, Quadratic Formula, Quadratic Equations, Exponential Equations, Logarithms, Matrices, Second-order Determinant, Understand Graph of Sine and Cosine, Ellipses, Graphing Conic Sections, Summation Notation, Binomial Theorem. Study Plan Numerous N Practice Tests Numerous Y (All Concepts Available) After completing one of the sample content sections, or an actual math assessment, the Study Plan will highlight specific math concepts that the student needs to work on. (All Concepts Available) Any specific math concepts can be chosen to study. Going through a Math Boot Camp is a great way to prepare for the practice placement exam. Many students who take the placement exam sign up for a Math Boot Camp afterward, either to prepare for entry into a math course or to re-test for a higher placement. 15

Math Boot Camp Math Boot Camp is a goal-oriented and student-friendly refresher math course that helps you review basic math concepts, teaches study skills and testing strategies, and instructs you on how to practice in LCC s online math lab. Math Boot Camp sessions are free. To get information about session dates and/or to sign up for a Math Boot Camp, call the LCC Admissions Center Testing Office at 360.442.2353 or visit lowercolumbia.edu/mathbootcamp LCC Contact Information For questions about scheduling a placement exam, gaining access to math practice tests, or to sign up for a math boot camp: Admissions Center Testing Office 360.442.2353 or 1.866.900.2311 lowercolumbia.edu/placement For questions about the high school transfer agreement or the math curriculum at LCC: Mathematics Department 360.442.2550 lowercolumbia.edu/math For questions about applying to LCC: Entry Center at the Registration Office 360.442.2311 or go to lowercolumbia.edu and click on the red Apply for Admission button For questions about degree and certificate programs or enrolling in courses: lowercolumbia.edu/programs 16

Quiz and Exam Solutions Solutions to Calculator Quiz 1. -25 Solutions to Sample Placement Exam Solutions to Sample Placement Exam 1. 2. 25 2. 3. 16,384 3. 4. 0.255 5. 4 4. 5. 6. 3.464 6. 7. 1 7. 8. 405.429 8. 9. 0.079 9. No Solution 10. 0.000152 10. 17

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