Placement Information
Choosing the Right MATH Course for You
If you are unsure whether or not you want to or should take a MATH course, you can read the “Do I need to take a MATH course” FAQ or the “Should I take Statistics, Data Science, Calculus, or Linear Algebra” FAQ below.
Mathematics courses build on previous knowledge and material. It’s important for you to enroll in a course that you are prepared for but also is not a repeat of material you’ve already mastered. At Middlebury, MATH courses may differ from your high-school experience in pace, depth, format, and expectations. You might have a pre-conceived idea of what pre-calculus or calculus looks, but you’ll likely find the the coursework here easier in some ways, more challenging in others, or just different from the way you’ve experienced it previously.
At Middlebury, your first MATH course will likely be one of the following:
Math Placement Survey
The Math Placement Survey is designed to help you gauge which topics you’re comfortable with—so you can focus on what to review or learn next—and to match you with a course whose level and style fit your background and goals.
All students interested in taking a MATH course are required to complete the Math Placement Survey. The Math Placement Survey is not a test or exam. You can take as much time as you need.
Preparing for the Survey
You may wish to spend a bit of time reviewing and preparing for the Math Placement Survey to ensure you are putting your best foot forward.
Take the Survey
Click the link below when you are ready to begin the survey.
- You should have a pencil/paper or a tablet/stylus ready to write out your work for math problems. You may be prompted to upload some of your work.
- No calculators are permitted.
- The survey has no time limit—you can take as long as you need. Most students set aside 15–60 minutes to complete the survey, though your personal timing will vary based on a variety of factors including which math courses you’ve previously taken and how much you remember.
- Be honest about what you know—and what you don’t.
After Completing the Survey
After you complete the Math Placement Survey, you will be given a recommended first MATH course at Middlebury. If that recommendation doesn’t feel right, use the comments section at the end to share your reasoning. You can also email mathplacement@middlebury.edu to discuss.
You should complete the Math Placement Survey as soon as possible - and at least 72 hours before any registration period - to ensure we have time to process your placement. We’ll do our best to accommodate late requests, but processing placement requests can take time and we can’t guarantee your placement will be in place before you need to register.
Keep in mind that placement does not guarantee you a seat in a course in any given semester; it simply determines which MATH course(s) you are eligible to add to your schedule. If there are no seats available during registration or you decide to take the course after your registration window, you can add yourself to the MATH department waitlists available at go/MATHwaitlists.
Questions?
Please contact mathplacement@middlebury.edu. We’d love to chat!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take a MATH course?
Students come to math courses with a wide range of experiences and goals. Some are genuinely excited to take a MATH course. Others might be considering a major that requires one, or are exploring a related subject like Statistics, which may feel more aligned with their interests. And some students may choose not to take MATH or STAT courses at all — and that’s okay, too.
That said, several majors and pre-professional tracks do include math as part of the journey. Depending on your background, you may need to take a pre-requisite course first, or you might place out of these courses based on your previous experience.
MATH 121 Calculus I
Required or recommended for Economics, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, Math, Pre-Health, Pre-Engineering
MATH 122 Calculus II
Often needed for Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, Math, Pre-Engineering, Pre-Health students may take this course if they place out of MATH 121 Calculus I
MATH 200 Linear Algebra
Required for Math and Statistics major, upper-division Computer Science electives sometimes require MATH 200 Linear Algebra
Is there anything I can do ensure I'm set up for success in MATH courses?
Choose the correct course
Mathematics courses build on previous knowledge and material. It’s important for you to enroll in a course that you are prepared for but also is not a repeat of material you’ve already mastered. You also may want to explore the course requirements for some of the majors you are considering so that you can better understand how math might fit into your future goals. Math faculty members are also available to have conversations with you, and if often the best way to determine what courses you should take. Don’t hesitate to email us at mathplacement@middlebury.edu to discuss your options.
Understand where your skills are now and review prerequisite material
Middlebury is providing students access to ALEKS PPL, an online learning program that will help you access your current math knowledge and provides an individualized path for you to learn and master more math topics that will help you in quantitative courses at Middlebury.
To enroll:
- Navigate to https://www.aleks.com/sign_up
- Enter the code “JCTVW-XK6FY”
- Confirm the class information. It should say that the Class is “2024-2025 School Year” and that the institution is “Middlebury College.”
- Select “No, I have never used ALEKS before” and create an account. Be sure to use your Middlebury email and enter your Student ID number.
Once you have enrolled, you can begin by taking the assessment. You can work through problems at your own pace. Once you finish the assessment, ALEKS will give you some recommendations on topics to learn or practice.
Seek help early and often
- Make the effort to attend office hours. Your instructor wants to help you! Successful students make the effort to attend office hours regularly.
- The Q-Center may offer resources, like drop-in tutoring, to help support your learning.
Should I take Statistics, Data Science, Calculus, or Linear Algebra?
The question of whether to take statistics, data science, or calculus depends on your interests and future plans.
- Introduction to Statistical Science (STAT 0116) and Introduction to Data Science (STAT 0118) both teach tools and methods that will show up in social sciences like psychology and economics, as well as other disciplines that engage with data—which is essentially all of them at this point! STAT 0116 and 0118 are widely applicable courses. Some programs require some form of a statistics course, taken either in the Math Department or the program’s department. Look carefully at your intended major’s requirements.
- Calculus I (MATH 0121) and Calculus II (MATH 0122): Chemistry and physics require both Calculus 1 (MATH 0121) and Calculus II (MATH 0122). Calculus I (MATH 0121) is required for economics. Other science programs encourage students to follow the calculus sequence and may allow students to swap out a course in their major for certain mid- and upper-level math electives. Look carefully at your intended major’s requirements and elective options. Most applied math courses require a calculus and/or linear algebra background.
- Linear Algebra (MATH 0200) is a great place to experience some mathematics that is not directly related to calculus. It contains a robust mix of theory and problem solving, with applications to computer science and economics among other disciplines. Linear Algebra is also the gateway to the mathematics major and more intermediate level math courses.
Have you taken an AP or IB exam?
AP and IB credit will no longer be awarded for all students enrolled in the Fall 2025 semester and beyond. Students may still submit their test scores to satisfy course prerequisites or major requirements as determined by each department.
Students who have written an official AP or AB exam can view the chart below to determine if they place out of any MATH courses and what we might recommend as a first MATH course at Middlebury.
| Exam | Score | Recommended Course | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | 4 or 5 | MATH 122 | You place out of MATH 121 |
| AP Calculus BC | 4 or 5 | MATH 200 | You place out of MATH 122 |
| IB MAA HL | 6 or 7 | MATH 200 | You place out of MATH 122 |
If the exams you’ve taken or the scores you’ve received don’t fall within this list, you should consult the Math Placement Survey for next steps.
If you have submitted your scores to the Middlebury registrar, you should already have placement for you to enroll in your next recommended course without completing the MATH Placement Survey. If aren’t sure if your scores were submitted or you have additional questions, you can reach out to mathplacement@middlebury.edu.
Even though I’ve already taken Calculus, can I retake Calculus I (MATH 0121)?
In general, we do not allow students to take courses below their placement level. This follows the College Policy that no student can take a course at Middlebury for which they already have credit, even if the student waives the right to transfer that credit. We do our best to place students in the course that will be best for them, and that will be best for their classmates. When students who have already learned a significant amount of Calculus register for Calculus I (MATH 0121), this can affect the atmosphere of the class and may discourage or even drive away students who feel intimidated by their classmates’ more advanced knowledge.
For example, if you took the AP Calculus AB exam and earned a score of 4 or 5, then you cannot take MATH 0121. Similarly, if you took the AP Calculus BC exam and earned a score of 4 or 5, then you cannot take MATH 0122.
However, if you’ve previously taken a calculus course but cannot complete a satisfactory number of problems on Part B of the Math Placement Survey it would be perfectly appropriate to request preapproval to enroll in MATH 121 Calculus I.
Have prior calculus experience and want to register for a course with a MATH prerequisite?
The Math Department only places students into MATH and STAT courses.If you’re trying to register for a non-MATH course that requires Calculus I (MATH 0121), here’s what to do:
ECON courses: You’ll need a placement code from the Economics Department. Visit the ECON Math Assessment and Placement page for more information about how to place out of Calculus for the purpose of ECON courses or the ECON major.
PHYS courses: Contact the course instructor directly to discuss placement.
What if I end up in the wrong course for me?
If your initial placement from the Math Placement Survey doesn’t feel right. Please let us know ASAP so we can discuss your options with you.
There is typically a fair amount of review built into the first week all of our intro level MATH courses. We recognize that students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and it might take a minute to get everyone on the same page.
Please give the first few days of the course your best effort - attend and participate in class, ask questions early and often, and tackle the homework to the best of your ability. Take advantage of any resources available to support you (like office hours, drop-in tutoring, etc).
If, after three class meetings, you are still feel uncertain please reach out to your course instructor and/or the Math Placement team mathplacement@middlebury.edu. While we strive to do our best to get placement right the first time, but it’s not uncommon to have students switch courses at the end of the first week.
Please keep in mind that if you are truly on the fence about which course to take, it is much easier to try the higher level course and decide you need to switch to a lower level course where missing the first week might be a review of things you already know anyway. If you start in the lower level course and find it to be “too easy” or a major repeat of things you already know and understand, it’s much trickier for you to switch to the higher level course after you’ve already missed the first week of review.