Occasionally, students enrolled in classes in the prequisite courses of the Applied Calculus sequence or Calculus sequence (College Algebra, Precal A with Algebra, Applied Precalculus, Precal A and Precal B) do not successfully complete their course.

Either they earn a grade below the C- that is necessary to progress in the sequence or they withdraw prior to the end of the semester.  When this occurs, they do not have the required prerequisite for the next course in the sequence. 

Students in this situation who believe that they did gain a good understanding of the material and who do not wish to repeat the entire course have the option of taking a proficiency test prior to registering for that course again.
 
Proficiency tests are comprehensive free-response tests whose questions represent the various topics of the course. Students who pass a proficiency test will be allowed to progress in their sequence without retaking the course that corresponds to the test.  Please note that the grade earned in the course will not be removed from the student’s transcript and no credits will be earned as a result of passing any of these tests.
 
There are no sample tests for the proficiency tests. Students are advised to review their class text and notes.
 
Students can only take each proficiency test once.  If a student does not pass the proficiency test, they must repeat the course in order to progress in their sequence.
 
Important
Proficiency tests are administered prior to the end of the add/drop period at the beginning of each semester and after the last day of the semester for which a student can earn the “W” grade at the end of each semester.  Students who are currently enrolled in the course do not qualify for its proficiency test. 

ProfIciency Tests Facts

• They allow students to progress in the Applied Calculus or Calculus sequence without taking and passing the courses to which they were assigned by placement testing. 
• They are available only for the 100-level courses in these sequences—College Algebra, Applied Precalculus, Precal A and Precal B.
• They are only for students who were already enrolled in one of the courses listed above.
• There is no proficiency test for Applied Calculus, Calculus I, or Calculus II.
• Passing a proficiency test does not earn credits for the student.
• Passing a proficiency test does not change a course grade.
• A student can only take each proficiency test once.
• Proficiency tests are graded without partial credit.
• The proficiency tests are not the same as the placement tests.
• Practice problems are not available for the proficiency tests.
• These tests are available from Patricia Confort, FCAS Placement Coordinator  pconfort@rwu.edu or (401) 254-3430.