Are You Ready for Calculus
Students who sign up for a Mathematics course for which they are not well prepared, soon discover that they need to invest a great deal of effort to keep up. Starting Fall 2000, freshmen are placed into Mathematics courses based upon SAT and/or ACT scores. Nevertheless, you may find yourself not adequately prepared for your course in calculus. An excellent test that you can work yourself to see if you are ready, is the University of New Brunswick Are You Ready for Calculus test (answers are also provided). Here is a brief description of the possible choices of beginning courses in Mathematics at the U.B.: - ULC 146-147-148
- are courses on Introductory Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, and Algebra and Trigonometry, respectively.
- MTH 115
- covers the same material as ULC 147-ULC 148 but at a faster pace.
- MTH 121-MTH 122
- is a two-semester sequence in Calculus for students of the social, biological, and management sciences.
- MTH 131
- is a one-semester course in Calculus, a condensed version of MTH 121-MTH 122 for students in management.
- MTH 141-MTH 142-MTH 241
- is a three-semester sequence in Calculus (Calculus I, II and III) for students of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering.
Even though much of the same material is covered, MTH 141-142 is more challenging than MTH 121-122 and MTH131. If the Math Skills Placement test advice suggested MTH 121 but your program of study requires MTH 141-142, you should not take MTH 121. Rather, you should take MTH 115 (preparation for MTH 141) followed by MTH 141. To brush up on background material for courses in Algebra, Calculus and Differential Equations, see the (web-based) Are You Ready quiz/reviews. "I think the main reason students do poorly in Calculus I has little to do with the course itself. It has to do with poor or forgotten algebra skills. ... some of the material which they did not master in College Algebra is essential for success in Calculus I." (Prof. David Lovelock, author of the original "Are You Ready?" programs.)
Author: B. Hassard, Revised: Oct. 5, 2000
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