Review Sessions for Math 095/101 Placement Retest

TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO ONE OF THE UW-MADISON COURSES:
MATH 095 (FUNDAMENTAL MATHEMATICAL SKILLS)
(NO DEGREE CREDIT; 3 STUDY CREDITS)
MATH 101 (INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA, 3 CREDITS)
AND ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE ONE OF THESE COURSES AS PART OF YOUR PLANNED PROGRAM


First note that if you placed into Math 101 and have no intention of considering a major that requires more mathematics, then you can satisfy part A of the General Education Requirement in Quantitative Reasoning with Math 141 (Quantitative Reasoning and Problem Solving). This course is offered each semester. We offer Math 095 in the fall semester and Math 101 in the spring semester, because we feel that for most students this will be the best option. We also recognize that some of you may have adequate math skills but they may be rusty (e.g. if you did not take a math course in your last year of high school). For such students we offer a

SPECIAL NO CREDIT SHORT REVIEW WORKSHOP (SEPT. 16 - OCT. 9, 2008),
FOLLOWED BY AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETAKE THE PLACEMENT EXAM (OCTOBER 9 or 11) AND IMPROVE YOUR SCORE FOR HIGHER PLACEMENT. The SOAR Math Placement Advisor will review your record and current math placement score in order to determine whether you are a good candidate for a retest. Here are the steps that you should follow in order to increase the likelihood that you will improve your performance on the placement exam and be better prepared for the next mathematics course you take:

I. Buy the book "Forgotten Algebra" by Bleau (published by Barron's). This book is available now at the University Bookstore at a price of about $25.

II. Study independently units 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 12, 16 in this text. Do this as soon as possible, well before the first workshop. In fact, it would be good for you to review these, and the units highlighted in the workshops, during the remaining weeks of the summer.

III. Attend the workshop sessions 1, 2, and 3, one session for each of three weeks.(See Workshop Schedule)

IV. Register in Room 213 Van Vleck, before Wednesday, October 8. Bring your student ID.

V. Retake the placement exam at one of the scheduled times:

Thursday, October 9: 6:20 PM, Room TBA
Saturday, October 11: 10:00 AM, Room TBA


Review Sessions for Math 95/101 Placement Retest


WORKSHOP #1: LINEAR EQUATIONS

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 4:30, Room TBA
(repeated on Thursday, Sept. 18, 9:55 AM, Room TBA)
Units 4, 6, 7, 24, 26, 28 of "Forgotten Algebra"

WORKSHOP #2: COMPLEX FRACTIONS, EXPONENTS, AND RADICALS

Tuesday, September 23, 4:30 PM, Room TBA
(repeated on Thursday, September 25, 9:55 AM, Room TBA)
Units 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 of Forgotten Algebra

WORKSHOP #3: FACTORING AND NON-LINEAR EQUATIONS

Tuesday, September 30, 4:30 PM, Room TBA
(repeated on Thursday, October 2, Room TBA)
Units 5, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 of "Forgotten Algebra"

Each workshop will stress the important parts of the assigned units. The workshop format will be presentations by instructor with student participation welcomed. Handouts will be available at these sessions, including some additional practice problems on work covered in the workshop.

THESE WORKSHOPS ARE MEANT TO BUILD ON YOUR REVIEW. A STUDENT WHO ATTENDS ONLY THE WORKSHOPS WITH NO PRE- AND POST- REVIEW IS UNLIKELY TO IMPROVE HER OR HIS PERFORMANCE ON THE PLACEMENT EXAM OR BE PREPARED FOR HER OR HIS NEXT MATHEMATICS COURSE.

HELP SESSION:

Tuesday, October 7, 4:30 PM, Room TBA
Thursday, October 9, 9:55 AM, Room TBA

These help sessions provide further opportunities for students to get answers to any remaining questions the s/he may have.

We hope that you will be successful in the retest and will advance to the next mathematics course. But, if you are not successful in the retest, then you can take the required Math course (Math 095 or Math 101) in the following semesters. Note that if you have been placed into Math 095, then you are in need of remediation in Mathematics, and according to Regent policy, this designation must be removed before completing 30 credits at UW-Madison.

RETEST SCHEDULE (ID required at time of exam):
Thursday, October 9 at 6:30 pm, Room TBA
Saturday, October 11 at 10:00 am, Room TBA

For questions about the workshops, call David Camacho, Department of Mathematics, 263-6817. For questions about the placement test, call 262-5863.