Overview

Although high school courses—AP or even dual credit—are NOT equivalent to courses taught by PhD faculty at a tier-1 research institution, TAMS does not wish to “hold back” a student who has completed specific courses with high grades. Thus, TAMS adheres to the following policies regarding placement testing and which students are qualified to take them.

  1. Students who completed a high school-level precalculus course are eligible to take one math placement test which will determine if a student enrolls in MATH 1650 Precalculus or MATH 1710 Calculus 1.
  2. Students who completed a high school-level calculus course AND who score well enough on the first placement test will be invited to take a second math placement test which will determine if they enroll in MATH 1710 Calculus 1 or MATH 1720 Calculus 2. Students who do not score high enough on the second math placement test will be enrolled in Calculus 1.
  3. Finally, students who completed a high school-level calculus course AND performed well on the second placement test will be invited to take a third placement test, which will determine if they enroll in Calculus 2 or a higher level UNT math course.

Students who took AP math exams and received a “reasonable” score on a respective test MAY BE enrolled in a higher math course, but that decision will be made in conjunction with UNT's Department of Mathematics and that decision is final.

Students who completed a high school chemistry course are eligible to take a chemistry placement test to determine if they can enroll in Honors General Chemistry. Students who did NOT take a high school chemistry course will be enrolled in CHEM 1410 General Chemistry 1. Likewise, students who do not score high on the chemistry placement test will also be enrolled in CHEM 1410.

Both CHEM 1410 General Chemistry and CHEM 1413 Honors General Chemistry satisfy the same requirement for degrees in biology, biochemistry, and chemistry, as well as the prerequisites for graduate programs in medicine and other health care fields.

Please note:

  • TAMS makes no exceptions for students who did not complete the aforementioned high school courses but who want to take the placement test(s). On the other hand, students are NOT required to take the placement test(s) and can notify Dr. Gruver that they wish to enroll in Precalculus and GenChem.
  • Students who are eligible to take one or both of the placement tests but who do not take the placement tests due to schedule conflicts and/or personal obligations will be enrolled in Precalculus and GenChem 1. TAMS rarely offers “make up” test dates because TAMS must enroll students as soon as possible; students who have issues must contact Dr. Gruver directly.
  • TAMS does not consider dual credit or correspondence courses or “self-study” when determining a student's enrollment in math and chemistry. Student learning and success is paramount, and TAMS will not enroll a student in a course for which the student is unprepared.

Testing Schedule: May 2026

Students who are eligible to take placement exams will do so in a secure online environment on the dates below supervised by TAMS and UNT faculty and staff. UNT faculty score and analyze students' placement tests, and then inform TAMS of students' enrollment.

Students are not permitted to use calculators of any kind during the math placement tests.

Precalculus/Calculus I placement test (students choose one):

  • Friday, May 29th, 9:00-10:30am
  • Saturday, May 30th, 9:00-10:30am
  • Tuesday, June 2nd, 9:30-11:00 am

Calculus I/Calculus II placement test (must be the same day as the first placement test):

  • Friday, May 29th, 1:00-2:00pm
  • Saturday, May 30th, 1:00-2:00pm
  • Tuesday, June 2nd, 2:30-3:30 pm

Calculus III or higher placement test — Eligible students will be invited based on scores from the first two math placement tests.

Chemistry/Honors Chemistry placement test (non-programmable calculator permitted):

  • Friday, May 29th, 3:00-4:50pm
  • Saturday, May 30th, 3:00-4:50pm
  • Wednesday, June 3rd, 10:00-11:50 am