Are college math placement tests hard?
You can find a very extensive review and set of practice questions for everything on the COMPASS here (COMPASS REVIEW) I’ve never taken a COMPASS test, but refer people to take it every day…what I’ve heard is that the math section of the test is absolutely something you can study for and do well on with a typical high school math background.
General statistics courses may reference at an outer extreme some calculus if it is a prerequisite, but it won’t be the first thing in the course and they won’t cover it without covering the necessary calculus as well. A general statistics course usually has more to do with logic, memorization and application – meaning the brain part of geometry with the math part of basic algebra. If you can balance your checkbook, calculate a 15% tip, and otherwise flip coins and roll dice you should do reasonably well. This is not to say that you will be able to skate through the course – just that the material should consist more of stretching your brain and less with showing you completely novel concepts. If there were one college-level math course which I can say will alter your mind and thinking for the better for real world application, it is statistics. Don’t be afraid of it, embrace it, devour it, and try to enjoy it – believe me it is a very very worthwhile interruption in your plans. Full d
I’ll be teaching that stat course in a couple of weeks. I’ve also taught remedial courses for those who failed their placement exams. Stat courses are difficult because: 1) Few people who take them do so because they’re interested in the subject. 2) There’s a lot of material to learn in a short period of time which means it must be learned somewhat superficially. They are ultimately easy because they end up mainly as a bunch of recipes to be followed along with being able to recognize when to use them as opposed to something requiring deep understanding. Very little of the mathematics you’d need to pass a placement exam is actually used much during the course. If I were you, I’d get a hold of the text(s) and the syllabus as soon as possible and see how far you can get through it on your own. I’d also try hard to avoid the placement exam by talking to anyone in a position to allow that.
