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Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement
What is the Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement?
The Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement is a diagnostic tool that evaluates your high school math preparation, including facility in pre-calculus, i.e., Algebra, Geometry, Logarithms and Exponentials, Trigonometry. You do not "pass" or "fail" this diagnostic. The results, however, are meant to help you and your freshman advisor make an appropriate placement choice into freshman physics. Based on your scores, you will be recommended for placement in a specific version of Physics, 8.01L, 8.01, or 8.012.
When must I take the Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement?
The Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement is given as a paper/pencil test during Orientation.
- Every freshman MUST sit for the Math Diagnostic.
- You must register in advance via the Orientation Registration Form for one of the two times that the Math Diagnostic is offered:
- Saturday, August 29 at 3:30 pm
or
- Monday, August 31 at 9:00 am
Important scheduling note: Please be aware that there is a conflict between the Monday Math Diagnostic and the Advanced Standing Exams for 18.01 and 8.02. Therefore, if you are planning to take either the 18.01 or 8.02 Advanced Standing Exam on Monday, August 31 at 9:00 am, you must sit for the Math Diagnostic on Saturday, August 29.
Why is it especially important to evaluate my high school math preparation?
Pre-calculus is the language of physics. To do well in freshman physics, you must have these mathematical tools at your mental fingertips and to be able to use them intuitively. If you’ve got to look it up—you don’t know it well enough! Over the years we have administered the Math Diagnostic to incoming freshmen, we have found that many students, including those who have completed a high school calculus course, do not perform as well in pre-calculus as they need to. In Physics subjects, you are presented with problems that will assume that you have instant recall of pre-calculus.
So, if you are rusty in or did not sufficiently master pre-calculus, especially trigonometry, you may be recommended to take 8.01L, the Physics subject that reinforces basic concepts and problem-solving techniques.
Conversely, if you are highly proficient in high school math, you may be suited to take 8.012, a more mathematically advanced version of Physics I.
When do I find out the results of the Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement?
The results of your Math Diagnostic, with appropriate recommendation for Physics subjects, will be accessible to you and your freshman advisor on your Online Freshman Advising Folder beginning Wednesday, September 2 by 5:00 pm.
How can I practice for the Math Diagnostic?
Download a practice version of the Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement from the links below. The practice version has the same number and type of problems as the real test, at the same levels of difficulty. Work through the test without looking at the solutions first; then check your answers and use the solutions to figure out where you went wrong on the incorrect answers. Use our Resources to review areas where your knowledge is sketchy.
Practice Version of the Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement
Solutions to the Practice Version
What are the consequences if I miss the Math Diagnostic?
Unless you have AP credit for 8.01 or pass the 8.01 Advanced Standing Exam, you will have to take either 8.01 or 8.01L. Entry into 8.012 is restricted to students with outside credit for 8.01 or who have the appropriate score on the Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement.
The MD results are histogrammed at: http://web.mit.edu/physics/undergrad/firstyear/2009_MD_hist.png.
If you have questions or concerns about the Math Diagnostic, please contact firstyear-www@mit.edu. See the Orientation site http://mit.edu/orientation/start/reg.html for complete information.
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