A-Z Index California Polytechnic State University

High School Students
Math Ready for College - Conditionally Exempt

If your math exemption status is "Ready for College - Conditional" according to your EAP Student Report you need to do more to meet the ELM requirement.

Ways to Meet the ELM Requirement in Your Senior Year of High School:

• High School Course - There are several approved high school math and science courses that you can take in your senior year of high school. Completion of any of these courses with a grade of C or better will meet the ELM requirement.
• e-Learning Course - Completion of an online instructional program monitored by CSU math faculty prior to high school graduation will meet the ELM requirement.
• Community College Course - Earning a grade of C or better in Intermediate Algebra at a community college prior to high school graduation will meet the ELM requirement.
• Other Standardized Tests - Earning a qualifying score on a National Standardized math test will meet the ELM requirement.

I - High School Course

As a conditionally exempt student, you can meet the ELM Requirement by taking an approved year-long math course in your senior year and getting a grade of C or better. The following high school courses have been approved:

• Trigonometry and Math Analysis
• Pre-Calculus
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Physics
• Honors Physics

Other year-long courses have been approved under certain circumstances:

• Algebra 2 is approved if your high school counselor deems it appropriate for you to retake this course in your senior year.
• Any other year-long high school math course with Algebra 2 as a prerequisite is approved.
• Any course accepted by the CSU Mathematics Faculty Validation Committee prior to your senior year is approved.
• Your school must submit a course proposal to the committee for approval.
• Your counselor will have a list of any special courses previously approved for your school.

Specially Approved High School Courses

Any course not listed above that is approved by the CSU Mathematics Faculty Validation Committee will allow conditionally exempt students to meet the ELM Requirement. In order to gain approval, your counselor must submit a course proposal to the committee.

II - e-Learning Course

If you are a Conditionally Exempt student and you are not taking math in your senior year, you may be eligible for supervised online instruction. The CSU has developed an e-learning course to satisfy the CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Requirement so you can avoid having to take costly remedial math courses at the CSU.

In order to be eligible, you must have already received a letter from your high school indicating that you are Conditionally Exempt from the ELM Requirement. Please read through the e-Learning Course FAQ to determine if you are a good candidate for this course, and then register online.

1. Which Students Are Qualified to Participate?
   The e-learning course is open to all conditionally exempt seniors in the State of California who are not taking math in their senior year. This conditionally exempt status must be supported by a letter from the Early Assessment Program. By successfully completing a one-hour final assessment at the completion of the course, students satisfy the CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) requirement and become eligible to enroll in for-credit math classes at the CSU.
2. What Should Students Expect?
   The math course is delivered over the internet using ALEKS, a self-paced online math tutorial. Students who register for the course will receive an e-mail from a CSU ALEKS Instructor who will communicate with them periodically, follow their progress, and set up the proctoring of a final exam.
   
   As mentioned above, the course is self-paced, and students will need to dedicate time above and beyond their normal school work load in order to succeed. CSU instructors and tutors will be available to answer a limited amount of questions via phone and e-mail, but students are required to work with a local high school teacher, relative and/or tutor for extra support.
3. How Much Time Is Needed to Complete the Course?
   This is a self-paced course, and as such, it is up to each student to decide how much time he/she needs to spend in order to pass the final exam. Students who pass the exam typically spend 30-50 hours in the curriculum over a semester.
4. What Type of Credit Will Students Receive?
   This course is exclusively designed to help conditionally exempt students enroll in for-credit math courses at the CSU. Enrolled students receive no CSU or high school credit for the course, but by passing the final exam they avoid having to enroll in costly non-credit remedial math courses at the CSU.
5. When Does the Course Start and Stop?
   The e-learning course registration begins in early October. Students who sign up will be given instructions about how to begin accessing the curriculum at that time. The CSU instructors will begin mentoring and tracking students in early January, and the course will end in late May.
6. How and When Do Students Take the Final Assessment?
   Students can take the final assessment once they have completed at least 60% of the curriculum. Once this level of completion has been achieved, students will contact their CSU Instructor who will help to make arrangements to have the final assessment proctored at a CSU campus or at the student’s high school.
7. What Happens If Students Don’t Pass the Final Assessment?
   Students will be given three opportunities to pass the final assessment. If they do not pass after three attempts, they will be encouraged to take the CSU ELM Exam.
8. Which Math Concepts Are Included in the Curriculum?
   The curriculum focuses on Algebra, Geometry, and Numbers and Data.
9. How Much Does the Course Cost?
   The cost of the program is $35, and the fee may be waived for a limited number of applicants from low-income families.
10. How Do Students Sign Up?
    Interested students should fill out the form at the bottom of the e-learning course registration page.

III - Community College Course

Earn a grade of C or better in a CSU qualifying general education, transferable math course (quantitative reasoning, Area B4) at a community college prior to high school graduation. You can use ASSIST, an online student-transfer information system that shows how course credits earned at one public California college or university can be applied when transferred to another. See your academic advisor for more information.

IV - National Standardized Tests

Be sure you haven't already met the requirement by getting a qualifying score on a national standardized math placement test:

ELM Examination - If you have not satisfied the ELM requirement through any the options described above, then the ELM examination is your only remaining option. You must take the exam before enrolling in courses at the CSU.

Exam Prep tools are available in a number of settings, including online tutorial programs. The CSU website can help.

If you do not pass the ELM examination, you must enroll in and pass with a grade of C or better up to 3 semesters of remedial, non-credit math courses, beginning your first term on a CSU campus.

Division of Student Affairs

Last Update: 8/8/08

Testing Services
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0835
(805) 756-1551
testing@calpoly.edu