Panther Math Prep
Welcome to Panther Math Prep (PMP)
Panther Math Prep is UWM’s math placement completed through a free, online, self-paced program called ALEKS.
Take a video tour of the ALEKS program to see what to expect.
Who should utilize Panther Math Prep?
- Students without an official ACT/SAT score in their UWM records.
- Students who are not satisfied with their math placement from their ACT/SAT score.
Please note that if you have multiple sets of test scores that have earned you course placement, you are allowed to use whichever method gives you the higher placement when enrolling in courses.
Please contact us at panthermathprep@uwm.edu to discuss alternate options if none of the options here will work for you. *Please note that in cases of more severe test guideline violation issues (including but not limited to: the sight or sound of another individual in the room with the test taker, use of other electronic devices i.e. cell phone, computer, etc.) the score will be recorded as a zero, and a case will be filed with the UWM Dean of Students Office for review. After that, if a student would like to request future placement test attempts they will be required to take the test with a live/in-person and approved proctor at the main Milwaukee campus or get approval from the chair of the UWM math department to test at another proctored test site at the expense of the tester. To arrange a time to come to UWM to test under these circumstances or to get approval for the offsite testing location email panthermathprep@uwm.edu. NOTICE: By registering for Panther Math Prep your name, UWM email address, and UWM ID number will be received by the owner of the ALEKS software, McGraw Hill. This information is only shared for the purposes of facilitating your use of the software. McGraw Hill is obligated to maintain the same level of confidentiality as UWM with regard to your information. If you have any questions regarding registration, please email panthermathprep@uwm.edu. Regardless of your major, all UWM students need to satisfy general education requirements (GERs) for those seeking a bachelor’s degree and core requirements for those seeking an associate’s degree , including in mathematics. The competency requirements for GERs and core requirements are designed to assure basic proficiency in oral and written communication, quantitative literacy, and foreign language. You may also have specific math course(s) required by your particular major to attain your degree. Math placement is designed to place you into a course(s) that will satisfy the Quantitative Literacy Competency Part A (QLA) of your required GERs or the core requirement in mathematics. Completion of this requirement can be demonstrated by satisfying one of the following options: Keep in mind that your particular major may require you to complete additional math courses above and beyond the general math requirement. Math placement is determined based on either your ACT/SAT math score plus high school GPA or your score on the ALEKS test in the Panther Math Prep program. If you have multiple sets of scores in your PAWS account, you will be allowed to use your highest scores to determine your math placement. If you have multiple placement scores, you can utilize whichever method gives you the highest placement level. Each placement level includes eligibility for multiple courses. The course you take is dependent on your major. Please consult with an academic advisor to determine which course is appropriate for your major. Math placement is designed to place you into a course(s) that will satisfy the Quantitative Literacy Competency Part A (QLA) of your required GERs for a bachelor’s degree and the core requirements for math for an associate’s degree. Completion of QLA or the core requirement can be demonstrated by satisfying one of the following options: Once you have determined your math placement level, you can assess which math course(s) you will need. The math pathways listed here are general recommendations grouped by areas of study. Undecided majors and those who are unsure where their intended area of study would be classified should speak with their academic advisor listed in their PAWS account about the best pathway for their specific academic plans. Questions about which math course is appropriate for your major should be directed to the academic advisor listed in your PAWS account. If you have not yet been assigned an academic advisor, you can email us at panthermathprep@uwm.edu. NOTE: Students should consider each academic program they intend to pursue when identifying a math pathway, including all majors and minors. NOTE: Placement levels of 30 or higher satisfy the math GER QLA requirement. Be sure you are considering all factors, including your Panther Math Prep and/or ACT/SAT scores along with your intended major/minor, when determining your appropriate math placement. If you received a placement level of 0 or 10, you may need to successfully complete a semester long noncredit math course during your first year at UWM. After successfully completing the noncredit math course, you will be eligible to enroll in the credit bearing math course(s) required for your degree. In some cases special sections of credit-bearing math courses are offered in conjunction with the noncredit math course, so you could do both courses in the same semester but you would need space in your schedule for two math courses. In either case, don’t worry – you will still be able to enroll in all of your other courses. If you have a math placement test level of 10, you qualify for a credit bearing math course (Math 103) that is appropriate for some majors. If your major does not require math coursework beyond Math 103 then you will not need to take the noncredit math class, you will be able to enroll in Math 103. Please see the list of majors below whose math requirement is satisfied by successfully completing Math 103. If your major requires math courses other than Math 103, if you are undecided about your major or if you want to try and test higher in your math placement regardless of your major, you should strongly consider retesting in math. Depending on your intended major, if you have placed into a noncredit math course, you may be paying for an extra math course that will not count as credit toward your college graduation. If you retest and place into a college level math course, you will earn college math credit more quickly, progress faster toward graduation and save tuition costs of more than $1,000 which is why completing the Panther Math Prep could be very beneficial. For questions about tech/IT issues relating to the ALEKS platform, please follow this link to ALEKS tech support. There are options for chat, email, or calling.
Offices are closed May 19-26 and July 4
No appointment needed; you can walk in during those dates/times. Testing is located in our EMS (Engineering and Mathematical Sciences) building, check in at EMS Room E403 in the Mathematical Sciences office. The address of the EMS building is 3200 E Cramer Street on our Milwaukee campus. Please visit the Transportation Services webpage for information on parking. There is no free parking on campus, and parking regulations are strictly enforced.
Aleks Placement Test Score
ACT-Math
ACT-Math PLUS
>= 3.0 HS GPA*SAT-Math
SAT-Math PLUS
>= 3.0 HS GPA*Math Placement Level
Math Course Eligibility
0–21
17 or below
0-15
+ 3.0 HS GPA480 or below
0-410
+ 3.0 HS GPA0
ok for Math 092 or 094
22–45
18–23
16-20
+ 3.0 HS GPA490–560
420-520
+ 3.0 HS GPA10
ok for Math 098, 102, 103 & 111
46–60
24–27
21-24
+ 3.0 HS GPA560–660
530-580
+ 3.0 HS GPA20
ok for Math 102, 103, 105, 111, 116, 175
61–67
28–31
25-26
+ 3.0 HS GPA670–710
590-620
+ 3.0 HS GPA30
ok for Math 115, 116, 117, 175, 205, 208, 211, S215:
QL-A SATISFIED
68–75
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35
ok for Math 115, 117, 175, 205, 208, 211, S215:
QL-A & 116 SATISFIED
76–86
32–33
27-28
+ 3.0 HS GPA720–750
630-670
+ 3.0 HS GPA40
ok for Math 175, 205, 208, 211, 213, S215, 231, 341;
QL-A & 115 SATISFIED
87–100
34–36
29
+ 3.0 HS GPA760 or higher
680 or higher
+ 3.0 HS GPA45
ok for Math 175, 205, 208, 211, 213, S215, 221, 231, 341;
QL-A & 115 SATISFIED
Math Course Recommendations by Intended Major/Minor/Area of Study
Math Placement Level STEM Pathway
(Natural Sciences, Engineering, Architecture)
Professional Pathway
(Business, Health Sciences/Nursing)
Math Literacy Pathway
(Arts & Humanities)
Education Pathway
(Education)
0 94 or 92+102+75 (grade of at least C then advance to level 20 courses) 94 or 92+102+75 (grade of at least C then advance to level 20 courses) 92 + 102 (grade of at least C = QLA satisfied then eligible for 175) 92 + 102 (grade of at least C = QLA satisfied then eligible for 175)
10 98 + 108 (grade of at least C = QLA satisfied then advance to level 30 course Math 115) 98 + 108 (grade of at least C = QLA satisfied then advance to level 30 courses) 103 (grade of at least C = QLA satisfied then eligible for 175) 103 (grade of at least C = QLA satisfied then eligible for 175)
20 or 26 105 (grade of at least C=QLA satisfied then advance to level 30 course Math 115) 105 (grade of at least C = QLA satisfied then advance to level 30 courses) 103 (grade of at least C = QLA satisfied) 175 (grade of at least C = QLA satisfied)
Some majors/minors/areas of study require additional math coursework beyond level 30.
30, 35, or 36 115 211 (or 208 for Lubar students) No additional QLA math course required 175
40 231 (or 213, bio) 211 (or 208 for Lubar students) No additional QLA math course required 175
45 221 (or 231) 211 (or 208 for Lubar students) No additional QLA math course required 175