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Admissions
Freshmen Registration
March 24,
2008
Dear Parents and
Students,
Greetings from the Walter
Payton College Prep Mathematics Department. We look forward to meeting you!
For incoming freshman,
proper placement in mathematics class is very important. We hope to give each
student an appropriate level of challenge based on his/her mathematical
experience. With this in mind, we are asking ALL students to take our
placement exam this spring, whether or not they are seeking advanced placement
in math.
We will offer mathematics
placement exams Saturday May 10th from 9AM to 10:30AM. We ask
that students make every effort to come on this date. If this date is simply
impossible, there will be two make-up dates: Wednesday, May 14th at
3:30PM, and Saturday, May 17th at 9AM. You will be asked to choose a
date at registration.
Click here for a set of sample questions in this packet
(requires Adobe Reader); note that these examples are not all-encompassing.
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Who should take the Placement Exam?
We are asking all incoming freshman to take the exam. Even if you’re not looking
to “place out” of a math course, we want to know what you know, and we want you
to get the right start.
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I took Algebra 1 in middle school.
Why do I need to take the Placement Exam?
Not all Algebra 1 courses are the same. We need to establish that you have
mastered the material needed to be successful in upper level math courses at
Payton.
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Should I study for the
placement exam?
“Cramming” new material is counterproductive, since even if a student learns it
for the test, he or she will probably not retain the material for later use.
However, many students have found that reviewing previously studied material is
helpful. If you are currently enrolled in an Algebra course, you might share the
list below with your teacher so he or she can guide any studying you might do.
1st semester topics: Signed numbers,
evaluating expressions, solving linear single variable equations, simple
probability, solving and graphing linear inequalities, absolute value, graphing
from tables
2nd semester topics: graphing linear
equations, slope, formulas, laws of exponents, quadratics (factoring, graphing,
quadratic formula), proportions, systems of equations
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What math courses can I “place out
of”?
Payton offers placement exams for both Honors Algebra 1 and Honors
Geometry. Students who believe they may be able to place out of Honors Advanced
Algebra-Trigonometry and beyond should contact Mr. O’Roark via email (preferred)
or phone. When you register you should indicate if you wish to take the Geometry
placement exam in addition to the Algebra exam. If you are taking two placement
exams on one of the designated days, you will have up to 75 minutes on each
exam.
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I'm hoping to take placement exams
in both Algebra 1 and Geometry. What should I do?
Be sure to sign up for both exams at registration!
On May 10th, take
the Algebra 1 exam at 9AM. As soon as you finish, ask the proctor for a copy of
the Geometry exam. The Geometry exam is recommended only for students who have
had a high school level Geometry course.
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What should I bring to the exam?
You will only need a pencil. Calculators are not allowed, so that we can assess
students’ conceptual understanding of signed numbers.
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What does it mean to place out of
one semester of Honors Algebra 1?
What options are open to students who
do so?
Frequently a student’s score on the placement exam indicates that he or she has
effectively mastered one semester’s worth of high school Algebra. Our summer
school class is meant to prevent these students from being unchallenged by
starting Algebra over again, or overly challenged by starting directly in
Geometry.
Option 1:
Take a semester of Honors Algebra this summer at Payton (June 23rd to
July 25th, 9:00-11:30 daily).
Option 2:
In the fall, enroll in Payton's standard Honors Algebra 1 course.
Please Note:
To facilitate scheduling for those students who
place out of one semester of algebra, all examinees will be asked to choose
one of these options on the day of the placement exam (in advance of receiving
their scores).
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If I get one semester of Honors
Algebra placement, can I take the 2nd semester of Algebra as an
independent study?
No. We do not allow students to earn placement through an independent study.
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What should I do if I have already
passed an Algebra 1 course and received high school credit?
You are not required to take the placement exam, although it is recommended. If
you are in this category and have placement difficulties, please contact Mr. O’Roark via email.
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What courses follow Geometry?
Course descriptions are posted here. To have time to take Advanced Placement
Calculus in high school, students should finish Honors Geometry before the
beginning of their sophomore year.
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I’m interested in ARISE Physics. How does my Algebra placement affect whether I
can enroll in this course or not?
You must be enrolled in Geometry or beyond your freshman year to take ARISE
Physics. At registration, you can request to be automatically enrolled in ARISE
Physics if you place out of Algebra or if you take our summer Algebra class.
Please note that you will
not receive further communication about the Algebra 1 placement exam. We
expect to see the majority of incoming students on the morning of May 10th.
Again, if this date is not feasible, please come on the alternate dates listed
above.
Members of the mathematics
department will be available during registration to answer further questions.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss these issues
further.
Douglas O'Roark
Chair, Mathematics Department
Walter Payton College Prep
773 534 0034 x24991
oroarkd@wpcp.org (Emails are preferred).
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