Newly admitted California State University students must show they are math ready by meeting the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) requirement. There are several ways to meet this requirement, all of which are described below.
Warning: Failure to Meet the ELM Requirement Costs Time and Money
Students cannot enroll in many required CSU college classes until they meet the requirement.
They must spend time taking remedial math classes during their freshman year until they meet the requirement.
They will graduate later because they get no degree credit for these classes.
They may have to pay additional charges for these classes.
If they do not earn a C or better in the remedial classes, they will have to leave the university.
National Standardized Tests - Earning a qualifying score on a national standardized math placement test fulfills the requirement.
Test
Required score for ELM requirement
SAT I
550 or more on the math portion
SAT II
550 or more on Level IC or IIC of the math portion
ACT
23 or more on the math portion
College Board AP
3 or more on Advanced Placement Calculus or Statistics
Community College Course – Earning a grade of C or better in a qualifying CSU general education math course (quantitative reasoning, B-4) at a community college satisfies the ELM requirement.
ELM Examination - Unless students meet the requirement one of the ways above, they must take the ELM examination before their first term at the CSU. If they pass the exam, they meet the ELM requirement. If they do not pass, they must take non-credit remedial math classes, as explained in the Warning below.
