California State University
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ELM Requirement

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.

Ways to Meet the ELM Requirement

  • CAASPP Early Assessment Program (EAP) – Standard Exceeded: Ready for mathematics college-level coursework
  • CAASPP Early Assessment Program (EAP) - Standard Met: Conditionally Ready for mathematics college-level coursework.  Student must continue their preparation in the 12th grade by taking an approved math course and earn a grade of "C" or better.  Students that do not meet the conditional requirement will need to participate in the CSU’s Early Start Program, unless they meet other Early Start Program exemptions. "Conditionally Ready" students are not required to take the ELM exam.
  • National Standardized Tests

    Test ELM Exemption Score **ELM Conditional Exemption Score
    *New SAT 570 or more on the Mathematics SAT Test 520 - 560 on the Mathematics SAT Test
    Old SAT 550 or more on the Mathematics portion of the SAT Reasoning Test 490 - 540 on the Mathematics portion of the SAT Reasoning Test
    SAT Subject Test 550 or more on the Mathematics Subject Test (level 1 or level 2) N/A
    ACT 23 or more on the Mathematics Test 20 - 22 on the Mathematics Test
    College Board AP 3 or more on Advanced Placement Calculus or Statistics N/A

    * In March 2016, the College Board began administering a new SAT. The new SAT scores are different than the Old SAT scores. The CSU will accept both old and new SAT scores for students graduating in 2020 and prior. Any student graduating after 2020 will be required to take the new SAT. Note: the SAT Subject Test did not change; therefore, the cut score for mathematics subject test (level 1 and level 2) remains the same.

    ** Student must continue their preparation in the 12th grade by taking an approved math course and earn a grade of ‘C’ or better. Students that do not meet the conditional requirement will need to participate in the CSU’s Early Start Program, unless they meet other Early Start Program exemptions.

  • Community College Course – A grade of C or better in a qualifying general education transfer math course (quantitative reasoning, B-4) at a community college satisfies the ELM requirement. See your academic advisor or check the ASSIST course transfer website popup window icon for more information.
  • ELM Examination - Unless students receive an EAP "conditionally ready" status or meet the ELM requirement in one of the ways described above, they must take the ELM examination before their first term at the CSU. If they do not receive a qualifying score on the ELM, they must participate in the CSU Early Start Program in the summer before their first term at a CSU campus.

Warning for not meeting the EPT requirement

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 remedial 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 may be disenrolled from the university.

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