College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Mathematical Sciences

Frequently Asked Questions

Lost and Found

Question: I think I left something in the testing center/learning center?
Answer: Call the Instructor On Duty's (IOD's) Desk, 646-5743, or the Secretary's Desk, 646-7644 or go to the Success Center Booth and ask the person on duty.

Accessing Grades

Question: How do I access my grades on the web?
Answer: Go to www.math.nmsu.edu/grades, or go to the MSC Home Page.

Question: I was trying to check my for a test I took yesterday in the MSC and it isn't posted. How long does it usually take to post new test grades?
Answer: The graders normally try to get all the test grades in by the close of business each day, so your test score from yesterday should be in the system.  You might try refreshing the grades page while on line or there could have been a problem with your grade; such as, a low-test score.  If you don’t see your grade posted by tonight, you should talk to your instructor or tutor or you can talk to the MLC supervisor anytime the MLC Tutoring Center is open.

Checking Out Calculators

Question: How do I check out a calculator?
Answer:  Go to SH236, a deposit of $35.00 is required. Then go to the MSC (WH 101) to the Learning Center Booth. A calculator will be issued when you show a complete deposit slip. The calculators must be returned when your class is completed or a $135.00 charge (plus an additional service charge) will be made to your account, which must be paid before registration for your next semester.

Arithmetic Skills Exam

Question: I’m taking Math 111; do I have to take the Arithmetic Skills Exam (ASE)?

In order to ensure that students in Math 111 have the appropriate arithmetic computational skills, all students are required to take and pass the Arithmetic Skills Exam (ASE) during EACH semester for which they enroll in the course. This exam will test the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, integers, fractions, and decimals; rounding; the order of operations; conversions between fractions, decimals, and percents; and basic percent problems.

Click on http://www.math.nmsu.edu/msc/ase.html for details about the ASE.

This exam is administered at the Mathematics Testing Center, Walden Hall 102, see MSC hours.

Review sheets of practice problems are available at the Mathematics Success Center, Walden Hall 101 or online.

Math Placement Examination

Question: Tell me about the Math Placement Exam (MPE).

Students who wish to place higher than their ACT/high school grade point average indicates, or who wish to take Math 191 take this exam.  Students who have not taken the exam previously can do so any time the Testing Center is open; no advance ticket is necessary.

The exam has four parts; each part contains 10 questions.  A student needs to score 6 or higher on the first part to be placed into Math 120.  A student must have a combined score on Parts 1 and 2 of at least 12 or higher to be placed into Math 121.  A student must have a combined score on Parts 1, 2, and 3 of at least 19 or higher to be placed into Math 190. A student must score at least a 6 or higher on all four parts to be placed into Math 191.  Students with a Math ACT score of 16 or below or who score less than a 6 on the first part of the exam are required to enroll in the Dona Ana Branch math courses, CCDM 103N and CCDM 114N.

A student may retake the MPE one time to see if he can better his score.  A general review for the MPE is available from the MLC booth or on-line.

The MPE is graded by the booth worker who then records the results on the ticket.  The carbon COPY of the ticket is given immediately to the student for use by his advisor.  The student may ask the supervisor to interpret the scores

Calculators are allowed but not required on the MPE.  As a rule, we do not “lend” calculators to students taking the MPE.

The student uses a No. 2 pencil to fill out a computer sense sheet with his name and social security number.   We do not supply pencils except for the Math Placement Exam (MPE).

        -Picture I.D. is required.

        -Student fills out math placement form   “College” choices are Agriculture and Home Economics, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration and Economics, Engineering, Health and Social Services or Education.  This is important, so test results can be sent to the correct Dean.

        -Student signs his name and banner number in the spiral notebook and fills out a blue scantron.