Each test analyzes a student's abilities in a specific set or level of objectives. Each test item is constructed to correspond to an objective chosen from a detailed objective list. Test objectives and items are chosen because they reflect skills that are prerequisite to a given entry level college mathematics course. The content of each test covers a large segment of the objectives list for that test. The content and objectives covered changes slightly from year to year.
Larger changes can take place to reflect curriculum changes.
Before any item is used on the Placement Test, it is piloted extensively and modified if necessary to insure that it tests the objective and that it is statistically useful, i.e., to insure that it discriminates well. When the UW System Mathematics Placement Tests were developed, they were written to be used strictly as a tool to aid in the most appropriate placement of students. They were not designed to compare students, to evaluate high schools or to dictate curriculum. The test data made available to the development committees does not allow for inappropriate use of the tests. The way an institution chooses to use the tests to place students, the subtests used and the cutoff scores on these subtests are decisions made by each institution.