Misalignment of mathematics curriculum, instruction, and assessment between the P-12 and postsecondary systems. Postsecondary faculty assume that entering students, who have completed the PCC, will possess certain skills and knowledge. Often, they do not. Some postsecondary institutions lack general education mathematics courses that are not heavily algebra-based and primarily designed to prepare students for calculus. P-12 assessments and postsecondary placement tests differ fundamentally in scope.
Postsecondary placement tests stress fundamental skills and concepts.
P-12 assessments and postsecondary placement tests differ fundamentally in purpose. Placement tests in mathematics are neither final exams nor diagnostic tests. Their purpose is to determine whether a student has minimal mathematical skills needed for entry-level courses. The ACT mathematics test has a greater proportion of non-algebra questions than do college placement tests. But raising the minimum ACT score will raise the number of students identified as needing remediation.