Doing the Math - JHU Mathematics - Johns Hopkins University

APPENDICES
The following discusses the alignment within each subsection of the Accuplacer exam.
Operations with Integers and Rational Numbers
Of the four skills listed, none is mentioned in the VSC, nor tested for in the HSA. However, many of the questions
in this section are likely to be prerequisite.
The first two skills listed are computation skills and are largely prerequisite. However, the lack of emphasis in the
VSC and HSA on computation is likely to leave students ill-prepared to perform even simple arithmetic tasks.
The other two skills, involving order and absolute value, are mentioned only as “Additional Topics.”
Operations With Algebraic Expressions
All of the Accuplacer skills in this section are largely missing from the VSC.
The Accuplacer requires some facility with general (more than one variable) polynomials. However, the VSC only
includes one-variable polynomials, and it is unclear as to how much manipulation a student is expected to be able
to perform with even one-variable polynomials. The usual polynomial skills expected by the Accuplacer are
covered in the “Additional Topics” portion of the VSC.
At the lowest scoring level of 25, the student must be able to multiply a whole number by a binomial. At the
second-lowest scoring level of 57, the student must be able to both multiply binomials and combine like terms.
These skills are inadequately covered in the VSC.
Rational exponents and simplifying algebraic fractions are not covered by the VSC.
Solving Equations, Inequalities, Word Problems
There are two skills involving linear equations and linear inequalities. Both are at least partially covered by the
VSC. However, the limiting statements in the “Assessment Limits,” as well as a student’s potential lack of additional
skills, may mean that the problems in these areas cannot be solved by students.
The skill involving translation of phrases into algebraic expressions is well covered.
The verbal-problems skill may be well covered if no geometric skills are required for a particular problem.
The factoring-quadratics skill is not covered.
Conclusion
The VSC does not prepare a student to perform at a minimally sufficient level on the Accuplacer exam.
In the proficiency statements for the Accuplacer, a score of 76 is considered to indicate sufficient elementary
algebra skills. The skills specified at this score level are:
add radicals, add algebraic fractions, and evaluate algebraic expressions,
factor quadratic expressions in the form ax2 + bx + c, where a = 1,
factor the difference of squares,
square binomials, and
solve linear equations with integer coefficients.
Three of these skills are concerned only with polynomials and are not covered in the VSC. This would seem to
preclude students from performing at this level.
58 Doing the Math