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SLCC Math Placement Prep

The goal: score 400 or higher on the SLCC Math Placement in the week of Mon Dec 14, 2026, so you can take MATH 1050 College Algebra in spring 2027 and skip MATH 1010. A 300 places into MATH 1010; a 400 places into MATH 1050 (SLCC Math Placement FAQ).

Start here

  1. Read Lesson 1: How to use this course (about 20 minutes).
  2. Take the diagnostic quiz.
  3. Then follow the weekly plan. Units the diagnostic says you know can be skimmed; that frees up time.

Continue: How to use this course

This week

See the 8-week plan.

Full 8-week schedule and daily rhythm

Your progress

Progress is saved in this browser.

Retry list (spaced review)

Problems you marked "Missed it". Retry them a day or two later: that gap is what makes them stick.

Units

Each lesson is about 20-25 minutes and stands alone. A ✓ means done. Each unit ends with a checkpoint quiz.

Start here

  1. How to use this course
  2. Diagnostic quiz

Unit 1: Number skills

  1. Signed numbers
  2. Fractions: simplify, multiply, divide
  3. Fractions: add and subtract
  4. Exponents, square roots, and order of operations
  5. Evaluating expressions
  6. Like terms and the distributive property
  7. Unit 1 checkpoint: Number skills

Unit 2: Linear equations & inequalities

  1. Solving linear equations
  2. Equations with fractions and decimals
  3. Formulas: solving for a letter
  4. Word problems with linear equations
  5. Linear and compound inequalities, interval notation
  6. Absolute value equations and inequalities
  7. Unit 2 checkpoint: Linear equations & inequalities

Unit 3: Lines & graphs

  1. The coordinate plane and graphing lines
  2. Slope
  3. Slope-intercept form
  4. Writing equations of lines (incl. parallel and perpendicular)
  5. Graphing linear inequalities
  6. Unit 3 checkpoint: Lines & graphs

Unit 4: Systems of linear equations

  1. Systems of equations: what a solution is, and substitution
  2. Solving systems by elimination
  3. Systems word problems
  4. Systems with three variables
  5. Unit 4 checkpoint: Systems of linear equations

Unit 5: Exponents & polynomials

  1. Exponent rules
  2. Zero and negative exponents, scientific notation
  3. Adding, subtracting, and multiplying polynomials
  4. Special products
  5. Dividing polynomials
  6. Unit 5 checkpoint: Exponents & polynomials

Unit 6: Factoring

  1. Factoring out the GCF and factoring by grouping
  2. Factoring trinomials x² + bx + c
  3. Factoring trinomials ax² + bx + c
  4. Special factoring patterns
  5. A general factoring strategy
  6. Solving equations by factoring
  7. Unit 6 checkpoint: Factoring

Unit 7: Rational expressions

  1. Simplifying rational expressions
  2. Multiplying and dividing rational expressions
  3. Adding and subtracting rational expressions
  4. Complex fractions
  5. Solving rational equations (and work/rate problems)
  6. Unit 7 checkpoint: Rational expressions

Unit 8: Radicals & complex numbers

  1. Roots and simplifying radicals
  2. Rational exponents
  3. Adding, subtracting, and multiplying radicals
  4. Dividing radicals and rationalizing denominators
  5. Solving radical equations
  6. Complex numbers
  7. Unit 8 checkpoint: Radicals & complex numbers

Unit 9: Quadratics

  1. Solving quadratics with the square root property
  2. Completing the square
  3. The quadratic formula and the discriminant
  4. Graphing parabolas and max/min word problems
  5. Quadratic inequalities
  6. Unit 9 checkpoint: Quadratics

Unit 10: Functions

  1. Functions and function notation
  2. Domain and range
  3. Basic graphs and transformations
  4. Composition and inverse functions
  5. Unit 10 checkpoint: Functions

Unit 11: Exponentials & logarithms

  1. Exponential functions, growth, decay, and interest
  2. Logarithms
  3. Properties of logarithms
  4. Solving exponential equations
  5. Solving logarithmic equations
  6. Unit 11 checkpoint: Exponentials & logarithms

Final review: mock placement tests

Two full practice tests with timers, worked solutions, and a topic breakdown. These are practice tests modeled on the MATH 1010 catalog topics and College Algebra readiness. They are not the real SLCC test, whose questions are not public.

  1. Mock placement test 1
  2. Mock placement test 2

Official SLCC pages

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