Program History

In February, 1978, Albert Adcock from Westland High School and Bert Waits from the Mathematics Department of The Ohio State University initiated an experimental Early Mathematics Placement Testing (EMPT) program at Westland High School. The basic objective was to address the issue of remediation at the college level. It was hoped that if high school juniors were informed about their mathematics skills (in terms of Ohio State placement levels) and if they understood the negative consequences of needing remedial math courses in college, then they would schedule appropriate college preparatory mathematics courses in their senior year. Indeed, Westland High School realized a 73% increase in senior mathematics enrollments the following year as a direct result of the early testing.

We also hoped that Westland students attending OSU in Autumn of '79 would have higher mathematics placement scores and would need to take fewer remedial courses at OSU. Our hopes were realized and the program grew from 7 high schools in the 1978-79 school year to 232 high schools in 1982-83, and then expanded to approximately 500 Ohio high schools yearly since the 1983-84 academic year. There are now 12 other states that have followed Dr. Waits' lead and a total of 29 states that are testing or considering testing.

Each high school student tested receives a personalized report of his or her performance together with a list of mathematics courses required for their intended major and an indication of what remedial courses, if any, would be required if mathematics skills remain at the tested level. Students are able to request course information in terms of the curriculum at any of the participating Ohio colleges and universities.