Math 2 and 3B

Do you have Math 2 or 3B placement? Now what?

STEP 1: Engage in Math this summer! Choose your option below.
STEP 2: Take the Place-Up Pathway Exam (PUP-E)

Math in the summer!? Why?

We know studying math might not be your favorite summer activity, but we encourage you to engage with math for these reasons:

If you place into MATH 2, you will need 3 or 4 math courses before you can start calculus. See the Math Path (Course Sequence).
You may need to take MATH-002 multiple times. It’s common for students to need to repeat MATH-002 because it takes time to master the material, and our quarter system moves very quickly! You’re not alone - over half of students in MATH-002 took the course twice or more last year.
That means you might not graduate in 4 years, especially if you are in one of the many majors that require calculus. See your major’s math path. Delaying math will delay your ability to enroll in your major’s courses because many major courses require calculus as a prerequisite.
More time at UC San Diego = more college costs and less time for you to start making money in your career after graduation.

Ok, how do I engage in Math this summer?

Choose your option!

Option 1: UCSD Extended Studies Accelerating to Calculus Course

UC San Diego's Division of Extended Studies is offering this course from July 20 - August 21 to help students build confidence in mathematical knowledge and skills, as well as the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary for studying pre-calculus and calculus.

Live Online and In-Person options, with classes meeting daily Monday through Thursday morning. Instructor Scotty Tilton will have office hours available too.

Cost: $250-300, with some scholarships available.

This course is intended for students with MATH 2 placement results, but is open to anyone who is interested. After taking the course, students will need to take the Place-Up Pathway Exam (PUP-E) for MATH 2-to-3B or MATH 3B-to-3C depending on their original placement on the UCSD Math Placement Exam.

Learn more and sign up using the Accelerating to Calculus flyer [opens PDF].

Option 2: Take a preparatory math course (below college calculus) at a community college. Return to UCSD to take the MPE.

No transfer course is directly equivalent to UCSD's MATH-002, MATH-003B, MATH-003C, or MATH-004C. Many preparatory math courses before calculus (e.g., algebra, geometry, trigonometry, precalculus) are not UC-transferable for credit. You can see if the course is UC-transferable for credit by visiting assist.org. If the course is UC-transferable, you will earn elective credit (toward the 180 units needed for your degree). Even if the course is not transferable for UC degree credit, preparatory math courses at a community college are a great low-cost option for students who want a traditional class experience and need more preparation.

Examples:

San Diego Community College District offers Math 116 (College and Matrix Algebra) with various support courses depending on the campus: MATH 15A (Pre-Algebra Refresher), MATH 15B (Elementary Algebra), MATH 15C (Intermediate Algebra), MATH 15D (Geometry Refresher), or MATH 116X support course.
Grossmont/Cuyamaca Community Colleges offers Math 175 (College Algebra) with support coursework depending on the campus. Consider Math 75 (Foundations for College Algebra).
Southwestern College offers Math 101: College Algebra (with support course Math 83).
MiraCosta College offers Math 126S Pre-Calculus I: College Algebra with Integrated Support.
California Virtual Campus - cvc.edu - shows all online courses available through California community colleges.

You will need to apply directly to the community college where you want to enroll. See Taking Math Outside UCSD below. You must submit a final transcript to UCSD Admissions once the course is finished.

If the course you take is not yet equivalent to the calculus level (equal to MATH-010A or MATH-020A), you must retake the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE) to enroll in a future math course at UCSD. Contact mathtesting@ucsd.edu with proof of passing the course (such as an unofficial transcript with your final grade) to request to retake the MPE.

Examples
Example 1 (MATH 2 initial placement) Rory places into MATH 2 and decides to take MATH 110 (College Algebra) at Palomar College. They talk with Palomar College counselors about enrolling. They pass the class, submit their transcript to UCSD, and earn 6 units of elective credit. They contact Math Testing & Placement to retake the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE) in September. They place into MATH 3B and enroll in MATH-003B in Fall.
Example 2 (MATH 3B or higher initial placement) Ell places into MATH 3B and enrolls in MATH 141 (Precalculus) at San Diego City College. They work with City College counselors to enroll and pay for the course. They earn a D in the class, send their transcript to UCSD Admissions, and earn 6 units of elective credit. They contact Math Testing & Placement to retake the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE) in September and place into MATH 3B again. They will need to take MATH-003B at UCSD in the Fall quarter, OR they could enroll in the subsequent course at City College in the Fall quarter and consider finishing all courses in the Calculus sequence there.

Option 3: (Math 3B placement) Enroll in UCSD Summer Session.

MATH-003B and higher are offered through UC San Diego Summer Session on campus in San Diego. Visit the Summer session website for guidance for incoming students.

MATH-003B: Session 1 (June 29-August 1)
MATH-003C: Session 1 (June 29-August 1) and Session 2 (August 3-September 5)
MATH-004C: Session 1 (June 29-August 1) and Session 2 (August 3-September 5)

Option 4: (for new students who signed up) Summer Bridge

Students participating in the Summer Bridge program (the application closed June 1) who have MATH 2 or MATH 3B placement exam results will receive support to prepare to take the Place-Up Pathway Exam (PUP-E) for MATH 2-to-3B or MATH 3B-to-3C in Week 0 of Fall quarter. This will include a Canvas resource page, individual tutoring through the OASIS Math Science Tutorial Program, and PUP-E workshops.

All Summer Bridge students regardless of math placement will also participate in weekly Academic Success Workshops.

Option 5: (for continuing students) OASIS Summer Rising Program

OASIS Summer Rising is a 10-week experience designed for continuing students entering their 2nd and 3rd year who need to pass the PUP-E exam to advance beyond Math-002. The program provides structured preparation for the PUP-E ahead of Fall 2026, along with exclusive access to take the PUP-E before the quarter begins. Summer Rising brings together academic support, peer community, and student development to help support students holistically as they move forward in their academic journey and prepare to start Fall 2026 in a stronger academic position. The program is offered at no cost to students who are offered a seat in the program. Priority will be given to students entering their 3rd year, those able to commit to the full 10-week experience, and students who have previously completed a Math-002 course or attempted a PUP-E exam.

Register Here: Summer Rising Registration LINK!

Option 6: Self-study for at least 100-200 hours. Take the PUP-E.

Plan to spend at least 100 hours studying before taking the PUP-E. To self-study without a formal course, try this:

Take an online non-credit course like Prealgebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, and/or Algebra 2 through Khan Academy. This free option is good for those who work well in online settings, enjoy game-ified content, and need more extensive preparation.
Take an online course like Foundations of Real-World Math (RWM 101) and/or Real World Math: Algebra (MA007) at Saylor Academy. This free option is good for students who want a non-game-ified online experience.
Use the Math department's free practice exams for the PUP-E.

After self-study, you must register for the MATH 2-to-3B or MATH 3B-to-3C Place-Up Pathway Exam (PUP-E) depending on your official math placement. Take the exam when it is next offered.

Examples
Example 1: Parker places into MATH 2 but cannot take a summer course at a community college because of their job. They spend 5-10 hours every week using Khan Academy throughout the summer. They take the PUP-E for MATH 2-to-3B at UCSD in September and pass. They enroll in MATH-003B in Fall.
Example 2: Taylor places into MATH 2 and believes they just need a refresher from what they learned in high school. They spend a couple of hours watching YouTube videos and then take the PUP-E for MATH 2-to-3B in September. They do not pass the PUP-E. They should enroll in MATH-002 in Fall. (They are allowed to try to self-study again or take a community college course in Fall instead of enrolling in the course at UCSD, but they will need to pass the PUP-E for MATH 2-to-3B in the Fall quarter to be able to enroll in MATH-003B.)

Option 7: Pass a transferable Calculus class.

The course must be equivalent to MATH-010A or MATH-020A to earn calculus credit at UCSD. See UCSD Math transfer equivalencies for options. No transfer course is directly equivalent to UCSD's MATH-002, MATH-003B, MATH-003C, or MATH-004C. (Skip to Option 2 below if you are not yet ready to take calculus at a community college).

To enroll in a calculus course for transfer, you will need to apply directly to the community college. See Taking Math Outside UCSD below.

Tips:

California Virtual Campus - cvc.edu - shows all online courses available through California community colleges.
UC Online - offers online courses across the UC system

After you pass the MATH-010A or MATH-020A course, you can enroll in the next course in the sequence at UCSD (MATH-010B or MATH-020B). You will need to submit an enrollment authorization request if the final grade is not yet posted on your UCSD Academic History at the time of enrollment.

Example
King Triton places into MATH 3C but decides to take calculus and a support course at a community college. He enrolls in MATH 121 + MATH 85 (Applied Calculus I, plus Support for Applied Calculus) at Southwestern College. He passes the courses, submits his transcript to UCSD, and earns 4.5 units of credit for MATH-010A, plus 3.5 elective units. He enrolls in MATH-010B at UCSD the following quarter. (OR, he enrolls in MATH 122 at Southwestern College the next semester to finish the calculus sequence there, equivalent to MATH-010A-B-C at UCSD).

What should I enroll in for Fall classes?

Students enroll in courses in mid-August. See Important Advising Dates.

Students with Math 2 placement should enroll in Math-002 for the Fall, even if they plan to take the Math 2-to-3B PUP-E during Fall Week 0. Students who pass the Math 2-to-3B PUP-E during Week 0 can then register to take the Math 3B-to-3C PUP-E also offered Week 0. Students can change their schedules if they pass the PUP exams.

Students will receive information from Math through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) in August with information about enrolling in math and registering for the PUP-E.
Students who do not pass the PUP-E during Week 0 need to take the PUP-E during Week 10 of the fall quarter.

Taking Math Outside UCSD

If you decide to enroll at a community college, follow these steps to help you navigate the process.

Step 1 - Research course offerings

Visit the community college's website to find their course descriptions, catalog, and/or schedule of classes. These will show which courses are offered. To determine if the class is UC-transferable for credit, use assist.org to search for the institution (only California community colleges are listed).

Tip: California Virtual Campus - cvc.edu - shows all online courses available through California community colleges.

Step 2 - Consider the semester system

Most community colleges are on a semester calendar and meet for about 15 weeks, but UC San Diego uses the quarter system which is 10 weeks for each class. Look carefully at the course dates, as these will not match the dates of UCSD's quarters. To convert semester units to quarter units (if the class is UC-transferable for credit), multiply the semester units by 1.5.

Example: A 4-unit class at a community college on the semester system is 6 units of credit at UCSD.

Step 3 - Apply

Visit the community college's website to find information about applying as a concurrent enrollment or visiting student. Choose the option for students who are not seeking to complete a degree at that community college. Complete the application and monitor your email for messages. You may need to send your unofficial UCSD transcript/Academic History or send an official UCSD Transcript.

Tips

You can apply to multiple California community colleges at https://home.cccapply.org/us/
San Diego Mesa College's Concurrent Enrollment Steps- https://www.sdmesa.edu/student-support/admissions/concurrent-enrollment.shtml
Look at San Diego City College's Help: https://www.sdcity.edu/help.aspx

Step 4 - Advising/Enrollment/Placement

If you have questions about enrolling at a community college, you will work with that community college's advising/counseling team. You may need to take a placement exam or provide test scores or unofficial transcripts in order to enroll. All prerequisites and enrollment requirements are enforced by the community college, and UCSD placement exams do not have any influence over enrollment at other schools.

Step 5 - Bills/Payment/Financial Aid

You will pay the community college directly via their bursar/student accounts office. Your UCSD financial aid will not cover the cost of the course. You may need to submit your FAFSA information to the community college to be eligible for aid. Contact the community college's financial aid office with any questions.

Step 6 - Take the course

Engage with the course, keep up with homework, and connect with your instructor.

Step 7 - Send the final transcript to UCSD Admissions

Visit the community college's Registrar/Records unit or use their online portal to order a final transcript once your final grade is assigned. Submit the final transcript to UCSD Admissions - view UCSD Admissions FAQ for full information of where to send the transcript either electronically or via mail.

Step 8 - Request to retake UCSD's MPE (if needed)

If the course you took is not equivalent to the calculus level (equal to MATH-010A or MATH-020A, or higher), you must retake the UCSD Math Placement Exam (MPE) to enroll in the next math course at UCSD. Contact mathtesting@ucsd.edu with proof of passing the course (such as an unofficial transcript with your final grade) to request to retake the MPE.

If the course you took is equivalent to a math course at UCSD, you can enroll in the next course in the sequence (if needed for your major) without retaking the MPE.