Solid Foundations Project
MDTP and PCE FAQs
The MDTP Assessment Tool
MDTP Results
MDTP Support
Introduction
Berkeley’s Math Department offered Pre-calculus Essentials (PCE), a 3-week course being offered during Summer Session E (July 25 - August 12). PCE was created by faculty in the Berkeley Math Department to focus on the essentials of what you need to know to excel in your first college math courses at Berkeley. The goal of this program is to prepare students for Berkeley introductory mathematics courses. Over a period of three weeks, the course offers live lectures, group peer-tutoring sessions, and worksheets. Students will be offered both a self-study and interactive peer-tutor group option. Enrollment in the PCE summer course is free if taken for no credit. A for-credit option (Math 98) will be available for a fee in Summer Session E, but the course material and experience will be the same whether it is taken for credit or not. All students enrolled in Math 1A, 10A, 16A, and 32 are encouraged to participate.
Registration
In Summer 2023, PCE will not run its traditional summer program since we will be converting it into a semester course called Math 1 Foundations of Lower Division Mathematics. It will be a seven-week course that runs twice (back-to-back) during both Fall Semesters. This class predominantly aims at students who intend to major in STEM or related fields. More specifically, it's designed for those students who have had limited exposure to rigorous mathematics prior to coming to Berkeley but still intend to go into introductory calculus classes (Math 1A/16A/10A) in their first semester. This course is intended to be taken in parallel to these classes.
Pre-calculus Essentials & the Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project (MDTP)
To help identify the subject areas in which students might need additional support, the PCE program will use the Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project (MDTP) assessment tool. The MDTP tool was developed by partners at the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems and currently led by UC San Diego. The MDTP Calculus Readiness Test is an online assessment consisting of 60 questions to be completed within a 2 hour time limit. The MDTP assessment is entirely diagnostic and will have no impact on fall course grades. This assessment is meant to provide incoming students a better idea of what mathematical topics to brush up on before starting lower-division mathematics classes at Berkeley. Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project (MDTP) is free for all students enrolled in Math 1A, Math 10A, Math 16A, and Math 32 for Fall 2022. Learn more about the MDTP assessment please visit their website. Students who plan on taking a math course or a course that requires some mathematics are encouraged to use the PCE resources over the summer, but will have access to the PCE materials throughout the Fall and Spring semesters.
PCE Companion Website & Resources
Students who plan on taking a math course or a course that requires some mathematics are encouraged to use the PCE resources over the summer, but will have access to the PCE materials throughout the Fall and Spring semesters.
Please visit the Pre-calculus Essentials website for access to materials in Fall 22 and additional resources! Questions? Contact the PCE program at essentials@math.berkeley.edu.