General Information for the Basic Skills Test (BST)

Millersville University

Department of Mathematics

You do not need to register in advance to take the test: Just show up!

There are 3 testing dates:

Times: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m.

Location for all testing: Wickersham 115

Any student wishing to enroll in MATH 104 for the Spring, 2009 semester will need to take and pass the BST prior to registration (with 80% or better score). Students transferring 104 credit and wishing to enroll in MATH 105 for the Spring, 2009 semester also need to take and pass the BST prior to registration (with 80% or better score).

Review materials are available online:

You can also get review materials in the Math Department Office (Wickersham 208).

IMPORTANT: The test may be taken 2 times each semester without any restrictions.

Students may only take the test a 3rd time during the semester if they have reviewed both of their prior exams during a scheduled evening session or by meeting with a member of the Mathematics Department Committee overseeing the test.

Individual reviews must take place no later than Monday of the 3rd testing cycle (Monday, November 10, 2008).

The review sessions will be held on:

The location for review sessions is Wickersham 115. Sessions will allow students to access their test, to look at their errors, and to ask questions. Students will not be able to take the exams with them. The professor in charge of the sessions will complete proper documentation for those in attendance.

Students not able to attend the sessions may arrange (by appointment only) to meet with a committee member (Dr. Miller, Dr. Schroeder, Dr. White, or Dr. Wismer) to review their exams.

For more information, contact: Dr. Delray Schultz by email at Delray.Schultz@millersville.edu) or by phone at (717)872-3535.

Content domains for BST

  1. Add, subtract whole numbers
  2. Multiply, divide whole numbers
  3. Add, subtract simple fractions
  4.  Add, subtract mixed numbers
  5. Add, subtract integers
  6. Add, subtract decimals
  7. Multiply, divide fractions (reduce to lowest terms)
  8. Multiply, divide integers
  9. Multiply, divide decimals
  10. Simplify an expression involving exponents (including parentheses)
  11. Simplify an expression using order of operations
  12. Ordering of rational numbers
  13. Convert fractions to decimals
  14. Prime factorization of positive numbers
  15. Using percents to find part or whole
  16. Solving a linear equation in one variable
  17. Estimation of roots
  18. Fractions to decimals to percents
  19. Percents to decimals to fractions
  20. Division involving zero
  21. Elapsed time
  22. Representation of money
  23. Ratio/proportion
  24. Unit pricing
  25. Area, perimeter

Page maintained by: Bob Buchanan and Bruce Ikenaga

Send comments about this page to: math@marauder.millersville.edu.

Last updated: July 23, 2008