Assessment Report for MA 440 PreCalculus
In the spring of 2013 482 students, in 24 sections of MA 440, were assessed. The assessment was based on
three carefully chosen questions on the student final exam. Each of the three questions contained various parts.
Question 1 had three parts, question 2 had four parts and question 3 had eight parts. The exam questions are
provided in a separate attachment and were chosen based on the requirements and the educational objectives of
Queensborough Community College, the learning objectives specified by the category of the Common Core of
Pathways and the department course objectives. The individual sections on each question are tabulated and are
attached at the end of the report.
Educational Objectives of the College
3. Reason quantitatively and mathematically as required in their fields of interest and everyday life
4. Use information management and technology skills effectively for academic research and lifelong
learning
Problems 1 and 3 were chosen to evaluate Educational Objective 3. Problem 2 was selected to evaluate
Educational Objective 4.
Pathways

Interpret and draw appropriate inferences from quantitative representations, such as formulas, graphs, or
tables.

Use algebraic, numerical, graphical, or statistical methods to draw accurate conclusions and solve
mathematical problems.

Represent quantitative problems expressed in natural language in a suitable mathematical format.

Effectively communicate quantitative analysis or solutions to mathematical problems in written or oral
form.

Evaluate solutions to problems for reasonableness using a variety of means, including informed
estimation.

Apply mathematical methods to problems in other fields of study.
Problem 1 as well as problem 2a and 2b were chosen to address the first and second Pathways Objectives,
problem 2c and 2d were chosen to address the fourth and fifth Pathways Objectives. The first and the third
Pathways Objectives are addressed by problem 3.
About 70% of all students participating in the assessment answered problem 1, and about 60% of these students
answered problem 2 correctly. Less than 50 % of the students examined answered problem 3 correctly (see the
table).
Action to be taken:
Suggestions were made to ask the instructors of all the sections of MA 440 to give out extra class worksheet
problems and to assign extra homework problems with special emphasis on the examined questions.