College Readiness

To help you prepare for courses and ensure you are placed in classes that fit your skill level, a number of College of Natural Sciences (CNS) resources are available.

Required Assessments

The UT Math Assessment (UTMA) is required at The University of Texas at Austin for most CNS students and many other students. The Chemistry Readiness Assessment may be required, depending on the chemistry class you take. These assessments ensure that students enroll in courses that best fit their abilities and degree requirements.

UT Math Assessment (UTMA)

All new, incoming freshman students admitted to the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) are required to take the UT Math Assessment, regardless of possible transferred credits, such as from AP or IB classes.  

The college uses the UTMA for advising and to help with enrollment decisions for a variety of math and science courses. As a result, there are no exemptions for this requirement for CNS first-year students. 

Transfer students, international students and TAMS students with calculus credit may be exempt, as may some non-CNS students.

Students may retake the UTMA but are limited to two attempts in the summer and two attempts per long semester (fall & spring). 

Chemistry Readiness Assessment

We know you may not have had chemistry for a couple years, but that’s OK! To help you prepare for college-level chemistry courses at UT Austin, the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) and the Department of Chemistry have prepared a Chemistry Readiness Program. Students planning to take CH 301 (Principles of Chemistry I) will have Chemistry Readiness Canvas Modules.

You will have the opportunity to discuss course selection with an academic advisor at orientation. Not all incoming majors will take CH 301, so it is important that you do not purchase a Chemistry Readiness Assessment until after meeting with your advisor. No refunds are issued, and the chemistry readiness program changes for each semester. 

Intensive Workshops

Courses in the College of Natural Sciences can be demanding, but the college has your back. Prior to the beginning of fall classes, entering freshmen have opportunities to learn from workshops and online offerings to get them prepared for courses like biology, calculus, chemistry or computer science. In many of these intensives, you’ll get a sense for college lectures and exams, participate in discussion sessions, practice study skills with peers and get the chance to network with other students and with faculty. Some intensive opportunities are restricted by major, so watch this space to learn more soon.