Placement guide, math
Which level of BJU Press Math should my child start?
How BJU Press Math levels line up with school grades, how its placement test works, what to do if your child lands between two levels, and the mistakes parents most often make.
The short answer. Each skills assessment is labelled with a grade but tests the content of that grade's book. The 'Grade 4' assessment covers what Math 4 teaches, so it shows whether a child has finished grade 4 work, not whether they can start it. To check a child about to start grade 4, give the Grade 3 assessment. Also, the grade 7 book is called Fundamentals of Math, which some parents read as a remedial course.
Use the publisher's own placement tool to choose the level (online). If you are not sure where your child really is, or the result surprises you, check the level first: it is quicker than a wrong book.
BJU Press Math levels and the grades they usually suit
| Level | Usually suits grade | Main topics |
|---|---|---|
| Math 3 | 3 | Place value with bigger numbers, multiplication, division, fractions |
| Math 4 | 4 | Problem solving with fractions, geometry and early pre-algebra, STEAM activities |
| Math 5 | 5 | Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing whole numbers and fractions |
| Math 6 | 6 | Whole numbers and decimals in geometry and ratios |
| Fundamentals of Math | 7 | Mastering the basics of math to solve real-world problems |
| Pre-Algebra | 8 | Moving from arithmetic to algebraic expressions in preparation for high school algebra |
| Algebra 1 | 9 | Using and applying algebra concepts with technology |
| Geometry | 10 | Shapes, proofs and transformations |
| Algebra 2 | 11 | Adjacent upper level. Functions, systems, trigonometry and data analysis |
Grades are the publisher's own guide. Many children sit a level above or below, especially after switching programs.
How BJU Press Math placement works
- BJU Press has one online skills assessment per grade from 1 to 11 on its AfterSchoolHelp site.
- Each one represents the skills taught in one BJU Press book and edition, for example Math 3 5th edition or Pre-Algebra 3rd edition.
- They range from 19 questions (grade 3) to 56 questions (Algebra 2).
- Score bands: 90 to 100 percent means the content is mastered and the child is ready to move on.
- 75 to 89 percent means mostly mastered, with a few skills to review.
- 60 to 74 percent means gaps that need targeted teaching before the next level.
- Below 60 percent means the child would benefit from that book.
Open the publisher's placement page
If your child lands between two levels
The publisher says the assessments are not exact measures and should be used alongside standardized test scores, past performance, the student's own input, and parent and co-op teacher observation. A score of 75 to 89 percent means review a few skills and then move on. A score of 60 to 74 percent means targeted teaching first. The publisher also offers a Standardized Math Test Guide that explains how standardized test scores relate to grade-level expectations.
Problems parents often run into
- Parents give the assessment named for the child's upcoming grade and get a low score, because that assessment tests the book the child has not yet studied.
- Parents report that the elementary levels take a lot of parent preparation and teaching time, and some lessons take close to an hour to teach.
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See where they stand →Switching to BJU Press Math from another program
- The publisher says the assessments are especially helpful for students moving from a different curriculum or whose grades suggest gaps.
- Each assessment matches a specific edition (Math 3 5th edition, Math 4 to 6 4th edition, Fundamentals of Math 3rd, Pre-Algebra 3rd, Algebra 1 4th, Geometry 5th, Algebra 2 4th). Families on an older edition may see small mismatches.
- BJU Press follows Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 in that order.
When you don't need a whole level
A placement test answers one question: which book. If your child is mostly on track but shaky in one area, say fractions or paragraph writing, a full lower level means months of review they do not need. Practising just the gaps is faster, and keeps them in the book that fits the rest of their skills.
Questions parents ask
Is it bad if my child places below their grade?
No. Programs pace topics differently, so a lower level often reflects the order things were taught, not how able a child is. What matters is starting where the work makes sense.
Do I need a placement test at all?
If you are switching programs or your child has had a hard year, yes. Starting too high is the most common reason a new curriculum stalls in the first month.
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Sources
- bjupresshomeschool.com/resources/assessments
- bjupresshomeschool.com/math
- afterschoolhelp.com/pages/topics/topicoverview/5201/
- afterschoolhelp.com/pages/topics/topicoverview/5200/
- afterschoolhelp.com/pages/topics/topicoverview/5199/
- afterschoolhelp.com/pages/topics/topicoverview/5198/
Know where they stand before you buy the book.
About forty minutes at home, math and reading & writing, grades 3 to 10. The report is ready as soon as the test finishes.
Test your child, $9.99 →or with the ten-week workbook, $19.99This page is Point of Progress's own research, compiled in November 2026 from publishers' websites, placement materials and parent reviews. Publishers update their products, levels, placement tests and prices from time to time, so please verify all information with the provider before you buy. Point of Progress is independent and is not affiliated with any publisher named here.