Ryerson Foundations of Management

Curriculum - Pre-learning Assessment (PLAR)

The Foundations of Management Initiative includes a pre-learning assessment which will be used to test general skills in mathematics and writing / critical thinking.

The mathematics testing component will consist of thirty multiple choice questions to be completed within an one hour period. The writing / critical thinking testing component will consist of one essay style question over a period of one hour. Calculators are allowed.

A minimum of 70 percent on the mathematics component and 80 percent on the writing component is required for admission into the Foundations of Management initiative. Arrangements will be made for rewriting these assessments at the discretion of the Director of the Foundations of Management.

Fee: $60

Writing Dates: September TBA

Examples of each type of question may be found below:

Mathematics Question Examples

Please select the best answer for the following questions.

1. Last year the amount of rain in Fairview was 79% of the normal amount. The normal amount in a year is 12.2 centimeters. About how many centimeters of rain did Fairview have last year?
• A. 15.4
• B. 9.6
• C. 6.5
• D. 2.6
2. Which of the following is equivalent to the expression 100 x 10²?
• A. 10¹⁰
• B. 10¹¹
• C. 10¹²
• D. 10¹⁸
3. Mr. Levy created a data set of the heights, in centimetres, of the 22 students in his math class.
• The mean of the data is 63.
• The median of the data is 64.
• The mode of the data is 62.
• The range of the data is 14.

Mr. Levy is 75 centimetres tall. If his height is included in the data set, which measure must change?

• A. Mean.
• B. Median.
• C. Mode
• D. Range.
4. In a shipment of calculators, 1/10th were chosen randomly.
• Of the chosen calculators, 2/9ths had defects.
• 8 of the chosen calculators had defects.

What is the total number of calculators in the shipment?

• A. 36.
• B. 90.
• C. 360.
• D. 720.

Writing / Critical Thinking Question Examples

You will be required to write one essay question with topics such as the following:

1. Please describe three characteristics that you feel have contributed to your academic sucess and describe why these characteristics optimized your achievements.
2. Please describe your favorite undergraduate professor and explain how this person motivated your learning.
3. In your opinion, what factors contribute to running a successful business in today's society.