CEDARVILLE — Cedarville University mathematics seniors earned the highest possible score in the ETS Major Field Test in Mathematics, a national exam measuring content knowledge in undergraduate mathematics. Students took the national test at the end of the spring semester.

The average Cedarville student placed in the 91st percentile of all senior math majors in the nation and in the 88th percentile in Ohio. Three students, Abbie Belcher, Andrew King and Ben Reese, earned the highest possible score and helped raise Cedarville’s institutional average to 99th percentile in the nation and 99th percentile in Ohio.

The test contains 50 questions covering calculus and differential equations, linear and abstract algebra, geometry and point-set topology, real and complex analysis and probability and statistics. The test takes approximately two hours to complete.

“We did expect to do well because we have quality students who are willing to work hard and faculty who invest a lot of time and effort in teaching and mentoring our students,” said Darrin Frey, professor of mathematics.

“It’s a privilege to teach Cedarville math majors, because even though we push them very hard, they take on the responsibility and work hard to achieve the standards we set for them,” Frey added. “The problem-solving skills, mental discipline, mathematical insight and perseverance these students develop while they’re here serve them very well in the wide variety of careers they choose to pursue.”

Other schools taking this test included Liberty University, Wheaton College, Texas Tech University, Taylor University and Messiah College.