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About this exam

The UNSA ETF Mathematics Entrance Examination is the subject-specific admission assessment used by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (Escuela Técnica / Facultad de Ingeniería Eléctrica) at the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa for applicants seeking a place in its engineering programmes. It is intended for secondary-school graduates and transfer candidates who need to demonstrate mathematical readiness before beginning university-level coursework in circuits, signals, control and computing. The paper is multiple choice and is built around the mathematical core that first-year engineering study assumes: careful arithmetic and number sense, algebraic manipulation, the reading of functions and their graphs, plane and space geometry with trigonometry, sequences, series and limits, elementary counting and probability, complex numbers, and analytic geometry with vectors. Because the weighting is spread across these areas rather than concentrated in calculus, candidates who drill only advanced topics tend to lose marks on the more elementary sections. Sensible preparation starts with a diagnostic test under timed conditions, then a rebuild of weak topics from school textbooks, followed by timed practice sets in which every error is written up with the reason it occurred. Working steadily through past-style problems, checking answers, and practising without a calculator where the rules require it builds both speed and accuracy. The university publishes current admission details, including dates and administrative requirements, on its official website.

What you'll study

Common questions

About UNSA ETF Math Entrance Exam preparation

What is the format of the exam?

It is a multiple-choice paper: each question offers several options and exactly one is correct, with no partial credit and no penalty stated for guessing. Bring the identification and materials the call for applicants specifies. Because answers are machine-scored, transfer your choices carefully and check that you have not skipped a line on the answer sheet.

How difficult is it?

The difficulty is that of a demanding school-leaving mathematics test rather than a university analysis exam. Most items are solvable with solid secondary-school technique, but they are designed to reward fluency and accuracy under time pressure. The hardest part for most candidates is not any single topic but switching rapidly between algebra, geometry and counting.

Can I retake the exam if I do not get a place?

Retake and reapplication rules are set by the university for each admission cycle and can change, so confirm the current policy on the official UNSA admissions website before planning. Do not rely on secondhand accounts of previous years. If a retake is permitted, treat the interval as a chance to rebuild weak topics rather than simply repeating the same preparation.

How much time do I get, and how should I use it?

The official call for applicants states the current duration, so check it there rather than assuming a figure. In practice, divide the paper into passes: answer the questions you recognise immediately, mark and skip the rest, then return to the harder ones. Never leave a blank if there is no penalty for wrong answers.

In what order should I study the topics?

Start with arithmetic, algebra and functions, since geometry, sequences, complex numbers and analytic geometry all depend on fluent manipulation. Add geometry and trigonometry next, then sequences and limits, then counting and probability, then complex numbers and vectors. Finish with mixed timed sets so you practise choosing a method, not just applying one.

What are the most common ways candidates lose marks?

Typical losses come from sign and fraction errors in algebra, misreading a graph's scale, forgetting that a trigonometric equation has more than one solution in the given range, mishandling the modulus and argument of complex numbers, and confusing permutations with combinations. Timing errors and careless answer-sheet transfer also cost marks that the mathematics did not.

Do I need a calculator?

The rules on calculators and other aids are stated in the official instructions for each admission cycle, so read them carefully and follow them exactly. In any case, prepare to compute simple values by hand: knowing standard angles, small powers and roots, and quick approximations is often faster than reaching for a device.

How do I know whether I am ready?

Sit a full mixed set under the official conditions and score it strictly, with no partial credit. If you are comfortably above your target and finishing with time to spare, you are close. If errors cluster in one domain, return to that domain's fundamentals before doing more full papers; more papers alone will not fix a conceptual gap.

Is this page affiliated with the university?

No. This is an independent study resource and is not endorsed by or connected to the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín. Always treat the university's own admissions publications as authoritative for dates, fees, required documents, scoring and any rule changes, and use this material only for mathematics practice.