Information for Incoming Freshman, 2012-2013

Math Placement

Math placement is an important part of student success at UA. The overall purpose of our placement process is to determine, based on a student’s background and current demonstrated ability, which Math course may be appropriate. Although placement into a course does not guarantee a passing grade, our experience has shown us that the Math Placement Test may be the clearest indicator of success in our courses.

Each major at the UA has a specific math requirement set by the major department. In order to register for a math course, you must satisfy the course's prerequisite and eligibility criteria. Several courses outside the Math Department also have math requirements: LING 178, MCB 181R, CHEM 151, ENGR 102, ISTA 116, PHYS 102, SBS 200, or MATH 105, 109C, 111, 112, 113, 115A, 120R, 122A, 122B, 125, 163, 263 and 302A, all require an appropriate UA ALEKS Placement Test score. To see what the requirements are for your major, or to explore requirements, go to Degree Search .

All incoming students classified as freshman who plan on taking a UA math course at or below the Calculus I level are asked to take the UA ALEKS Placement Test (Assessment) to determine eligibility for a UA Math course. It is important that you complete the test at least one week prior to your orientation date. Please note that admission to the UA does not guarantee placement into a UA Math course. Some students will need review through ALEKS Learning Mode, or a review course. All students are encouraged to review before taking a UA Math course. Please note that math placement test scores are good for one year only. After that, a student will need to retest and score appropriately.

Please note that many students take a review course before enrolling in the Math requirement for their major. Information about which course you should take will be provided at your orientation.

Testing, College Level Math Credits, and Retesting:

What You Need To Do Before Orientation

About the UA ALEKS Online Math Placement Test

Additional information is available in the Next Steps Center. You will need to print and read important information before testing.

Students are to take this test without the assistance of any persons, textbooks, online materials, or any other assistance, as if it is a proctored test. The only calculator allowed is the built-in calculator provided with the ALEKS program, and other calculators are not allowed. Any violation of this will be considered cheating and a violation of the UA Code of Academic Integrity. There are can be serious consequences to aritificially high placement testing scores. It is important to make an honest attempt at the test.

Take the Math Placement Test (Assessment). Students with college level Math credits through AP, IB, CLEP, dual enrollment, or other college credit are still asked to test. Students who opt not to test will continue to receive messages about testing. College credits are not automatically used for placement into UA Math courses below the level of Calculus and is also used for placement into some Science courses. Please test. Your percentage on the test will be posted in Next Steps within 24 hours of completing the test.

The UA ALEKS Online Math Placement Test is not a timed test. However, ALEKS is not accessible with screen reading technology. Please contact the Disability Resource Center at (520) 621-3268 or uadrc@email.arizona.edu with questions or concerns.

What percentage do I need on the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test? Check the requirements for our courses.
You can review your math skills and the placement test topics before testing.
Figure out which UA math placement test to take.
- Prep for Calculus is basically a Precalculus test. This test is for students with previous recent experience with Precalculus and Trigonometry and can possibly place students as high as Calculus. Students with no experience with PreCalculus and Trig should not take this test.
- Prep for College algebra is a high school Algebra test and is appropriate for students who have not yet taken Precalculus.
Take the placement test through the Next Steps Center at least one week prior to your orientation. Please note that students who do not place into a UA Math course at least one week prior to orientation may not be able to register for a Math or Science course during orientation. Students who do not make their first attempt at the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test prior to the first day of classes will need to take a proctored test in the UA Testing Office for a fee. You will need to read important information about the test in Next Steps prior to starting the test.

College Math Credit

Do you have college math credit?
- If you have COLLEGE MATH CREDITS or AP, IB, or CLEP CALCULUS CREDIT, talk to a math advisor at orientation and bring an unofficial copy of your college level transcript or Math AP, IB, or CLEP exam score, if possible. High school transcripts are not used to verify college credits. If you need to take a UA MATH or Science course listed above, please take the Math Placement Test. College Math credits are not automatically used for placement into a UA Math course. Please note that it is the student's responsibility to adjust his/her schedule once these credits are in the UA system.
  - If you have completed a college level Math course through a College or University outside of Arizona, please complete the Math Department online evaluation form at least two weeks prior to your orientation. You will receive the results of the evaluation via email.
  - The UA Policy on AP, IB, and CLEP credit is available in the catalog.
  - If you have completed a Math course in Arizona, go to the Arizona Course Equivalency guide to see how your Arizona college level courses transfer to UA.
  - Some student have completed their Foundation Math requirement prior to attending UA. Make sure you verify this with an advisor. We still recommend testing since many students double major, or change majors, and later find that they need an appropriate Math Placement Test score in order to take a UA Math course.
  - Placement at UA is about student success and choosing an appropriate UA starting point for success in subsequent courses. We want students to be successful. Some students with college math credits are not prepared to continue on to the next level course at UA. If you have college math credits, but a low placement test score, make sure you see a math advisor at orientation to review your options. Remember, it is about success, not just getting the courses that you want on your UA schedule.

I Want to Retake the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test at Orientation

Retesting information: Students can retake the math placement test, but must take a proctored test for a fee. Retesting is recommended only if a student has had a chance to review. Scores are processed overnight and are available in the Next Steps Center on through the Math Department website.
- Students attending a UA campus orientation can schedule a retest through the UA Testing Office. Testing is available year round by appointment. There is a $35 fee that covers proctoring and testing.
- After orientation, students can retest through an online proctoring service called ProctorU. This is available in the summer only. A webcam and microphone are required. There is a $31.25 proctoring fee paid to ProctorU and a $20 testing fee charged to your UA bursar's account. Students attending an off UA campus orientation in April (Chicago, NY or Seattle) can retest prior to or after orientation using this service.

Online Proctoring with ProctorU- Available April 2 through August 19, 2012

Students with access to a webcam, microphone, and credit or debit card can take an online proctored test through the UA portal at ProctorU. Testing will be limited to 4 hours. Students who take the exam through ProctorU will have a credit card charge of $31.25 from ProctorU for proctoring the test. A $20 Math Placement Testing fee will also be charged to the student’s UA bursar’s account. Students interested in this option will need to do the following:

If you are an incoming student and have not yet starting your first semester at UA, you take your first test through the Next Steps Center. If you are a current student or have already tested through Next Steps, you retest through ProctorU or the Testing Office. Please carefully read through the information before scheduling a test through ProctorU.
Go to http://www.proctoru.com/arizona and read through the Getting Started and Technical Specifications information. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that the specifications are met before testing. Students will need to test their equipment and download the ALEKS plug-in well before their proctored testing appointment begins.
Schedule an exam and set up an account through ProctorU. Sign up for an exam at least one week in advance to avoid an additional fee. Go to http://www.proctoru.com/arizona .
Download the ALEKS plug-in before your ProctorU Testing appointment.
Access to the UA ALEKS Online Test through ProctorU requires your UA Net ID and Password, as well as the ProctorU ID and password. ProctorU testing is NOT through the Next Steps Center. ProctorU will provide a portal for you to use for testing.
You should try to complete the test within a 3 hour time period. You must complete the entire test in order to receive a score (percentage).
Please note that once you complete the test, your score is final, regardless of any technical difficulties.
Any technical difficulties while testing need to be directed to ALEKS customer support:
ALEKS Corporation Customer Support
M-F 4 a.m.- 7 p.m. Pacific Time (7 a.m. -10 p.m. Eastern Time)
(714) 619-7090
http://support.aleks.com/assess_placement

Testing through ProctorU is available through August 19, 2012.
After that, students will need to test through the UA Testing Office, 520 621 7589 .

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