Other General Placement Information

General ALEKS Assessment and Placement

What is the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test?

ALEKS is a powerful artificial-intelligence based online assessment tool that zeros in on the strengths and weaknesses of a student's mathematical knowledge, reports its findings to the student, and then if necessary provides the student with a learning environment for bringing this knowledge up to an appropriate level. The University of Arizona Department of Mathematics is currently using the ALEKS assessment tool for placement into all of its entry-level courses.

The ALEKS assessment covers a broad spectrum of algebra or pre-calculus material. The ALEKS system is fully automated and the ALEKS assessment is adaptive. The first questions asked will be drawn from across the curriculum, and may be too easy or too hard. As the assessment proceeds, your answers will be used to give the system an idea of your knowledge, and it will gradually focus the questioning in an individually appropriate way. By the end of the assessment you should find the questions generally challenging but reasonable for your individual level of knowledge. The length of the assessment runs from 20-35 questions. The exact number of questions will vary due to the adaptive mechanism just described. It is likely that you will be asked questions on material you have not yet learned. On such questions it is appropriate to answer, "I don't know." On any question that you have familiarity with, however, it is important to do your best. "I don't know" is interpreted by ALEKS to mean that you do not know the topic, and this will be reflected in the assessment results. If you do not do your best on the assessment, ALEKS will underestimate your knowledge.

Who is required to take the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test?

The Math Department has strict eligibility requirements for our courses. Students who do not meet the requirements will not be able to register for courses.

All incoming freshman students must take this test, even students who have college level AP, CLEP, IB, or dual enrollment math credits.

Incoming transfer students who have not completed a college level math prerequisite within the last 18 months will need to take the placement test.

I took an ALEKS Assessment through another institution. Can I use this score at UA?

UA has a customized assessment, which is different from assessments offered through other institutions. Also, part of the process is uploading the information into the UA system. UA Student need to take the UA assessment.

Is there a fee for taking this test?

There is a $20 fee for each test. Transfer and current students pay for each test. Freshman and International students pay for the first test through new student fees. Any additional testing results in a $20 fee charged to the student's bursar account.

How many questions are on the test?

Generally, students are asked 20 to 35 questions. None of the questions are multiple choice. Students who are unable to answer many of the first questions may only have a few questions.

How is my score calculated?

There are several topics on the ALEKS Online Tests. In a relatively short period of time (about 45 minutes to two hours for most courses), ALEKS assesses the percentage of the student's current knowledge of topics from Prep for College Algebra or Prep for Calculus (how many of the total topics has the student already mastered) by asking a small number of questions (usually 20-35).

ALEKS chooses each question on the basis of a student's answers to all the previous questions. Each student, and therefore each set of assessment questions, is unique. It is impossible to predict the questions that will be asked. By the time the student has completed the assessment, ALEKS has developed a precise picture of her knowledge of the course, knowing which topics she has mastered and which topics she hasn't out of all of the topics in the course.

An overview of how ALEKS works is available.

Once I answer a question, can I go back and change my answer?

Unfortunately, once you submit an answer, you cannot change it. You should keep this in mind while testing.

What information do I need to know before taking the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test?

Testing information is available in the Online Academic Tour (for new students) and on the Math Placement Website.

Students need to know which test to take.

You will also need to install an ALEKS Plug-in.

Any technical questions need to be directed to ALEKS Technical Support.

What if I take the wrong test?

Unfortunately, if you take the wrong test and do not place high enough, you may need to retest and pay a $20 fee. It is the student's responsibility to determine which test to take and also to know the math requirement for a particular major. Recommendations are available.

What if I have College Math credits, like AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment credits?

Freshman: All freshman students must take the placement test and can talk to a math advisor at orientation. Transfer credits will still count, but students need to know whether or not they seem to be prepared for UA Math.

The purpose of our placement process is to determine, based on your mathematical background and current mathematical ability, which math courses are appropriate for you. Past experience shows that the Math Placement Test may be the clearest indicator.

If you have math transfer credits and place below the level you need for a particular math course, please see a math advisor at orientation. Remember, placement is about being successful, not skipping courses. If the placement test places you below the level that you want, you need to review or possibly need to take a lower level course, in order to be more successful in your UA Math course.

Transfers: All students who wish to enroll in a UA Math course at or below the Calculus I level (Math 124 or 125) are encouraged to take the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test. Transfer students should refer to the information on the transfer website. If your math credits were completed more than 18 months ago, you may need to test.

What if I retest and do worse?

If a previous UA ALEKS placement test score resulted in a higher UA math placement, the system will keep the higher score.

How do I check if my placement test score was processed into the UA system?

UA ALEKS placement test scores are converted into UA Math Placement codes. These codes are uploaded into the UA system Monday through Saturday at 5pm. Tests completed after 5pm on Saturday, or on Sunday are processed Monday night. You can check for your updated math placement code in UA Student Link under Academic, Placement Exams. Please wait at least 48 hours (72 hours if completed Saturday pm) before contacting the Math Department about your placement in Student Link. It may take that long for it to be processed.

How many times can I take the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test?

You can take each assessment up to two times. Generally, this is not recommended. If you do not study or try learning mode, you may not be able to improve your placement. Some students may need to take a review course.

Is there a waiting period between tests?

There is no waiting period. However, if a student takes the test and does not place, retesting immediately may be a waste of time and money. Review is generally recommended.

How can I find out what score I need on the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test?

Review the information on the Math Placement Website to see what score you need.

Do I need to install any plugins prior to taking the ALEKS assessment? What type of computer do I need?

Yes.

Go to the main ALEKS web page.
Press the DOWNLOADS link at the upper right. Follow the instructions to install the necessary software on your computer.
After installation of the ALEKS plug-in, restart (reboot) your computer.

ALEKS is cross-platform accessible. If there is difficulty installing the plug-in, you can also use the streaming plug-in, which does not require installation.

Additional troubleshooting instructions are available.

View computer system requirements.

How long will the assessment take, and what materials will I need?

Be sure you are ready to take your exam prior to logging on. Set aside at least a 2-hour block of time in which to complete the assessment. Most students will finish the assessment within an hour or so, but every student will be different. You will need only pencil and paper to work on problems. ALEKS has a built-in calculator available when needed, so you do not need a calculator.

How do I view my score and UA Math Placement Recommendations?

You will be given a score (like 33 out of 188) at the end of your test. You can calculate the percentage score, or view your percentage in your ALEKS report. Your score, if high enough, will translate into a UA math placement code. Math placement codes based on ALEKS scores are updated in the UA system Monday through Saturday at 5pm. If you test after 5pm Saturday, your UA Math Placement may not be in the UA system until Tuesday morning. You can view both of these in UA Student Link under Academic. You can also refer to the table on the Math Placement Website.

What if I missed the minimum score by a few questions?

The Math Department has strict eligibility requirements for our courses, and we are unwilling to lower the minimum score for placement into a UA course.

Students with college level transfer credit should contact a math advisor at orientation or prior to registering for a course. For incoming freshmen and international student, advising is available at orientation.

How long are my ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam scores valid?

Scores are valid for one year.

What if I do not obtain the required minimum score for UA Math?

Review is recommended for all students. After your UA ALEKS assessment, you can print out topics to review. You can also try ALEKS Learning Mode. You can test again, but should not do so unless you have spent a significant time reviewing.

What if I do not take the placement test one week prior to my orientation or registration date?

Students who do not have a math placement at orientation or at the time of registration will not be able to register for math or science courses at orientation. These students will be given instructions about what to do once they have completed the UA ALEKS Online Placement Test, and how to register for UA math or science courses, if eligible. This can be done through the UA system and Student Link, outside of orientation. All students are able to make adjustments to their schedules through the first week of classes.

What other special directions do I need to follow?

Solve all problems without assistance. This means that you should not use any books or online resources, and you should not get assistance from any other person. Work the problems with pencil and paper. Enter only your final answer into ALEKS. Use a calculator only when the ALEKS calculator is given.

Don't worry if you get a problem that is too difficult. This is normal. Just click on "I don't know." Only click on "I don't know" if you really don't know how to solve a problem. Try your best to solve any problems that you think you might be able to solve.

At the beginning of the ALEKS assessment, you will go through a brief tutorial that will introduce you to the ALEKS system and interface. You will be shown how to enter different types of answers, how to use the ALEKS calculator, and how to graph something by hand. Although the interface is reasonably intuitive and the tutorial is very helpful, there may be times when you need help using the ALEKS system. In these situations, click on the "Help" button at the top of the screen.

Sometimes you might have to use new tools. When this happens, Quick Help will be available, and will show you how to use these tools.

Don't rush through the assessment. Although we prefer that you take the assessment in one sitting, there may be situations in which you must leave your computer. If that is the case, just close the ALEKS window. When you log on again later, ALEKS will bring you to the point at which you left off.

Technical and Computer Related Information

What if my computer crashes while taking the assessment?

If you have computer problems, you should be able to log back into the UA ALEKS assessment and resume testing.

What type of computer do I need to use?

ALEKS system requirements are available online through the ALEKS website.

How do I get technical support for ALEKS?

For ALEKS customer support please email through ALEKS Customer Support.

ALEKS Troubleshooting

If you are in the UA Web Auth site to access ALEKS, and it does not seem to be working, make sure you have downloaded the Plug-in.

If your computer locks-up during the test, you can return to the ALEKS Web Auth site and resume testing.

Additional troubleshooting instructions are available. If you are having other techinical difficulties, contact ALEKS customer support, not the Math Department.

ALEKS Learning Mode

Why would I use ALEKS Learning Mode?

You might choose this option if you feel that your pre-calculus or algebra skills are weak and you would like to review that knowledge in an effective on-line learning environment. This may be a good option if you have taken the initial placement exam and did not reach the minimum ALEKS score for your course. Learning mode may assist you in reaching the required minimum score for placement into a UA Math class. Using Learning Mode does not result in a new UA Math placement. Students will need to retake UA ALEKS Online Placement in order to attempt to place higher, after using learning mode or other review methods.

Are other Learning Modules available through ALEKS?

The UA ALEKS Web Auth system only allows access to Prep for Calculus and Prep for College Algebra Learning Mode. Students can access Intermediate Algebra, Basic Algebra, and other Learning Modes directly through the ALEKS website. Students who wish to use Prep for Calculus or Prep for College Algebra Learning Mode should do so through the UA Web Auth system.

How do I purchase Learning Mode available through ALEKS?

To access UA ALEKS Learning Mode, students will need to purchase an access code from McGraw Hill. A 6 week subscription is available for $30. Instructions are available on the UA ALEKS web page.

ALEKS Frequently Asked Questions

Other General Placement Information