ASU Calculus Placement through ALEKS
Arizona State University requires the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam to assess a student's prerequisite knowledge for precalculus and calculus placement. ALEKS is a powerful artificial-intelligence based 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 for course placement.
All incoming, calculus-bound, first-year students must complete the ALEKS placement exam prior to enrollment for the Fall 2009 Semester. The time limit to finish the assessment is 24 hours. One assessment followed by an optional learning tutorial and one re-assessment is available to all students free of charge. (See Minimum Mathematics Requirements for Academic Programs)
Students enrolling in APM 265, MAT 210, 251, 265 or 270 are required to obtain a minimum ALEKS placement score, prior to enrolling, of at least:
60% for APM 265, MAT 210, MAT 251, MAT 265 and MAT 270
If you do not meet the minimum score of 60%, you will be able to enroll into the prerequisite (MAT 170) as long as you scored at least 50%.
Students enrolling in MAT 170 are required to obtain a minimum ALEKS placement score, prior to enrolling, of at least:
50% for MAT 170
If you do not meet the minimum score of 50%, you can either take the ALEKS again or take the Unified Placement Test to determine which math course you should complete your first semester.
A student can take the ALEKS placement exam a maximum of two times prior to enrollment for the Fall 2009 semester in order to satisfy a minimum ALEKS placement score. The initial placement exam, learning tutorial and re-test are free of charge.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam?
Q: Who is required to take the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam?
Q: How do I access the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam?
Q: Do I need to install any plugins prior to taking the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam?
Q: Is the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam Free?
Q: How long are my ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam scores valid?
Q: What if I do not obtain the required minimum score for MAT 170, 210, 251, 265 or 270?
Q: Why would I use the "Assessment + Learning" Module of ALEKS?
Q: Are other Learning Modules available through ALEKS?
Q: How do I get technical support for ALEKS?
Q: How do I get math advising support?
Q: What is the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam?
A: The ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam covers a broad spectrum of 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 assessment contains from 20 to 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.
Q: Who is required to take the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam?
A: All incoming, calculus-bound, first-year students are required to take the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam. All transfer and returning students enrolling in MAT 170, 210, 251, 265 or 270 are required to take the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam.
Q: How do I access the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam?
A: All incoming, calculus-bound, first-year students, as well as returning and transfer students enrolling in MAT 170, 210, 251, 265 or 270, must access the placement exam directly. Take the ALEKS
Q: Do I need to install any plug-ins prior to taking the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam?
A: Yes.
- Go to the main ALEKS web page at: www.aleks.com
- 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. For information, see: http://www.aleks.com/faqs/technical#ques_plugin
For additional troubleshooting instructions, please read the instructions at http://www.aleks.com/faqs/technical#ques_troubleshooting.
Q: Is the ASU Calculus Placement Exam Free?
A: The initial placement exam is offered free of charge. Be sure you are ready to take your placement exam prior to logging on as initiating the system, whether you complete the exam or not, counts as your initial free placement exam.
The optional free Assessment + Learning Module contains one placement exam retake as well as the learning module that allows you to build up your pre-calculus knowledge.
A: To view your score you simply log in to the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam and click the assessment button and your score will appear (note: this is the same button used to access the exam). Once scores are loaded at ASU you can view your scores using My ASU under Test Scores clicking here. ALEKS assessment scores are retrieved and loaded twice daily, usually at 1:00 a.m. and again at 10:00 a.m. Test scores will not be available to be used as enrollment requirements until they have been loaded here.
Q: How long are my ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam scores valid?
A: It is crucial that the scores be reflective of your current mathematical knowledge. Therefore the scores are valid for 12 months prior to enrolling in MAT 170, 210, 251, 265 or 270.
Q: What if I do not obtain the required minimum score for MAT 170, 210, 251, 265 or 270?
A: All students enrolling in APM 265, MAT 170, 210, 251, 265 or 270 are required to obtain a minimum ALEKS placement score before enrollment of at least 60% for APM 265, MAT 210, 251, 265 and 270 and 50% for MAT 170. If you do not reach the minimum score in your first attempt, you have a choice of the following:
-For placement into APM 265, MAT 210, MAT 251, MAT 265 or MAT 270, you will be able to enroll into the prerequisite (MAT 170) as long as you scored at least 50%. You may take the ALEKS test again for a better score (Prior to the test, please be sure to work ALEKS in learning mode in an attempt to improve your score).
-For placement into MAT 170, you can either take the ALEKS again or take the Unified Placement Test to determine which math course you should complete your first semester.
Q: Why would I use the "Assessment + Learning" Module of ALEKS?
A: You might choose this option if you feel that your pre-calculus skills are weak and you would like to review that knowledge in an effective on-line learning environment, or you have taken the initial placement exam and did not reach the minimum ALEKS score for your course and want a learning module to assist in reaching the required minimum score.
Q: Are other Learning Modules available through ALEKS?
A: Yes, ALEKS offers 2 other Learning Modules you may purchase yourself to self-remediate:
"Prep for Precalculus", if you want to self-prepare for Mat 170.
"Prep for College Algebra", if you want to self-prepare for MAT 117.
Note: You cannot access the ALEKS Calculus Placement Exam from these two prep modules.
To purchase and use either the "Prep for Precalculus" or "Prep for College Algebra" Learning Modules you will need to purchase a 20-character individual access code online for $30.00 and do the following.
I: Go to the main ALEKS web page at: www.aleks.com
To enroll in the course of your choice and start using the system, click on the link SIGN UP NOW! (upper left). Then, on the left hand side of the new page, enter one of the following Course Codes:
"Prep for Precalculus" Course Code: 9DAH9-4UWGN
"Prep for College Algebra" Course Code: NYJKP-WMLPP
Then click "Continue". You will be asked to confirm that the course you entered the code for is indeed the one you wish to purchase.
II: you will be prompted to input a 20-character individual access code. This can be done via eCommerce using the link just above the access code box, "purchase an access code online." Click on the link, purchase an access code (under "Mathematics") for the desired course, enter it in these spaces, then click "Continue" to proceed.
III: Continue following instructions to complete your registration and receive your ALEKS Login Name and Password. Keep these safe, as they will be needed to access your account from www.aleks.com .
IV: Follow the instructions that are provided on line to go through the Answer Editor Tutorial, then complete the assessment (20-35 questions). Be sure to do your best on the assessment questions, and use the "I don't know" button only when you are unfamiliar with the question.
V: Following completion of your assessment, you will see the ALEKS pie chart with your assessment results. You can choose topics from this pie chart to work on in Learning Mode. As you master topics from the course content, your pie chart will be progressively filled in.
VI: You can return to your account at any time by logging on with your ALEKS Login Name and Password from www.aleks.com **Do not** register in the course a second time.
Q: How do I get technical support for ALEKS?
A: For ALEKS customer support please phone or email:
Phone: (714) 245-7191 ext. 201
Email: http://support.aleks.com
Q: How do I get math advising support?
A: Students with question about their placement test scores and the courses they should take for their degree program should contact their academic advisor in their major. Advising information is located in myASU (http://my.asu.edu).
University of Illinois Math Placement through ALEKS website adapted with permission from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Mathematics.
