Preparation
Why must I take the ALEKS PPL Assessment? The Placement Assessment is used to determine the mathematics course in which you will have the greatest success. Upon completion of the Placement Assessments, your scores are sent to your academic advisor. Your advisor will review your scores and help make appropriate recommendations for course registration.
Who has to take the ALEKS PPL Assessment? All incoming first year students and transfer students without math credit.
When do I take the ALEKS PPL Assessment? As soon as possible. The sooner students take the exam the sooner they can register for classes.
Is there a fee for using ALEKS PPL? The use of ALEKS is included in your student fees.
Do I need to install any software or plug-ins prior to taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment? No. There are no required plug-ins or applets required with your use of ALEKS PPL. As long as you have access to the internet and are using an updated browser, you should not experience difficulties in taking your Placement Assessment. For a list of preferred browsers, please review the ALEKS system requirements on their support site: http://www.aleks.com/support/system_requirements
What topics are covered during the ALEKS PPL Assessment? ALEKS PPL is an online, adaptive system that covers a broad spectrum of mathematics topics. The length of the Placement Assessment will very but can be up to 30 questions. You will see some, but not all, of the math you have learned in high school. It is a Placement Assessment, not a preview of math courses at Whittier College. It is designed to identify if you are prepared for a particular course. After you take your first Placement Assessment, you will have the opportunity to review and master additional topics to reassess and improve your placement.
Topics covered:
Real numbers (including fractions, integers, and percentages)
Equations and inequalities (including linear equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic equations),
Linear and quadratic functions (including graphs and functions, linear functions, and parabolas), exponents and polynomials (including integer exponents, polynomial arithmetic, factoring, and polynomial equations), rational expressions (including rational equations and rational functions
Radical expressions (including higher roots and rational exponents)
Exponentials and logarithms (including function compositions and inverse functions, properties of logarithms, and logarithmic equations)
Geometry and trigonometry (including perimeter, area, and volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).
Can I practice using the ALEKS input tools before I begin the Placement Assessment? ALEKS will begin with a brief tutorial to make sure you are comfortable with the math palette tools before your Placement Assessment begins. The tutorial shows you how to enter different types of answers, how to use the ALEKS calculator, and how to graph. If you aren’t sure how to input an answer, or need help while you are taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment, select the Help button below the answer pallet tools. Going to the tutorial during your Placement Assessment will NOT impact your Placement Assessment results.
Taking the Placement Assessment
What is the format of the questions on ALEKS? ALEKS is not a multiple-choice Placement Assessment. It is open-response and requires you to work out solutions with paper and pencil, then enter them into ALEKS. Be sure to have scratch paper with you.
May I use a calculator while using ALEKS? ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator if you need one to solve a particular problem. Otherwise, you may not use a calculator.
May I use any other resources during a Placement Assessment? You may only use a pen or pencil, paper, and the resources provided within ALEKS. You should not receive assistance from friends, family, other websites, textbooks, or any other resource not provided by ALEKS. Using outside resources will lead to improper placement and potentially course failure.
Can I review a question after I’ve answered it? Because ALEKS is adaptive, once you submit an answer, you cannot change it. Be sure to carefully check your answer before submitting your response.
What if I see questions I don’t know? 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 how to solve the topic, and this will be reflected in the Placement Assessment results. There is no penalty for incorrectly answering a question on the Placement Assessment, it only helps ALEKS understand what you know and don’t know.
Are Placement Assessments timed? You have 3 hours to complete a proctored placement exam and 48-hours to complete a non-proctored exam. The non-proctored attempt can be stopped and started multiple times within the 48-hour period.
What happens if I do not complete a Placement Assessment in the allotted time? If the Placement Assessment is not proctored, you will have to restart the Placement Assessment. If the incomplete Placement Assessment is proctored and timed, you will be given a placement result, but it will not be a true reflection of your abilities.
I am ready to start my ALEKS PPL Assessment. How do I begin?
Log into your Future Poet Portal and access the new student checklist.
Placement Result
What is my placement result? Your placement result (overall score) is a number between 0 and 100. It represents the percentage of topics ALEKS has identified you have mastered.
Course placement is determined as follows:
|
Placement Score |
Placement |
|
0 – 29 |
Math 74 – Transition to College Math |
|
30 – 45 |
Math 079: Quantitative Reasoning & Math 076: College Algebra |
|
46 – 60 |
Math 080: Elementary Statistics |
|
61 – 75 |
Math 85: Pre-Calc |
|
76 – 100 |
Math 141: Calculus I |
Where can I see my score?
You will receive your score immediately upon completion of your Placement Assessment.
Your ALEKS score can be viewed by re-entering ALEKS using the same access link for which you took the Placement Assessment.
On your DegreeWorks page
How long is my placement result valid? Your placement result is valid for 4 years.
What if I do not place into the course I wanted? This is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the Prep and Learning Modules offered within ALEKS PPL. An individualized study plan will be created based on your performance on the Initial Placement Assessment. ALEKS will identify what you know and what you are ready to learn next so you can brush up on lost knowledge.
I did not place into the class I wanted. Can I take it anyway? No, you must achieve the minimum placement result to take each corresponding class.
What if I placed into the class I wanted? Congratulations! Make sure that you schedule a time to complete a proctored exam. Remember that you cannot register of your math course unless you take a proctored exam. Continue to use your Prep and Learning Module to improve your chances for success. The placement result required is the minimum preparation for your course. Take advantage of the individualized review and learning features in ALEKS to get a better grade in your class.
Can I retake the ALEKS PPL Assessment? Yes, you may take up to 5 Placement Assessments. However, to make each attempt worthwhile, it is important that you spend time working in your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between Placement Assessments so that you can improve your skills.
Can I retake the ALEKS Placement Assessment immediately?
You must wait 48 hours between Placement Assessments. There is generally no benefit to re-taking the Placement Assessment immediately after completing a prior attempt. You cannot improve your results by simply re-taking the Placement Assessment without spending time in the Prep and Learning Module to refresh material that you may have forgotten.
Prep and Learning Modules
How long do I have access to my Prep and Learning Module? You will have six months of access to your Prep and Learning module. Access to the prep course will not begin until you select start on the top of your screen. DO NOT select into the Prep and Learning Module until you are ready to start working.
Is there an additional fee for my Prep and Learning Module? Access to a Prep and Learning Module is included along with the additional Placement Assessments.
Must I work in my ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between Placement Assessments?
You can retake the Placement assessment up to four additional times to improve your score. (The highest score will be used for math placement). Students are required to work in the Prep and Learning Modules for a specific amount of time prior to each Placement Assessment to increase success.
2nd attempt—required to complete 5 hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
3rd attempt—required to complete 5 additional hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
4th attempt—required to complete 3 additional hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
5th attempt—required to complete 3 additional hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
What are ALEKS Knowledge Checks? While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete a Knowledge Check to make sure you have mastered the topics you gained in Learning Mode. If you do not show mastery during the Knowledge Check, the topics will be added back into your Learning Pie so you can review them again.
Does progress in an ALEKS Prep and Learning Module count toward placement? No. You must complete a new Placement Assessment to change your placement result. Select the placement tab in the upper right corner of the ALEKS page to start a new Placement Assessment.
Can I change to a different Prep and Learning Module later? No. You may only use one Prep and Learning Module. If you are unsure which module to select, use the module recommended by ALEKS or consult with your advisor.
Technical Support
What do I do if my web browser gets stuck or my computer crashes while I’m taking the Placement Assessment? Simply close the browser, or log out and log back in. ALEKS will resume the Placement Assessment exactly where you left off, with no loss of your previous answers.
Where can I get help with ALEKS?
