Math Placement using ALEKS

The cost for ALEKS PPL is $25 for access through May 30, 2024, payable directly to the publisher. You will need a credit card to pay the fee.

You will begin in ALEKS by taking a mathematics placement assessment to determine readiness for various courses. This first assessment is used to determine your base knowledge and will not be used for placement in an SDSU course (even if you achieve the placement you desire).  The assessment covers material from Basic Math through Precalculus and will take approximately 90 minutes to complete. After the assessment, a targeted Prep and Learning Module will be suggested for you, or you can choose the Prep and Learning Module for your desired course. Work a minimum of 5 hours in the Prep and Learning Module to review and learn material, then you can take additional placement assessments to attempt to improve your course placement.

First of all, RELAX. This is an “assessment,” NOT A TEST. The difference is that an assessment is designed to determine what you know. At the end of the diagnostic assessment, you will have a much better sense of your strengths and weaknesses in math. You will then have a chance to work on those weaknesses. There is really no penalty for incorrectly answering a question on the assessment.  The most important thing is that you take the assessment seriously and give it an honest effort so that the assessment truly reflects your level of knowledge and math preparedness.

Be honest about your skill level. There is no benefit to cheating on the diagnostic assessment -the diagnostic assessment is simply used to setup your Prep and Learning Module. If you cheat, the system may miss weak areas that you actually need help on. Therefore, while you are taking the assessment, do not use a calculator (other than the built-in calculator) and do not consult any other source for help (friends, family, internet searches, etc.). Similarly, make sure that you try your best on the assessment. If you blow it off, the system may target areas you don’t need to work on and you will lose time you could have spent strengthening needed skills. The purpose of the diagnostic assessment is to give an accurate measure of your current mathematical skills so that you will be successful in your mathematics courses.

The placement assessments are proctored virtually with Respondus Monitor and lockdown browser. The video proctoring evaluates several factors as you take your assessment. Any suspected violation of the testing policies will result in invalidating your assessment results. Remember, there is no benefit to cheating on this assessment - your goal is to determine which mathematics course you have the best chance to pass the first time you take it.

See the IMPORTANT INFORMATION tab below for more information about how to set the context for video proctoring. The ALEKS system will call your assessments "non-proctored" which only means that you are not taking the test in a testing center with a human proctor. However, the assessments ARE video-proctored.

What you should do for a valid exam:

1. Set the context for your exam- how can you show the reviewer that you are taking the exam in an environment and only with the tools that are permitted? See the video below for an example.
2. Find a place to take your exam that simulates a regular exam environment- use a table or desk, find a comfortable chair, have blank scratch paper and a pencil available, and make sure it is quiet and you will be undisturbed.
3. For the environment scan, show that you do not have a calculator or other device, that all your paper is blank, and you are working on your own. Your video should show in front of you, behind you, your complete table and underneath the table. 
4. Ensure your internet access is reliable and that the microphone is working on your computer.
5. Set your laptop on the desk or table at an angle so that the reviewer can see you and your workspace.
6. Remember that the reviewer's goal is to determine if you have demonstrated that you are prepared for a specific college math course. Using unapproved resources (devices, notes or people) only demonstrates that you are not ready.

Your exam will not be considered valid if any of the following is true about the video proctoring

1. You do not show your student ID
2. You do not give a complete environment check
3. You take your test lounging on your bed or a couch with a blanket covering your lap.
4. Your video only shows your head. Your video should show you and your workspace while you take the exam.
5. Your video has no sound.
6. Your video has sounds or visual that indicate you used a calculator or other unapproved device.

This video demonstrates expectations for the video proctored exam:

ALEKS will begin with a brief tutorial before your assessment begins.

You have 3 hours to complete an assessment once it has begun. Most students require about 90 minutes to complete an assessment, but the time will vary by student. There will be a maximum of 30 questions.

ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator if you need one to complete a particular problem. Otherwise, you may NOT use a calculator. The video proctoring will monitor for this both on and off screen and any suspected use of a calculator will invalidate your placement attempt.

You may only use a pen or pencil, paper, and the resources provided by ALEKS. You may not receive assistance from friends, family, other websites, textbooks or any other resource not provided by ALEKS. The video monitoring system evaluates many factors as you take the assessment. Suspected cheating will result in disqualifying your assessment attempt. Remember, using outside resources may lead to improper placement and ultimately course failure!

The incomplete assessment is proctored and timed and you will be given a placement result, but it may underestimate your true ability.

Once you’ve taken the initial placement assessment, ALEKS will recommend a Prep and Learning Module for you based on your assessment score or you can choose one that aligns with your course. Here are our recommendations based on the class you want to take or prepare for:

While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete progress assessments to solidify your gains in knowledge. This information will be used to update the material which is offered to you for study.

By default, the Topic Carousel displays Ready to Learn topics. However, if you want to review and practice previously learned and mastered topics, you can use the filter to load the Topic Carousel with review topics by selecting Review.

How to Find It: Go the Prep and Learning Module | Select Filters | Select Review

Alternate Navigation Route: Select the Menu in the upper-left corner | Select Review

No, you must complete a new placement assessment to change your placement result. Click on the placement tab on the upper right of the page from within ALEKS. Only your placement assessment results (after the initial placement assessment) will be used for course placement.

Yes, after the initial assessment (which can not be used for placement), you may take up to 2 placement assessments. However, to make each attempt worthwhile, it is important that you spend at least 5 hours working in your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module in between placement assessments so that you can improve your skills.

You must wait 24 hours and work a minimum of 5 hours in your Prep and Learning Module between placement assessments. There is generally no benefit to re-taking the assessment immediately after completing a prior attempt. Unlike the SAT or ACT, you cannot improve your results by simply re-taking the assessment without spending time in the Prep and Learning Module to refresh material that you may have forgotten or to learn new material.

Your placement result is your percentage mastery on the assessment. In order to change your BOR placement, you will need to work a minimum of 5 hours in your Prep and Learning Module and earn a placement score in the designated cut score range or higher on an ALEKS placement assessment attempt (other than the initial assessment) for your course. Course placement is determined by the following cut scores:

Congratulations!

Continue to use your Prep and Learning Module to improve your chances for success. The placement result above is the minimum preparation required for your course! Take advantage of the targeted review and learning features in ALEKS to get a better grade in your class.

All students are strongly encouraged to spend several hours using the ALEKS Prep and Learning Module. Even if you have achieved placement in your desired course, time spent in ALEKS will better prepare you for your upcoming course and ultimately lead to better grades.

Contact Dr. Flint in order to have your work reviewed and permission to enroll provided. Remember that you cannot earn placement based on the initial placement.

For Technical Questions:

• Troubleshooting
• ALEKS Support

For general questions about SDSU's use of ALEKS, contact Donna Flint.