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Math Placement Assessment

Contact Information

Email: testingcenter@apu.edu
Phone: (626) 815-3849
Fax: (626) 815-3859

Location

Adams Modulars, Building 35

Related Links

Writing, Speaking, and Tutoring Center

Writing Center

APU’s General Education program recognizes quantitative literacy as one of the six essential learning outcomes at the heart of a liberal arts education. The Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) defines quantitative literacy (QL) as a “habit of mind, competency, and comfort in working with numerical data.” APU’s quantitative literacy curriculum aims to empower students to be wise consumers and producers of quantitative information as they serve God faithfully in a complex world.

There are several pathways (PDF) for meeting the GE Quantitative Literacy requirement. Some entering students will be able to demonstrate quantitative literacy with a standardized test score or a high school math grade, but most students will develop their quantitative literacy by taking one of the four GE quantitative literacy courses.

APU uses the ALEKS PPL system to determine initial math placement. Please take a moment to determine whether you are required to use ALEKS.

Students who need to use ALEKS are strongly encouraged to take an initial assessment at home as soon as possible. After this, they will be able to review using their Prep and Learning Module and then retake the ALEKS assessment up to four times. ALEKS placement scores expire after one year, to ensure that they reflect students’ current preparation level. You are expected to enroll in a math course during your first semester at APU (unless you have already completed all of your math requirements).

What is ALEKS?

APU helps you to strengthen your mathematics skills even before you arrive on campus by providing a six-month subscription to ALEKS PPL (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces—Placement, Preparation, Learning) software to all incoming students who have not already completed their math requirements. ALEKS assesses your current skill level, tailors an adaptive online learning experience to your personal strengths and weaknesses, and then allows you to take the assessment again (up to four times, if you desire) in order to determine the best math course placement for you. ALEKS is designed to set you up for success.

The ALEKS process consists of the following steps:

  1. Determine whether you are required to use ALEKS.
  2. Take your first ALEKS assessment at home as soon as possible.
  3. Choose and Use a Prep and Learning Module.
  4. Retake the ALEKS assessment up to four times to attempt to raise your score.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, just dive right in and take your initial ALEKS assessment as soon as you can! Then use the Prep and Learning Module to review and to learn new material.

An assessment typically takes 60-120 minutes. Students have up to two hours to complete an assessment. Finish and submit your work before two hours are up in order to receive an assessment score.

The ALEKS assessment covers a variety of topics from high school mathematics:

  • 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, volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).

ALEKS questions are open-response (not multiple choice) and require you to work out solutions with a paper and pencil and then enter them into ALEKS. Before you begin an assessment, a tutorial will show you how to enter your answers.

Because ALEKS is adaptive, once you submit an answer, you cannot change it. Be sure to carefully check your answer before submitting your response.

ALEKS questions are open-response (not multiple choice) and require you to work out solutions with a paper and pencil and then enter them into ALEKS. Before you begin an assessment, a tutorial will show you how to enter your answers.

Because ALEKS is adaptive, once you submit an answer, you cannot change it. Be sure to carefully check your answer before submitting your response.

You may only use a writing instrument and paper. ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator if you need one to complete a particular problem. You may not use any other calculator.

ALEKS placement scores expire after one year, to ensure that they reflect students’ current preparation level. You are expected to enroll in a math course during your first semester at APU (unless you have already completed all of your math requirements).

If you are a new student to APU, you do not have to pay for your initial ALEKS subscription; APU covers the full cost of ALEKS for new students. Returning students who have allowed their initial ALEKS placement result to expire without completing their first math course will need to purchase a new ALEKS subscription for $20 in order to repeat the placement process.

While working in your Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete a Knowledge Check assessment to make sure you have retained your mastery of the topics you have studied 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. Knowledge Checks do not count for placement purposes; their purpose is simply to make the Learning Mode as effective as possible.

For ALEKS technical support, call (714) 619-7090 or visit the following websites:

You may also contact the Academic Success Center at (626) 815-3886.

Do I Need to Use ALEKS? When?

Please fill out this short form to determine whether you are required to use ALEKS.

Students who need to use ALEKS are expected to begin using it as soon as possible after receiving their APU login information. Taking your first ALEKS assessment right away will leave you with plenty of time to try to improve your score and then to enroll in your first math class. All students who have not waived their GE Quantitative Literacy requirement are expected to take their first math class during their first semester at APU.

You Need to Use ALEKS if Any of the Following Are True

  • You have met none of the criteria 1-12 below.
  • MATH 165 Calculus I is required for your major or minor and you haven’t already received credit for it.
  • You plan to take CHEM 151 General Chemistry I or pursue a major in the School of Business and Management AND you have not satisfied any of the criteria 1-8 below or transferred in a grade of B- or higher in a college algebra course.

Criteria for Waiving the GE Quantitative Literacy Requirement

  1. New SAT Math (640 or higher)
  2. Old SAT Math (620 or higher)
  3. ACT Math (27 or higher)
  4. High School Calculus (semester grade of B or higher)
  5. High School Precalculus (semester grade of A- or higher)
  6. CLEP College Algebra, Precalculus, or Calculus (50 or higher)
  7. IB Mathematics (5, 6, or 7)
  8. AP Calculus AB or BC (3, 4, or 5)
  9. AP Statistics (3, 4, or 5)
  10. Transferred in college-level coursework fulfilling GE Quantitative Literacy requirement
  11. You will complete an Honors Humanities major
  12. You will earn a Bachelor of Music degree

Start Using ALEKS Now

Before taking an ALEKS assessment, be sure to determine whether you need to do so.

Students who need to use ALEKS are strongly encouraged to take an initial assessment at home as soon as possible. An assessment typically takes 60-120 minutes. Students have up to two hours to complete an assessment. Finish and submit your work before two hours are up in order to receive an assessment score.

All assessments will be recorded and reviewed using online proctoring software. Be sure not to use any external calculator or other resources while taking the ALEKS assessment. An artificially inflated score will only place you into a math class for which you are not adequately prepared. Any use of unauthorized resources will qualify as an academic integrity violation.

The first time you take an ALEKS assessment, you will be guided to install Respondus LockDown Browser on your computer to facilitate the online proctoring. You will also need to use a computer with a webcam and a microphone, and you will need a photo ID. If you do not have these requirements for online proctoring, then you may schedule an in-person proctoring session through APU’s Testing Services or at a distance proctoring site.

Note: ALEKS scores expire one year from the date of the assessment.

New Students
(Freshman or Transfer)

Most students who use ALEKS are new to APU. A six-month subscription to ALEKS is provided free of charge to all new APU students.

ALEKS access for students who are NEW TO APU

If a returning student uses the above link to access ALEKS, any placement scores for that student will not count.

Returning Students

Because ALEKS scores expire after 12 months, returning students who need to take a math course but have not yet passed one will need to use ALEKS again to determine appropriate placement. Returning students are asked to pay the $20 fee for a new ALEKS subscription directly to McGraw-Hill.

ALEKS access for students who are NOT new to APU

Schedule an In-Person Proctoring Appointment for ALEKS

Students with access to a computer with a webcam and microphone are encouraged to take the ALEKS assessment at home using the built-in online proctoring. Alternatively, you may schedule an ALEKS proctoring appointment either through APU’s Testing Services or at a distance proctoring site closer to your home.

Schedule a Proctoring Appointment through Testing Services

You may schedule an ALEKS proctoring appointment through Testing Services using our online scheduling system. If you have questions about scheduling, you may call our office at (626) 815-3849. All exams must be scheduled 24 hours in advance. Testing Services proctors exams 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday year-round. There is no proctoring fee for students who take ALEKS through Testing Services.