ALEKS Math Readiness Assessment

Online Test With Personalized Instruction

ALEKS is an online tool that helps place you in the right math course based on your current skills. It’s also great for brushing up on math concepts to help you feel more confident.

Placement Assessment Prep & Learning Module Your Score & Course Placement

The Placement Assessment

The Placement Assessment helps determine your current math skills so we can place you in the class where you’ll have the best chance to succeed. It includes up to 30 questions and usually takes about 60–90 minutes to complete. When you’re finished, you’ll get a score between 0 and 100, which tells you which math courses you’re ready to take and can register for.

Why Giving Your Best Effort Matters

It’s important to take the Placement Assessment seriously and give it your best shot. Why? Because it needs to reflect your actual math skills. Cheating or not trying your hardest could place you in a class that’s either way too hard or not challenging enough. That could cost you time, money, and even impact your academic record or financial aid. So, avoid using outside help like friends, family, internet searches, textbooks, or notes while taking the assessment.

Take the Placement Assessment

To take the Placement Assessment, you’ll need the Respondus LockDown Browser for ALEKS. This browser is already set up on computers in the Student Tutoring and Computer Lab, the Library, and the Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center.

If you prefer to take it on your own computer, you can install the browser yourself. Here’s how to set up the Respondus LockDown Browser for ALEKS on your personal computer:

  1. Download the Respondus LockDown Browser for ALEKS.
  2. Find the file you just downloaded on your computer, then double-click it to run the program.
  3. Follow the prompts to install the browser.
  4. Once it’s installed, return to the Respondus LockDown Browser for ALEKS webpage. Use the links under "Check your Setup & Installation" to make sure everything is working.

If it says "Installed," you’re all set!

If you run into issues, you can check the troubleshooting page, visit ALEKS Tech Support online, or call them at 1-800-258-2374.

Yes! ALEKS starts with a quick tutorial to help you get comfortable with the math tools before your Placement Assessment begins. It’ll show you how to:

  • Enter different types of answers
  • Use the ALEKS calculator
  • Create graphs

If you ever get stuck or aren’t sure how to input an answer during the assessment, just click the Help button below the math tools.

Going back to the tutorial while you’re taking the assessment won’t affect your results. It’s there to help you!

No problem! Just close the browser or log out, then log back in. ALEKS will pick up right where you left off, and all your previous answers will be saved.

The ALEKS Placement Assessment adapts to your knowledge level and covers a wide range of math topics, including:

  • Real numbers: Fractions, integers, and percentages
  • Equations and inequalities: Linear equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic equations
  • Linear and quadratic functions: Graphs and functions, linear functions, and parabolas
  • Exponents and polynomials: Integer exponents, polynomial arithmetic, factoring, and polynomial equations
  • Rational expressions: Rational equations and rational functions
  • Radical expressions: Higher roots and rational exponents
  • Exponentials and logarithms: Function compositions and inverse functions, properties of logarithms, and logarithmic equations
  • Geometry and trigonometry: Perimeter, area, and volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations

This wide range ensures the assessment can accurately determine your math readiness for college courses.

ALEKS isn’t a multiple-choice test. It’s open-response, meaning you’ll need to solve the problems on paper first and then enter your answers into ALEKS.

During the Placement Assessment, you can only use a pen or pencil, paper, and the tools provided within ALEKS. If needed, ALEKS will give you an on-screen calculator for certain problems.

You should not use help from friends, family, websites, textbooks, or any other outside resources. Using those could result in being placed in the wrong course, which might lead to struggling in the class.

Since ALEKS is adaptive, once you submit an answer, you can’t go back and change it. Make sure to double-check your answer before submitting to avoid any mistakes.

It’s normal to come across questions about material you haven’t learned yet. If you don’t know the answer, it’s okay to select “I don’t know.” For questions you’re familiar with, make sure to do your best.

When you choose "I don’t know," ALEKS understands that you’re not familiar with that topic, and this helps determine your placement. Don’t worry—there’s no penalty for incorrect answers. It simply helps ALEKS figure out what you know and what you still need to learn.

You’ll have three hours to complete the Placement Assessment.

Take your time and work at your own pace. If you need to step away for any reason, you can log back in and pick up right where you left off, but remember, you must finish the assessment within three hours.

Yes, you can retake the Placement Assessment up to four times to try to improve your score. The highest score you get will be used for math placement.

You’ll need to wait 48 hours between each attempt.

Before each retake, you must complete at least three hours of work in the Prep and Learning Module. Simply retaking the assessment without reviewing the material in the module won’t improve your score. It’s important to refresh any concepts you may have forgotten.

Your ALEKS Score and Course Placement

You’ll get your score right after finishing the Placement Assessment.

Your score will be available in ALEKS and automatically added to your student profile, which your academic advisor can access.

Your placement score is valid for 24 months.

ALEKS Score Placement Your Next Math Course
0–5 MAT-012 Math Skills
  • MAT-772 Applied Math or
  • MAT-052 Pre-Algebra
4–9 MAT-048 Preparatory Math for Elementary Algebra
  • MAT-060 Algebra Essentials
6–13 MAT-052 Pre-Algebra
  • MAT-060 Algebra Essentials
6–13 MAT-772 Applied Math  
14–29 MAT-060 Algebra Essentials
  • MAT-102 Intermediate Algebra or
  • MAT-110 Math for Liberal Arts or
  • MAT-112 Math for Elementary Teachers I or
  • MAT-156 Statistics or
  • MAT-504 Electronics Math I or
  • MAT-741 Technical Mathematics I
30–44 MAT-102 Intermediate Algebra
  • MAT-121 College Algebra
30–44 MAT-110 Math for Liberal Arts  
30–44 MAT-112 Math for Elementary Teachers I
  • MAT-118 Math for Elementary Teachers II
30–44 MAT-156 Statistics  
30–44 MAT-504 Electronics Math I
  • MAT-514 Electronics Math II
30–44 MAT-741 Technical Math I
  • MAT-748 Technical Math II
45–60 MAT-121 College Algebra
  • MAT-128 Precalculus or
  • MAT-134 Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry
61–75 MAT-128 Precalculus
  • MAT-210 Calculus I
61–75 MAT-134 Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry
  • MAT-210 Calculus I
76–100 MAT-210 Calculus
  • MAT-216 Calculus II

You can look at your program’s courses page or degree audit to find out which math course is required.

It's a good idea to meet with your academic advisor. They can review your score with you and recommend the best math course based on your results and your program’s requirements.

Keep in mind, you’ll need to meet the minimum placement score to enroll in a specific math class. The math department will verify your score before your course begins.

Yes! If you didn’t place into the course you were aiming for, you can use the Prep and Learning Module to review and refresh what you’ve forgotten. Then, retake the Placement Assessment to try for a higher score.

Make the most of the personalized review and learning tools in the Prep and Learning Module. Spending time in the module can help you feel more confident and earn a better grade in your math class.

Prep and Learning Module

The Prep and Learning Module is a personalized study plan tailored to your performance on your initial Placement Assessment. ALEKS identifies what you already know and what you’re ready to learn next.

This module is great for refreshing forgotten material to improve your score on a retake or to help you perform better in your class if you’ve already placed where you wanted.

You’ll have 12 months of access to your Prep and Learning Module, but it won’t start until you click “Start” at the top of your screen. Be sure you’re ready to dive in before selecting it!

View your Prep and Learning Modules

As you work in a Prep and Learning Module, you’ll occasionally take a Knowledge Check to see if you’ve mastered the topics you’ve been practicing. If the Knowledge Check shows you haven’t fully mastered a topic yet, it will be added back into your Learning Pie for more review.

No, progress in an ALEKS Prep and Learning Module doesn’t count toward your course placement. To improve your placement score, you’ll need to complete a new Placement Assessment.

To begin a new Placement Assessment, click the Placement tab in the top-right corner of the ALEKS page.

No, you can only use one Prep and Learning Module, and it can’t be changed once you’ve selected it.

If you’re unsure which module to choose, go with the one ALEKS recommends or ask your academic advisor for guidance.

Want some extra guidance while working in the module?

Stop by the Student Tutoring and Computer Lab in Bremer Hall, where an ALEKS math tutor can assist you.