Math Placement Assessment

A math placement assessment is required for entering undergraduate students prior to registering for their first Math course. 黑洞社区 uses the ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) assessment to determine entering students’ readiness for college-level mathematics and uses the assessment to place students in math courses appropriate for their skill level.

The ALEKS PPL assessment is free (no additional fee).
The ALEKS PPL assessment is web-based and proctored by Respondus Monitor, which is a fully-automated proctoring solution. Learn more about Respondus Monitor.
The ALEKS PPL assessment is up to 30 questions and is not timed; however, it generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete.
Students may retake the assessment up to four times. Students who take the ALEKS assessment have the opportunity to do a learning module to improve skills they might have forgotten, then retake the assessment. Taking advantage of learning modules could possibly place you in a higher math course, saving you from unnecessary math courses and tuition payments. Students must wait at least 24 hours between assessments.
See also: Placement Assessment Exemptions

What is the ALEKS Math Assessment?

ALEKS PPL is an online, adaptive system that covers a broad spectrum of mathematic topics. It is open-response and requires students to work out solutions with paper and pencil, then enter them into ALEKS.

The ALEKS PPL consists of three parts:

An Initial Placement Assessment
The Prep and Learning Module, an individualized, self-paced online review
Access to four additional Placement Assessments

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).

Preparing for the ALEKS Math Assessment

ALEKS begins with a brief tutorial to help you feel comfortable with the math palette tools before the Placement Assessment begins. The tutorial shows how to enter different types of answers, how to use the ALEKS calculator, and how to graph.

If you're not sure how to input an answer, or need help while taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment, there is a Help button below the answer palette tools. Going to the tutorial during the Placement Assessment will NOT impact Placement Assessment results.

ALEKS is adaptive. Once an answer is submitted, it cannot be changed. You should carefully check your answers before submitting responses.

Taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment

Follow these instructions to start the ALEKS PPL Assessment:

Login to My黑洞社区, using your Student Login Account
Find My Academic Program
Select Begin a Math Assessment to start ALEKS PPL.
- Please click on Math Assessment 2024-2025.
- If you are asked for a code, "Add Class" and enter code DTVHF-3XCLK

Sessions will be recorded during the online assessment and reviewed afterward for integrity.

Understanding Placement Results

The placement result (overall score) is a number between 0 and 100. It represents the percentage of topics ALEKS has identified the student mastered. You will see your score immediately after completion of the Placement Assessment. Your score is automatically added to your student profile.

Score ranges representing topics as they are identified by ALEKS.
ALEKS Score Range	Course # and Name
0-13	MAT 095 - Mathematics Review
14-38	MAT 110 - Math Essentials
39-100	MAT 201 - Mathematics for Teachers I MAT 205 - Introductory Survey of Mathematics

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