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Math Placement Assessment

Mathematics Placement Assessment

All students are required to complete a course in math to meet Illinois State University general education requirements or the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum. 

The university requires that all students take the online ALEKS Math placement assessment to determine their initial placement in a math class, unless they have earned an appropriate mathematics credit by way of:

  • transfer or dual credit from a community college or university,
  • CLEP credit in math,
  • Proficiency exams are offered in many 100 level math courses,
  • AP credit in a prerequisite mathematics class or a general education math course, or
  • a transitional math course completed in high school as part of The Postsecondary Workforce Readiness Act. Successful completion of a high school STEM or Quantitative Literacy/Statistics transitional math allows students to place directly into MAT 113 or MAT 130 within 18 months of completing the transitional math course. Students wishing to take a higher level of math at ISU should take the ALEKS assessment. The Technical transitional math course will not be used for placement purposes. Transitional math courses will not count as course equivalents and will not generate academic credit at ISU. 

What is ALEKS

ALEKS is an online assessment that ensures students are placed in an appropriate math course. The assessment shouldn't be stressful or worrisome, it is simply gauging what course level you should take to be successful. After taking the assessment, university advisors will guide you to a math course that best fits you.

Academic Integrity

We want you to succeed, so make sure to take this assessment without any prohibited items (refer to the prohibited items list below). In addition, receiving assistance from others while taking the assessment is not allowed and could result in:

  • enrollment in a class that is too difficult - costing time and money by having to retake courses,
  • retaking the ALEKS assessment, and/or
  • delay in graduation.

Please be aware of policies regarding ALEKS scores, including the right to invalidate a particular score. In addition, academic dishonesty is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. 

  • Cost
  • Accommodations
  • International Students
  • What to expect while taking the assessment
  • How long will the test take?
  • Policy
  • Proctoring
  • Additional Attempts
ALEKS cost
Students Cost
New incoming freshmen No additional cost for first year.
New transfers $15
Continuing $15

Provides access to the ALEKS assessment for one year. If, after one year, you need to take the assessment again, you will be required to pay the $15 fee for an additional year of access.

If you require assistance or need to arrange a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability and/or medical/mental health condition, please contact Testing Services: (309) 438-2100 or TestingServices@IllinoisState.edu

Contact International Studies for support.

ALEKS en Español

Después de crear un perfil, seleccione el botón Español para usar ALEKS en Español.

The assessment is online and open-response.

Each section begins with a brief tutorial that explains how to enter your answers, how to use the ALEKS calculator, and how to graph. You'll work out solutions using pencil and paper. Then submit your answer through the assessment. Once submitted, you cannot change your answers.

The Help button offers further assistance and does not impact your results.

ALEKS covers a broad spectrum of mathematics topics. The assessment consists of three sections:

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

Do your best to answer all questions. Most questions will relate to topics you learned in high school. You will also encounter topics you haven't learned. For these, you may answer with 'I don't know.' There is no penalty for an incorrect answer.

The way you answer helps ALEKS understand what you know and don't know, and ultimately gets you placed in an appropriate math class based on your knowledge.

Each assessment session is open for 48 hours. If you do not finish your assessment in that time, your session will expire.

A student usually takes about 60-90 minutes for up to 25 questions.

We reserve the right to invalidate the score and require a student to take the ALEKS assessment with a live proctor in Testing Services when one or more of these indicators arise:

  • Excessive amount of time for taking the exam unless there are appropriate accommodations
  • Significant jump in score from one attempt to the next
  • Assistance from other people
  • Using websites, textbooks, or personal calculator (ALEKS provides an on-screen calculator)

The assessment is currently unproctored, but this may change at any time. Please check with TestingServices@IllinoisState.edu if you have questions.

You can take the assessment up to five times. You will have to wait 48 hours and complete a certain amount of hours in the Prep and Learning Module before any additional attempts.

Allowed Items

  • Pencil or pen
  • Paper
  • Resources within ALEKS

Prohibited Items

  • Assistance from other people
  • Websites
  • Textbooks
  • Personal calculator (ALEKS provides an on-screen calculator)
  • Notes

Support

Take ALEKS Assessment

2023-03-08T06:02:06.464684-08:00 2023