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ALEKS Math Placement Test

IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING ALEKS PLACEMENT TESTING - In-person placement testing in the Harper College Testing Center (Buidling A, room A148) is REQUIRED for placement into MTH 140, 200, 124, 134, 220 and 225. The highest placement that can be earned by testing at-home with Honorlock is placement into MTH 101, 103, 130 and 165. 

 

ALEKS Math Assessment Overview

• Web-based and untimed
• Uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately zero in on your strengths and any weaknesses in math
• Covers material to place you into the right course from Basic Math to Calculus  
• Contains approximately 30 questions
• Takes approximately 60 minutes to complete
• Provides a "Prep and Learning Module" after your first preview assessment to help you improve your placement and/or your eventual course grades in math.

 

Taking the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment 

A few steps will need to be completed before you can take an ALEKS Assessment attempt in the Testing Center that counts for course placement.

1. Connect to your ALEKS account. This can be done logging in to your MyHarper Portal. The "ALEKS Placement Test" link is found under the "Testing Center Actions" card. 
2. Take a brief ALEKS Preview assessment on your own (at home or anywhere else that has internet connectivity). The scores on this Preview Assessment will not count for placement. Therefore, it's very important you give your best, honest effort so that you can truly evaluate your current math skills. The results of the Preview attempt inform the Prep & Learning modules, so it's very important to give your best effort to make sure the study modules aren't too basic, nor too advanced for your current skills. As of April 18, 2018, the use of an external calculator (non-CAS models such as the TI-83+ or TI-84+) is allowed on both the Preview attempt and proctored attempts. All other resources such as websites, books, or consulting others etc., are not allowed at the Testing Center so you should not use them  on your Preview Assessment. 
   • Step-by-step PDF instructions for how to access your ALEKS Preview
3. Take a  proctored ALEKS Assessment. If your goal is to place into MTH 140, 200, 124, 134, 220 or 225 then you'll need to test in-person in the Testing Center (Building A, room A148) with an appointment. If your goal is to place into MTH101, 103, 130, or 165, then you can either test in-person in the Testing Center with an appointment or you can test "at home"/at a distance by using the online proctoring service, Honorlock. Before taking the assessment in the Testing Center, you are strongly encouraged to take some time and study within your personalized ALEKS Prep & Learning modules. These Prep & Learning modules identify math topics that you could improve upon. Spending time studying now in the pursuit of proper math course placement could potentially save you time (and tuition dollars) later on. 
   • Step-by-step PDF instructions for how to launch your ALEKS test with Honorlock

 

Retesting & Accessing Prep and Learning Module

Utilizing the ALEKS "Prep and Learning Module" is critical to improving your ALEKS assessment score and course placement.  It is also necessary in order to retaking a proctored ALEKS attempt. Information within the modules has been personalized to your strengths and weaknesses so you can improve upon specific topics found on the ALEKS assessment. Once you've logged into ALEKS:

1.  Find the section entitled "Improve Your Knowledge in a Prep and Learning Module" and click the "Start" button located within that section.
2. Select the subject area in your "Prep and Learning Pie" that you would like to work on.
3. Once you engage with the ALEKS "Prep and Learning" modules, you will have access to your ALEKS account opportunities for 12 months. 
4. In order to access additional retest attempts, students are required to engage with the “Prep & Learning” module for a certain amount of time. Please note that once the student takes their initial ALEKS Preview Assessment, a 12 month window of access to the modules begins. After 12 months, access to the “Prep & Learning” review module will expire and in turn the opportunity to take assessments will expire as well. 
   • 1^st Proctored Attempt – no required  Prep & Learning beforehand (but strongly encouraged)
   • 2^nd Proctored Attempt – at least 3 required Prep & Learning hours beforehand
   • 3^rd Proctored Attempt – at least 5 additional Prep & Learning hours required beforehand. 
   • 4^th Proctored Attempt – at least 8 additional Prep & Learning hours required beforehand

 

Interpreting Your ALEKS Score

Below is a chart where you can view what course(s) you have placed into based on your ALEKS assessment score. PLEASE NOTE - Placement into MTH 124, 140, 134, 200, 220, and 225 requires in-person placement. Test attempts completed at home using Honorlock cannot be used for placement into these courses. 

Score	Pathway	Course(s) Placement
76-100	College Math	MTH200**
61-100	College Math	MTH124, 140, 134, 220 & 225**
46-100	College Math	MTH103 & 130
46-100	College Math	MTH101 & 165
35-45	College Math with Support  (only for students needing calculus)	MTH103 + MTH083 co-req*
30-45	College Math with Support	MTH101 + MTH081 co-req & MTH165 + MTH085 co-req
0-29	College Math with Extra Support	MTH101+MTH041 (requires placement into ENG096 or higher)
14-29	Prep for College Math	MTH065 & MGT150
0-13	Math Reboot	MTH065 + FYS101 Math Reboot

*MTH103 + MTH083 co-req combination also requires Geometry which can be met by receiving a Geometry waiver (options to obtain waiver can be found HERE) or by obtaining a "C" or better in the MTH070 course. 

** These courses require in-person placement completed in the Harper College Testing Center (Building A, room A148). Test attempts completed with Honorlock are not eligible for placement into these courses. 

Frequently Asked Questions