ALEKS Assessment Tool
Students attending Purdue University for the first time for the Fall 2012 semester will complete the ALEKS Math Assessment free of charge before attending STAR or registering for classes.
This assessment will provide you and your advisor with information on your mathematical strengths and weaknesses. At STAR, your advisor will use your ALEKS percentage to help place you in the Math course that gives you the best chance to be successful. In addition, you will be given the opportunity to enroll in a self-guided ALEKS Learning Modules, free of charge, to strengthen your Math skills before the start of the fall semester.
What is ALEKS?
Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to determine what you know and do not know in a course.
You may view this video for a quick tour of ALEKS: 2-Minute Video
Are there other special features in ALEKS?
Many topics are available in both English and Spanish. Simply click next to "English" in the main menu and pull down to "Española."
ALEKS uses no "multiple choice" questions. All questions are algorithmically generated and require a "free response."
Who takes ALEKS?
All incoming freshman and transfer students are to have an ALEKS assessment percentage before registering for classes, regardless of their major, previous math credit, or advanced credits earned. This assessment will not erase credits or grant them. These students will gain access to ALEKS from their New Student Tab in myPurdue
Also, continuing students may need to take ALEKS in order to meet a desired course pre-requisite. These students can go directly to www.aleks.com/purdue to log into ALEKS.
What should I study before taking ALEKS?
You do not have to study anything before taking the first assessment. If you are not happy with the results, you can take a second assessment, or enter the free learning module and brush up on some topics before taking another assessment. Your highest ALEKS percentage will be used for placement. You can retake the assessment up to five times.
How does ALEKS work?
When you first log into ALEKS, a brief tutorial shows how to use these ALEKS answer input tools. You then begin the ALEKS Assessment.
In about 90 minutes (however, set aside 2 hours) ALEKS assesses your current Math knowledge by asking a series of free response questions. ALEKS chooses each question on the basis of your answers to the previous questions.
By the time you have completed the assessment, ALEKS has developed a picture of your Math knowledge, knowing which topics you have mastered and which topics you have not mastered adequately. Your knowledge is represented visually by a multicolored pie chart.
What are the costs?
There is no cost to take the assessment. If you are not satisfied with your assessment results, or you wish to brush up your Math skills, you can enroll in the self-guided ALEKS Learning Modules, free of charge, and continue to work in ALEKS. After successfully mastering 20 items or spending 10 hours in the Learning Module, you will automatically be given a new assessment. You can continue this process until you are satisfied with your percentage or feel confident in your skills. WARNING: You are only allowed 5 retakes after your initial assessment. Please do not use them all up this summer, as you might want to use one or two this fall to test into a calculus course or to test out of MA 15300 in a proctored setting on campus during BGR.
How do I get started in ALEKS?
New students can take their ALEKS assessment starting on June 1st.
- To find the link to ALEKS log into myPurdue and go to the "New Student Task List."
- Use your Purdue Career Account to log into the ALEKS system. This is similar to when you log into myPurdue.
Each time you return to ALEKS, you will authenticate through the link in your myPurdue New Student Task List.
Set aside at least 2 hours to complete the ALEKS assessment. If you stop the assessment for any reason, you can complete the assessment at a later date.
When should I complete the ALEKS Assessment?
You must have the assessment completed before arriving for STAR. Your advisor needs this information to place you into the appropriate Math course. Plan to have the assessment completed 48 hours before your STAR date.
How do I interpret my ALEKS results?
Upon completion of your ALEKS assessment, you will see a summery page like the one pictured below.
Students compare their “Assessment performance goal” (circled above) to the chart below to see which course they qualify to register.
Purdue University Math Fall 2012 Placement | ||
Course | Description | Required ALEKS Percentage |
|---|---|---|
MA 13700 |
Mathematics For Elementary Teachers I |
30% |
MA 15300 |
Algebra And Trigonometry I |
30% |
MA 15400 |
Algebra And Trigonometry II |
NA |
MA 15800 |
Pre-Calculus |
50% |
MA 16100 |
Plane Analytic Geometry And Calculus I |
75% |
MA 22000 |
Introduction To Calculus |
50% |
MA 22100 |
Calculus For Technology I |
65% |
MA 22300 |
Introductory Analysis I |
65% |
MA 23100 |
Calculus For The Life Sciences I |
70% |
How do I get technical support for ALEKS?
For ALEKS customer support please phone or email:
- Phone Support Hours: Monday - Friday, 7 am - 11 pm (Eastern Time)
Phone: (714) 619-7090 - Email: Start at http://support.aleks.com
- Website: http://www.aleks.com/faqs/technical