ALEKS Assessment Tool
Students attending Purdue University for the first time 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's On This Page
What is ALEKS | ALEKS special features | Who Takes ALEKS | Should I Study before taking ALEKS | How does ALEKS work | Costs | Learning Modules | Getting Started | When should I complete ALEKS | Interpreting ALEKS results | Support
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. WARNING: You are only allowed 5 retakes after your initial assessment.
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 or to work in the Learning Modules.
Learning Modules
(Prep. for Calculus or Prep. for Pre-Calculus)
After taking your first assessment, you can enroll in the self-guided ALEKS Learning Modules, free of charge. Choose the prep. product that matches the course you are attempting enroll in, either Calculus or Pre-Calculus. Be careful, as you cannot change to the other product after making your selection. As you progress in your chosen product, you will see a percentage that represents a prediction as to where you stand. However, this is not a recorded assessment score. After you have worked in the prep. product, take another assessment to officially record a new score. WARNING: This is only a 6-week module from the time you enter. Please wait until you have time to work in the module before entering it for the first time. This 6-week program cannot be extended.
How do I get started in ALEKS?
New students
Students beginning at Purdue in the:
- Fall may start their ALEKS assessment on or after June 1.
- Spring may start their ALEKS assessment on or after November 15.
- Summer may start their ALEKS assessment on or after April 15.
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.
Continuing Students
Continuing Purdue students who need to take an ALEKS assessement to place into a mathematics course should use the continuing students page to access the assessement.
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, with your desired score, prior to registering for classes. Your advisor needs this information to place you into the appropriate Math course. Plan to have the assessment completed 48 hours before you need to register for classes.
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 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
Further Questions
Any non-technical questions not addressed by this site can be addressed to Tim Delworth via e-mail to delworth@math.purdue.edu.