FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
1. If I have a question about placement, should I call or should my parents call?
Most questions are addresses in these web pages. If there is a question, the student should call.
2. I am a transfer student who has already taken math courses. Do I need to take the test?
Yes. Transfer students need to take the math placement exam and build a math profile.
3. Do I have to take this placement assessment?
All students are required to take the math placement test. This includes all students with an AP calculus score of 5 or students who are transferring math courses. This test provides valuable information about your math skills for placement purposes, to build your math profile, and for faculty planning. It also provides an opportunity to review math skills.
4. What is the ALEKS program?
The placement program is administered by ALEKS, Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces. This is a web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. See the computer requirements. Please contact ALEKS technical support for any technical or computer based questions. This program will provide all exam attempts and access to remediation program (called Prep and Learning Module). Once you have all the computer requirements, make sure you have a "solid" web connection and a computer. Do NOT take on an iPad, phone, or tablet or use a browser that is not on the recommended list - math notation may not appear correctly or your score might be compromised.
5. When does this have to be completed (i.e. what is the deadline)?
The due dates reflect the last day to complete the math placement process so
registration in a math course is “guaranteed”. Please be advised that if you do
not complete the placement process (including remediation and all attempts) by
that date, you may not be able to enroll in your desired math course.
6. What if I don't finish by the deadline?
You could seriously compromise your ability to register for your courses. In particular, you will not be able to enroll in the desired math course for your program. This could seriously impact registration in several other courses, some of which are closely tied to your progres towards completion of your degree. In addition, many math courses "close," meaning there are no seats left in the course. Therefore, you may find you cannot enroll in the course and section you desire.
7. I have taken the math placement test once. Why won't the program let me take another attempt?
There are two mandatory requirements to take a second or third math placement test. You must wait 48 hours between each assessment and you must spend five hours in the Prep and Learning module to access the second attempt and ten hours in the Prep and Learning module to access the third attempt. When you have satisfied these requirements, the program automatically allows access to a second or third attempt. These requirements ensure students review math skills prior to taking another attempt.
8. What is my placement goal?
Your placement goal is determined by your major. You cannot register for a particular math course unless you attain the appropriate placement threshold. Even after attaining this threshold, you should strive for as high a score as possible since this more accurately reflects your math profile.
9. I am not taking any math courses. Should I still take the placement assessments?
Many students change majors and then regret not completing this process. You may even have to pay a fee to re-access this program. Every student is strongly urged to complete this process prior to NSO. If you do not complete this process to the best of your ability, you may end up having to enroll in a remedial, non-college credit math course if you change your major.
10. Why do I have to do this program, can't I just take my math course without it?
High school course curriculums are not standardized making it difficult to determine what math skills have been learned. Additionally, many students (unfortunately) do not take an algebra-based math course in their senior year in high school. Therefore, the Math Placement Program provides you and your adviser with information about your current math skills.
11. How much does this cost?
There is no cost when you access the ALEKS Math Placement Program when you are an incoming student. If you are not an incoming student, your cost depends on your student status. If you wish to modify your placement and you are an upperclassmen, you may have to pay a fee of $25. (Incoming students should note that you can avoid this fee if you complete the placement process during your NSO program.) If you are a non-traditional or continuing education student, you will have to pay this fee.
12. How can I make sure the results are accurate?
Work by yourself and answer the questions carefully. Take it seriously. Do not use a calculator or any other resource such as other math web site, friends, etc.
Not following these instructions could result in enrolling in a course that is too difficult or too easy. Then, you may have to withdraw from the course, re-take the math placement test, and spend money to enroll in additional math courses.
13. What placement score do I need to enroll in a particular math course?
See the table at the end of this list of questions.
14. Should I take multiple attempts even if I meet my placement goal?
YES. It is highly recommended that you use at least two attempts and spend time reviewing your math skills. Take all three attempts if needed. You must wait 48 hours between each assessment and you must spend five hours in the Prep and Learning module to access the second attempt and ten hours in the Prep and Learning module to access the third attempt.
Do the best you can so your math profile accurately reflects your knowledge. Keep in mind that if you change your major (many students do), you may need to take a different math course and will be glad you spent the time trying your best. Make sure to do this prior to the due date.
15. Should I review even if I have met my placement goal?
YES. Take advantage of this opportunity to review important math skills! You have six months of access to this program and an opportunity to review important math skills prior to beginning your math course.
16. What if I do not place into the course I wanted?
If, after the THREE assessments, you do not attain your placement goal, you should discuss your course options with your adviser. If you have not completed the three assessments, make sure you do so. Make every effort to attain your placement goal. Access to this placement process is only for one year.
17. I did not place into the class I wanted. Can I take it anyway?
No, you must achieve the minimum placement level to take each corresponding course.
18. Why am I placing into a course that I already took in high school?
Unforunately, math courses are not standardized so a course taken in high school may not cover the same topics or have the same level of expectation as a course with a similar title in college.
19. What if I placed into the class I wanted and attained my Math Placement goal?
Congratulations! Continue to use your Prep and Learning Module to improve your mathematics skills and understandings. Take advantage of the targeted review and learning features in ALEKS so you are better prepared for your math course.
20. How valid is this assessment?
The ALEKS program has been used extensively with placement on college campuses. Their research indicates students perform best when they have been placed correctly. Our analysis also indicate ALEKS is accurately placing students in our math program.
21. Where can I get help with ALEKS?
ALEKS technical support can be found here.
22. Can I practice using ALEKS before I begin placement?
ALEKS will begin with a brief tutorial before your placement begins.
23. What is a “Prep and Learning Module" (remediation program) and which program should I choose?
Once you have taken a placement assessment and want to take another, you will need to access a "Prep and Learning Module" to review your skills prior to taking your second (or third) placement assessments. You are required to spend five hours in the review program before taking the second assessment and ten hours are required to access the third assessment.
If you are thinking about taking Calculus, you should choose the “Prep and Learning Module for Calculus".
If you are taking Precalculus, choose the “Prep and Learning Module for Precalculus".
Please choose carefully since you CANNOT change your review module.
Once you are in the module, do not focus on the “lower level" skills. You will progress faster if you choose review topics that are of a higher level. For instance, work on mastering the problems involving rational functions and exponential and logs and the trigonometry topics. Just working through “elementary" math topics may not necessarily result in a different placement score.
24. How long do I have access to the ALEKS placement process?
Your math placement account will be active for one year from the time you set up your account.
25. Is there an additional fee for my Prep and Learning Module?
Access to a Prep and Learning Module is included along with placement assessments.
26. What are ALEKS Progress Assessments?
While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete progress assessments to solidify your gains in knowledge. These assessments do not directly impact your placement score.
27. Does progress in an ALEKS Prep and Learning Module count toward placement?
No, you must complete a new placement assessment to change your placement result. Click on the placement tab on the upper right of the page from within ALEKS. Only your placement assessment results will be used for course placement.
28. How do I access the ALEKS math placement program?
All students should access the ALEKS placement program by going here .
29. Who do I contact if I am allowed exam accommodation due to a disability?
Please contact Disability Support Services dssoffice@udel.edu if you need a reasonable exam accommodation. Disability Support Services (DSS) provides services to individuals with disabilities to ensure accessibility to university classes and programs.
