Aleks
Placement, Preparation & Learning
Snow College uses ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics courses. ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map a student’s strengths and weaknesses. ALEKS begins with an initial assessment, which must be taken proctored –meaning a person who monitors students during an examination. (All proctors must be Snow College approved.)
The Placement Assessment is up to 30 questions and students are given a maximum of 3 hours to complete the exam. It is not necessary to review/study before students take their first ALEKS Placement Exam. There is no practice test available. After the initial placement assessment, students will receive a placement score and access to an individualized Prep and Learning Module for students to refresh their knowledge on forgotten topics. Students then have the opportunity to reassess and improve their placement if desired.
Each ALEKS account comes with a total of 5 attempts at the proctored placement exam. Snow College encourages each student to spend time in the Prep and Learning Module, even if the desired score is achieved, because time spent in ALEKS will ultimately lead to better preparation and improved grades.
Semester Testing Deadlines:
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Summer 2022: The last day to take the ALEKS Exam for Summer 2022 Semester is Friday, May 13th, 2022.
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Fall 2022: The last day to take the ALEKS Exam for Fall 2022 Semester is Friday, September 2, 2022. (Note: After September 2nd, there will be no ALEKs testing allowed. We will begin testing for future semesters on October 3rd, 2022)
- Spring 2023: The last day to take the ALEKS Exam for Spring 2023 Semester is Friday, January 13th, 2023. (Note: After January 13th, there will be no ALEKs testing allowed. We will begin testing for future semesters on February 1st, 2023)
Aleks Placement Score Table:
Representatives from the Department of Mathematics consulted with ALEKS representatives to establish cut scores for Snow College courses. These scores are consistent with those used by similar institutions teaching similar courses and have been vetted by millions of students using ALEKS PPL for placement. Student's ALEKS placement result (overall score) is a number between 0 and 100. It represents the percentage of topics ALEKS has identified the student has mastered.
Course placement is determined as follows:
| Snow College Courses You Will Be Authorized to Register For | Minimum ALEKS Test Score | Minimum ACT Score |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 0700 Pre Algebra | 0 | 0 |
| MATH 0800 Beginning Algebra or MATH 0850 Math Literacy | 14 | 15 |
| MATH 1010 Intermediate Algebra | 30 | 18 |
| MATH 1030 Quantitative Literacy | 30 | 21 |
| MATH 1040 Intro to Statistics | 30 | 22 |
| MATH 1045 Intro to Statistics (Extended) | 25 | 21 |
| MATH 1050 College Algebra | 46 | 23 |
| MATH 1060 Trigonometry | 50 | 23 |
| MATH 1080 Pre Calculus | 52 | 25 |
| MATH 1120 Intro to Data Science | 30 | 22 |
| MATH 2010 Math for Elementary Education I or MATH 2020 Math for Elementary Education II | 55 | 24 |
| MATH 1100 Applied Calculus or MATH 2040 Applied Statistics | 61 | 25 |
| MATH 1210 Calculus I | 76 | 26 |
Scores from each ALEKS PPL assessment attempt are uploaded into Badger Web within 24 business hours to allow registration into Mathematics courses. Each student’s highest official score (a score from a proctored assessment) will be used for placement.
For more information on the ALEKS PPL Exam and how to take the exam, please select the orange menu button at the top of the page.