Understand Your Score
Your ALEKS placement result (overall score) is a number between 0 and 100. It represents the percentage of topics ALEKS has identified you have mastered.
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.
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 |
| GE MATH WAIVER | 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.
Your placement result is valid for up to 1 year from the date of assessment.
No, you must achieve the minimum placement result to take each corresponding class. You will not be permitted to take a math course that is above your readiness level (even if you are only one point away). If you want to place into a higher-level course, you may use ALEKS PPL learning modules to improve your skills and retake the assessment. An individualized study plan will be created based on your performance on the Initial Placement Assessment. ALEKS will identify what you know and what you are ready to learn next so you can brush up on lost knowledge.
| Course for Focus of Intended Course of Study | Likely Course |
|---|---|
| Majors that focus on the Humanities (e.g., art, theater, English, writing, journalism, music, etc.) | Math 1030 |
| Majors that focus on Social Sciences and some medical fields | Math 1040 |
| Majors that focus on the sciences (STEM) | Math 1050 followed by or concurrent with Math 1060 (7 credits) |
| Secondary Education w/Math or Science emphasis | Math 1050 followed by or concurrent with Math 1060 (7 credits total) |
| Business | Math 1050 followed by Math 1100 and Math 2040 in either order |
| Elementary Education | Math 1050 followed by Math 2010 and Math 2020 in either order |
| Majors that focus on the sciences (STEM), Secondary Education w/Math or Science emphasis | Math 1080 (combines 1050 and 1060 in one semester and 5 credits) |
•The Math 1050/1060 sequence or Math 1080 will prepare you for the regular calculus series
Congratulations! Continue to use your Prep and Learning Module to improve your chances for success. The placement result required is the minimum preparation for your course. Take advantage of the individualized review and learning features in ALEKS to get a better grade in your class.
es, you may take up to a total of 5 Placement Assessments. However, to make each attempt worthwhile, it is important that you spend time working in your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between Placement Assessments so that you can improve your skills.
You must wait 24 hours between Placement Assessments and spend at least 3 hours working in the Prep and Learning Modules. There is generally no benefit to re-taking the Placement Assessment immediately after completing a prior attempt. You cannot improve your results by simply re-taking the Placement Assessment without spending time in the Prep and Learning Module to refresh material that you may have forgotten.
Improve Your Score
If you want to place into a higher-level course, you may use ALEKS PPL learning modules to improve your skills and retake the assessment. An individualized study plan will be created based on your performance on the Initial Placement Assessment. ALEKS will identify what you know and what you are ready to learn next so you can brush up on lost knowledge.
You will have access to your Prep and Learning module for one year from your first placement exam.
Access to a Prep and Learning Module is included along with the additional Placement Assessments.
You can retake the Placement assessment up to four additional times to improve your score. (The highest score will be used for math placement). Students are required to wait 24 hours between assessments and work in the Prep and Learning Modules for a minimum of 3 hours before taking your next assessment. Students who spend at least 15 hours in a learning module show the most improvement in their scores.
No. You must complete a new Placement Assessment to change your placement result. Select the placement tab in the upper right corner of the ALEKS page to start a new Placement Assessment.
To begin a learning module, log on to BadgerWeb and follow the ALEKS PPL Assessment link to return to the ALEKS PPL assessment. Click the Start button in the Improve your knowledge in a Prep and Learning Module box to begin or return to a learning module.
While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete a Knowledge Check to make sure you have mastered the topics you gained in Learning Mode. If you do not show mastery during the Knowledge Check, the topics will be added back into your Learning Pie so you can review them again.
Your score is used to help you start in the course where you have the best chance to succeed. Students who are not successful in their first math course are highly unlikely to persist in engineering and science majors. If you need calculus, starting where you place is the best path to success.
It is always in your best interest to improve your math skills, so you are encouraged
to use the learning modules regardless of your score. If you need to consult with
an adviser about your decision, email
.
New first-year students should work with an academic adviser to identify appropriate math courses at New Student Orientation. Questions about course selection will be addressed then.
Transfer students and continuing students should contact their adviser with questions.