U of I Math Placement through ALEKS

The University of Illinois requires the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS to assess a student's prerequisite knowledge for course placement. ALEKS is a powerful artificial-intelligence based assessment tool that zeros in on the strengths and weaknesses of a student's mathematical knowledge, reports its findings to the student, and then if necessary provides the student with a learning environment for bringing this knowledge up to an appropriate level for course placement.

• All incoming first-year students must complete the ALEKS placement exam between April 15, 2008 and the 5th day of enrollment for the Fall 2008 Semester. One assessment during this period is available to all students free of charge.
  
  
• Those students enrolled in Math 115, 220, 221, or 234 are required to obtain a minimum ALEKS placement score by the 5th day of enrollment of at least :
  
  70% for Math 220 and 221
  50% for Math 115 and 234
  
  
• Failure to meet the minimum score for Math 115, 220, 221, and 234 will result in automatic placement in the prerequisite course.



• A student can take the ALEKS placement exam as often as they wish between April 15, 2008 and the 5th day of enrollment for the Fall 2008 semester in order to satisfy a minimum ALEKS placement. Only the initial placement exam is free.
  
  
• If you enroll in a math course and fail to take the ALEKS placement exam by the 5th day of enrolllment you will automatically be placed in Math 012 or Math 016.

Questions and Answers

Q: What is the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?

Q. Who is required to take the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?

Q: How do I access the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?

Q: Is the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS Free?

Q: How long are my U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS scores valid?

Q. What if I do not obtain the required minimum score for Math 115, 220, 221 or 234?

Q: Why would I purchase an additional single placement exam?

Q: Why would I purchase the "Assessment + Learning" Module of ALEKS?

Q: Are other Learning Modules available through ALEKS?

Q: How do I get technical support for ALEKS?

Q: What is the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?

A: The U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS covers a broad spectrum of pre-calculus material. The ALEKS system is fully automated and the ALEKS assessment is adaptive. The first questions asked will be drawn from across the curriculum, and may be too easy or too hard. As the assessment proceeds, your answers will be used to give the system an idea of your knowledge, and it will gradually focus the questioning in an individually appropriate way. By the end of the assessment you should find the questions generally challenging but reasonable for your individual level of knowledge. The length of the assessment runs from 20-35 questions. The exact number of questions will vary due to the adaptive mechanism just described. It is likely that you will be asked questions on material you have not yet learned. On such questions it is appropriate to answer, "I don't know." On any question that you have familiarity with, however, it is important to do your best. "I don't know" is interpreted by ALEKS to mean that you do not know the topic, and this will be reflected in the assessment results. If you do not do your best on the assessment, ALEKS will underestimate your knowledge.

Q. Who is required to take the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?

A. All incoming first-year students are required to take the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS.

All transfer and returning students enrolling in Math 115, 220, 221, or 234 are required to take the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS.

Q: How do I access the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?

A: All incoming first-year students must access the placement exam through IStart at www.istart.uiuc.edu (log into the IStart page, then click on the "Complete Placement Testing" option from the menu on the left and access ALEKS via the link provided on that page).

Returning students must access the placement exam at http://www.aleks.com/uiuc/math .

Q: Is the U of I Math Placement Exam Free?

A: The initial placement exam is offered free of charge. Be sure you are ready to take your placement exam prior to logging on as initiating the system, whether you complete the exam or not, counts as your one free placement exam.

Retakes of the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS can be purchased in two ways:

• a single placement exam for $3.50
• an "Assessment + Learning" module for $35.00

The Assessment + Learning Module contains an unlimited number of placement exam retakes as well as the learning module that allows you to build up your pre-calculus knowledge.

Q: How long are my U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS scores valid?

A. It is crucial that the scores are reflective of your current mathematical knowledge. Therefore the scores are valid for roughly 4 months prior to enrolling in a math course.

Q. What if I do not obtain the required minimum score for Math 115, 220, 221 or 234?

A. Those students enrolled in Math 115, 220, 221, or 234 are required to obtain a minimum ALEKS placement score by the 5th day of enrollment of at least 70% for Math 220 and 221 and 50% for Math 115 and 234. Failure to meet the minimum score for Math 115, 220, 221, and 234 will result in automatic placement in the prerequisite course.

Therefore if you do not reach the minimum score, you have two choices:

Choice 1. You may retake the ALEKS placement exam before the 5th day of enrollment in an attempt to improve your score.

Choice 2. You may enroll in the prerequisite course:

Math 115 and Math 234 have a prerequisite course of Math 012.
Math 220 and Math 221 have a prerequisite course of Math 115.

Q: Why would I purchase an additional single placement exam?

A: You might choose this option if your initial math placement exam score was close to the required minimum score.

Q: Why would I purchase the "Assessment + Learning" Module of ALEKS?

A: You might choose this option if you feel that your pre-calculus skills are weak and you would like to review that knowledge in an effective on-line learning environment, or you have taken the initial placement exam and did not reach the minimum ALEKS score for your course and want a learning module to assist in reaching the required minimum score.

Q: Are other Learning Modules available through ALEKS?

A: Yes, ALEKS offers 2 other Learning Modules you may purchase to self-remediate:

1. "Prep for Precalculus", if you want to self-prepare for Math 234 or Math 115.
2. "Prep for College Algebra", if you want to self-prepare for Math 012.

To purchase and enroll in either the "Prep for Precalculus" or "Prep for College Algebra" Learning Modules:

I: You will need to purchase a 20-character individual access code online for $35.00 by going to: www.aleks.com/uiuc

Below the line marked, "Prep Products" click on the button "Click here to purchase access," and follow the instructions on subsequent pages.

II: Go to the main ALEKS web page at: www.aleks.com

To enroll and start using the system, click on the link SIGN UP NOW! (upper left). Then, on the left hand side, enter one of the following Course Codes:

• "Prep for Precalculus" Course Code: 3L9VY-YKUTR
• "Prep for College Algebra" Course Code: GKDTA-C9V4K

You will need to have the Course Code as well as a 20-character individual access code in order to register.

Q: How do I get technical support for ALEKS?

A: For ALEKS customer support please phone or email:

Phone: (714) 245-7191 ext. 201
Email: support@aleks.com