Math Placement

Math Placement | ALEKS PPL (Preparation, Placement, and Learning)

Current mathematics ACT/SAT scores, Math Placement Exam scores, and Advanced Placement (AP) calculus and statistics scores are used for placement in 1000-level and 2000-level mathematics and statistics courses. A current score is defined as a score from an exam taken within the Math Prerequisite Acceptability Time Limit (MPATL).

Students may satisfy the Math Acceptability Prerequisite Time Limit in several ways:

A valid math ACT exam score taken within the past 12 months.
A valid math SAT exam score taken within the past 12 months.
Pass a concurrent enrollment course in Math 1050 or Math 1060 within the past 12 months. This only applies to those courses that use Math 1050 and/or Math 1060 as a prerequisite.
A valid Math Placement Exam PPL score taken within the past 12 months for incoming students or a valid Math Placement Exam PPL score taken within the past three successive semesters (including summer semester) for students already enrolled at USU.
A passing grade in the appropriate prerequisite course or courses within the past three semesters including summer semester.

Prerequisites for the math classes listed below must be completed on or after (not before) the following dates, in order to fall within the MPATL for the listed semester: fall semester—August 15 of the previous year; spring semester—January 1 of the previous year; summer semester—May 1 of the previous year.

Students who are registering for a math class at USU for the first time who have a math ACT score of less than 23 or a math SAT score of less than 540 are required to take the ALEKS Math Placement Exam PPL administered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. A student’s score on the Math Placement Exam will be used to determine his or her placement in appropriate mathematics or statistics course.

Regardless of any previous record, students with an ACT mathematics score of less than 23 are required to take the Math Placement Test administered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. In addition, students who do not meet the prerequisite acceptability time limit requirement must take the Math Placement Test.

ALEKS begins with an initial assessment, which must be taken proctored–meaning a person who monitors students during an examination. All proctors must be USU approved.

It is not necessary to review/study before students take their first ALEKS Placement Exam. There is no practice test available. After they have taken the exam, students will receive a placement score that will allow them to register for mathematics and statistics courses.

After the initial ALEKS exam, study materials will be provided for the student based on topics they were not proficient in. These materials are tailored to each student and the course the student wishes to take. The ALEKS Modules are the best way to study to take the ALEKS exam again.

Each ALEKS account comes with 5 attempts of 30 questions each. Attempts have a maximum duration of 3 hours, but usually take students about 90 minutes to complete.

After they have taken their first exam, students can access their learning modules.

Students may choose to enroll in a one-week math refresher course offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. There is a fee for this course, but no credit awarded. Refresher courses will be offered at the beginning of fall and spring semester, during the week before the semester begins (based on when the semester begins). For questions, contact the department’s advising office: https://www.usu.edu/math/undergraduate/advising-office