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
Placement into Math Classes
ALEKS Placement, Preparation & Learning: https://www.usu.edu/mathprep/aleks-ppl
MATH 950 - Pre-algebra (4 credits)
ALEKS Math Placement Exam
MATH 995 - College Mathematics Preparation (4 credits)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
Math ACT score of 16 or higher
Math SAT score of 400 or higher
Grade of C- or better in MATH 950
Satisfactory score on the Math Placement Exam PPL
* There is a $125.00 course fee required for classroom instruction and administrative costs.
MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL) (4 credits)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
Math ACT score of 23 or higher
Math SAT score of at least 540 or higher
Grade of C- or better in MATH 995
AP Calculus AB exam score of 3 or higher
Satisfactory score on the Math Placement Exam PPL
MATH 1051 - Classical Algebra for Teachers (QL) (4 credits)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
Math ACT score of 23 or higher
Math SAT score of at least 540 or higher
Grade of C- or better in MATH 995
AP Calculus AB exam score of 3 or higher
Satisfactory score on the Math Placement Exam PPL
MATH 1060 - Trigonometry (2 credits)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
Math ACT score of 23 or higher
Math SAT score 540 or higher
Grade of C- or better in MATH 995 (or MATH 1050)
AP Calculus AB exam score of 3 or higher
Satisfactory score on the Math Placement Exam PPL
MATH 1100 - Calculus Techniques (QL) (3 credits)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
Math ACT score of 25 or higher
Math SAT score of 580 or higher
Grade of C- or better in MATH 1050
Satisfactory score on Math Placement Exam PPL
MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL) (4 credits)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
Math ACT score of 27 or higher
Math SAT score of 620 or higher
Grade of C- or better in MATH 1050 and MATH 1060
AP Calculus AB exam score of 3 or higher
Satisfactory score on the Math Placement Exam PPL
MATH 2010 - Algebraic Thinking & Number Sense for Elementary Education School Teachers (QI) (3 credits)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
MATH 1050 with a grade of C- or better
MATH 1051 with a grade of C- or better
ACT Math score of at least 25 or equivalent SAT Math score
AP Calculus AB score of at least 3
Satisfactory score on the Math Placement Exam PPL
MATH 2020 - Euclidean Geometry and Statistics for Elementary Education School Teachers (QI) (3 credits)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
Math ACT score of 25 or higher
Math SAT score of 580 or higher
Grade of C- or better in MATH 1050
Satisfactory score on the Math Placement Exam PPL
STAT 1040 - Introduction to Statistics (QL) (3 credits)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
Math ACT score of 19 or higher
Math SAT score of 510 or higher
Grade of C- or better in MATH 995
Satisfactory score on the Math Placement Exam PPL
STAT 1045 - Introduction to Statistics with Elements of Algebra (QL)
Must meet one of the following prerequisites:
ACT Math score of 16 or higher or equivalent SAT Math score
MATH 950 with a grade of C- or better (a passing grade of P is acceptable)
Satisfactory score on the Math Placement Exam PPL
