Mathematics Placement Information

What Is ALEKS?

ALEKS is not a test but an assessment and preparation tool. Your ALEKS score is designed to identify your current mathematics knowledge. In combination with your high school coursework, it will help determine the optimal mathematics course for you to start in, given the mathematics requirements of your major. ALEKS consists of:

• An initial online assessment that uses adaptive technology to identify your current mathematical knowledge;
• A Learning Module—an individualized, self-paced online review, generated upon completion of the first assessment attempt and accessible for one year starting from the date you take your first assessment;
• Access to one additional online assessment^*;
• Opportunity to take additional attempts in a proctored environment, after required review work is completed^*.

^*All attempts must be completed within one year of the enrollment date.

Each assessment consists of approximately 30 questions. On average, it takes approximately 90 minutes to complete, and you have a 4-hour window to complete it.

After your initial assessment, ALEKS constructs a learning module based on your performance. The learning module provides you the opportunity to review and master certain topics prior to enrolling in your first math course or retaking ALEKS (if you wish). 

Can I Retake ALEKS If I Don't Like My Placement?

Yes! Hopefully you did the best you could, so that the learning (review) module that ALEKS constructed for you accurately targets your areas for improvement. In order to access the second online attempt, you must wait at least 48 hours after completing the first attempt and spend at least 5 hours working in the learning module.

Note. Your mathematics placement is determined by both your ALEKS score and your high school coursework. Thus, in general, an improved ALEKS score would place you at most one course higher than the original placement and may require special department approval. If you are unhappy with your second score or believe that you should be placed in a higher math course, you may contact the Mathematics Department at math AT_TOWSON to make an appointment for an additional proctored attempt. You must spend at least 5 hours in the learning module between attempts.

What Are the Rules?

The ALEKS assessment is a "no-extra-aides assessment." That means that you may not consult any outside resources: notes, textbooks, formula "cheat sheets," Internet sites, friends/family, etc. You don’t even need a calculator because the assessment will provide an online one for items that allow its use. You only need scratch paper and a pencil. This is how proctored tests are administered, and Towson University strongly encourages you to follow the same rules for your self-proctored attempts. If you do, you will have the best chance that ALEKS will provide:

• an assessment score which, along with your high school coursework, will help assess accurately your mathematical knowledge so that you are placed in the right first mathematics course; 
• the most accurate learning module for your specific needs, should you choose to use that for review.

How Is My First Math Course Determined?

The mathematics requirements of your major determine what you must ultimately take, but you may need to complete prerequisite coursework first. Our mathematics pathways (PDF) list the common mathematics courses required by various TU majors and their math prerequisites. We start with your high school math coursework and then look at your ALEKS score to determine the highest math course in the pathway for your major thay you are prepared for. You are then placed in that course, to help you complete your math requirement as quickly as possible. If you believe that your first math course is too low (or too high), please contact the Mathematics Department at math AT_TOWSON.

Do All Students Really Have to Take ALEKS?

Students with college-level mathematics course credit transfered in during admission (AP/IB credit, transfer coursework, etc.) may be exempt from taking the mathematics placement test:

• If the course credit for prior work satisfies satisfies the mathematics requirement(s) for the student's chosen major and Core 3 of Towson University's Core Curriculum, then the student is exempt from ALEKS.
• If a chosen major requires only MATH 231 or MATH 237 and the course credit for prior work satisfies Core 3 of Towson University's Core Curriculum, then the student is exempt from ALEKS.
• If the course credit for prior work includes credit for MATH 115, MATH 119, MATH 211, or MATH 273, then the student is exempt from ALEKS.
• If none of the above three cases applies, then the student must take ALEKS.

Even if exempt from ALEKS, the student may choose to take the assessment for their own advisement and at no risk. Additionally, should a student switch majors from a major that exempted them from ALEKS (under the first or second options above) to another that has a higher mathematics requirement, they may be required to take ALEKS later. 

I Already Took a MATH Course. May I Take ALEKS to Skip Over the Next Course?

No! ALEKS is used for initial placement into math courses. You may not take ALEKS to skip a course. However, if you believe your original placement was too low and that you are prepared for a higher course you may appeal to the Mathematics Department. Most likely, as part of that process, you will be asked to complete a proctored, in-person ALEKS assessment.

I Am Ready. How Do I Take ALEKS?

ALEKS is a web-based program and runs on most computers, browsers, and tablets.  As long as you have access to the internet and are using an updated browser, you should not experience difficulties in taking your placement assessment.  You can review the list of preferred browsers on the official ALEKS website.  

1. Be sure to have paper and pencil with you and no other math supports—no textbooks, no notes, no formula "cheat sheets," no calculator, and so on. 
2. Remember:
   • You have 4 hours to complete the assessment, and we strongly suggest you plan to finish it in one sitting. However, during the timed window, you may log out and log back in. You will know you completed it when you see your score and your learning module menu (aka, your “learning pie").
   • You cannot go backwards. That is, you cannot return to items after you complete them, because the system is adaptive. Therefore, make sure you carefully check your answer before submitting your response.

   • It is okay if you just don’t know. You are likely to encounter material you have never learned. On those questions, it is appropriate to select “I don’t know.”  If you have any familiarity with a question, however, try your best. The adaptive nature of ALEKS is always using your responses to identigy what you know and don’t know.

3. Go to the login page and use your Towson University NetID as your user login and the password you have chosen for your campus e-mail as your password. 
4. After logging in, you will take a very brief survey and sit through a short tutorial on using the ALEKS interface. Then your assessment will begin.
5. Good luck!

If you have any technical problems, please contact ALEKS's troubleshooting page, or contact ALEKS's online support or call their support line at 1-800-258-2374.