Department of Mathematical Sciences
The University of Memphis, TN 38152-3240
Tel: (901) 678-2482 Fax: (901) 678-2480

U of M Math Placement through ALEKS

The University of Memphis requires the Math Placement Exam (MPL score) through ALEKS to assess a student's prerequisite knowledge for course placement "into any entry level math course where the prerequisite course has not been passed C- or better" for ALL students registering for such courses. 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 prior to their advising for registration for their first semester. One assessment during this period is available to all incoming students free of charge.
Every student (current, transfer or new)enrolling in entry level Math is required to obtain a minimum ALEKS placement score before enrollment if they have not taken and passed (C- or better)a prerequisite course (see FAQ (7) for details):
- 75 for MATH1910
- 50 for MATH1720, MATH1730 and MATH1830
- 40 for MATH1530, MATH1710, MATH1100
- 30 to 39 for MATH1710-Combo, MATH1420
- 20 to 29 for MATH1420-Combo, MATH1100-Combo
Failure to meet the minimum score for MATH1910, MATH1530, MATH1720, MATH1730, MATH1710 or MATH1420 will result in required placement in a prerequisite/preparatory course.
The ALEKS exam must be completed within one week after logging in to take the exam.
A student can take the ALEKS placement exam as often as they wish in order to satisfy the minimum ALEKS score. However, retesting is only available after taking a Learning Module through the ALEKS Corp. to prepare and the student is responsible to pay for the retest.
Be prepared and do your best on the exam.
- You can use the information under FAQ (3) to take a short example assessment in the ALEKS free trial.
- Have any materials you wish to use on hand. Scratch paper and pencil are recommended. An online calculator is provided for use but you might wish to have your own available.
- Choose an appropriate time and place to take the exam. You should have sufficient time to complete the exam (75 to 90 minutes is usually sufficient) and an appropriate place. While you can stop and return to the exam later it is best to make plans to complete the exam once started.
- You must complete the exam within seven days of first time you sign in and begin.
- It is extremely important that you take the test without assistance and that you do your best. The purpose of the exam is to properly place you into the math class(es) at the appropriate level.

FAQ Questions and Answers

(1) What is the U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?
(2) Who is required to take the U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?
(3) What is the assessment like?
(4) How do I access the U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?
(5) Do I need to install any plugins prior to taking the U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?
(6) How do I view my score?
(7) What if I do not obtain the required minimum score my course?
(8) If I take the test more than once which score is used?
(9) What is the cost of the U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?
(10) How do I get technical support for ALEKS?
(11) How do I get math advising support?

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

A: The U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS covers a broad spectrum of basic to 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 at times seem 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 35-40 questions and takes approximately one hour to complete. 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.

The placement exam is untimed and you may stop and log back in later to continue from the place where you exited. The exam must be completed in less than one week from the initial sign-in.

Placement is a process that attempts to help assure the student's success. Not doing your best can place you too low and delay your progress into other courses. Using outside assistance to simply achieve a higher score may cause you to be placed in a course you are not prepared for and result in a poor grade or failure which can delay your progress even more and may well cause problems with financial aid and scholarships. You need to take the exam yourself and do your best so that the assessment reflects your knowledge and skills.

Q: Who is required to take the U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?

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

All transfer and returning students are required to take the U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS if a(the) prerequisite course(s) has(have) not been completed with a grade of C- or better a the course to be taken.

Q: What is the assessment like?

You may take an example assessment through the ALEKS Corp. under their Free Trial for their learning modules.

Go to the website at www.aleks.com. and select the main page option to "Begin Free Trial."

Select: Independent user.
Select: Explore student module.
Agree to the load plug-in the disclaimer (it will load plug-ins required, however, if using a campus machine, you must have followed the ALEKS on TigerLAN instructions under FAQ (4) ACCESS and be using the correct browser).
Enter name and email – select type (Tutor).
Under Select type (Choose a Market) - pick Higher Ed|MATH
Under Select a course – Choose: Preparation for Calculus.

The system will now assign you a GUEST###### username and a Password and then take you to the same kind of tutorial that is seen in the regular ALEKS assessment. Following the tutorial you may take a 20 question Assessment like those in the Learning modules of ALEKS (but not complete – it is shortened) and evaluate it. This takes about 15 to 20 minutes. This is a shorter version of the exam but it shows what the assessment (and progress assessments in a Learning Module) are and shows what the material tested will be.

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

I) FOR STUDENTS ACCESSING THE ALEKS EXAM FROM A UNIVERSITY TigerLAN LAB COMPUTER

A: All incoming first-year students must access the exam through this procedure from any TigerLAN computer.

Returning students may also access the placement exam on TigerLAN by this method for their one free Placement Exam if they have not previously tested.

Students using these TigerLAN machines will need to perform the following steps to begin their ALEKS placement test:
1) Click on the Start Menu.

2) Click on the "All Programs" section.

3) Click on the "UMware" folder.

4) Click on the sub directory entitled "Aleks Math Placement Assessment"

5) Click on the link entitled "Aleks Testing"

Clicking on the "Aleks Testing" link will launch Internet Explorer with the ALEKS placement plugin pre-installed. The student will be directed immediately to the MyMemphis web portal where they can initiate the ALEKS placement testing as previously dictated.

Please note that students will be required to use this method in all Fall 2010 and later TigerLAN labs.

II) FOR STUDENTS ACCESSING THE ALEKS EXAM FROM THEIR HOME COMPUTERS

A: All incoming first-year students must access the exam through a link which will be activated as a channel in their MyMemphis portal under the Student tab.

Returning students may also access the placement exam through their MyMemphis portal for their one free Placement Exam if they have not previously tested.

Q: Do I need to install any plugins prior to taking the U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS?

A: Yes - When accessing the test the first time from your home computer.
(i) Go to the main ALEKS web page at: www.aleks.com
(ii) Press the DOWNLOADS link at the upper right. Follow the instructions to install the necessary software on your computer.
(iii) After installation of the ALEKS plug-in, you may be directed to close all browser windows and restart your browser or to reboot your computer. After that you can go to your MyMemphis account, log in, and access the exam.

ALEKS is cross-platform accessible. If there is difficulty installing the plugin see: http://www.aleks.com/faqs/technical/.

For troubles related to Next Generation java, see http://www.aleks.com/faqs/technical#Java_Next_Generation

Q: How do I view my score?

A: The student's score is reported, and the pie chart breakdown of the sub-areas shown, when the exam is completed. The percentage score below the pie chart area is the MPL score (i.e., 54% is an MPL score of 54). The raw data above the pie chart, shown like 77 out of 215, is not a score.

Q: What if I do not obtain the required minimum score for my Math course?

It should be noted that anyone scoring below 40 on the Math Placement should strongly consider taking the ALEKS Learning Module to improve their skills and improve their score. Scores below 40 are not specific in identifying weaknesses and the need for improvement is the principle indication.

75 for MATH 1910
50 for MATH 1720, 1730 or 1830
40 for MATH 1710, MATH 1530, MATH1100
39-30 for MATH 1710-Combo version
30 for MATH 1420
29-20 for MATH 1100-Combo , MATH 1420-Combo versions [Which of these courses should be taken is, in general, determined through advising and based on major.]

MATH 1910 - prereq Math1720 C- or MATH1730 C-
MATH 1720, 1730, 1830 - prereq MATH1710 C-
MATH 1530 - prereq MATH1100 C- or MATH1420 C- or MATH1710-Combo C-
MATH 1710 - take alternate Math1710-Combo MPL 30 to 39
MATH 1710-Combo - prereq MATH1100-Combo C- or MATH1420-Combo C-
MATH1420 - take alternate MATH1420-Combo for MPL 20 to 29
MATH1100-Combo, MATH1420-Combo: MPL scores 0 to 19 requires completion of the ALEKS Learning Module. A minimum score of 20 is required to enroll in a math course at the University of Memphis.

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

Choice 1. You may purchase and use the Learning Module in an attempt to improve your score before enrollment by clicking on the learning module link after re-accessing the placement exam and them, after taking the Learning Module, purchase a new Assessment Exam and update your score.

Choice 2. You may enroll in the prerequisite course.

Q: If I take the test more than once which score is used?

A: The highest score recorded is the official score.

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

A: The initial placement exam for incoming students 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. The test is not timed and you may log-out and return later to finish. However, the test must be finished within one week of the initial log-in

After your free placement exam the U of M Math Placement Exam through ALEKS can be purchased:

for approximately $5.00 AFTER taking a "Learning module" for approximately $35.00

The Learning Module is not a single assessment. It provides a learning environment for you to work towards obtaining the required minimum ALEKS score. You should choose this option if you feel that your pre-calculus skills are weak or you would like to review your knowledge in an effective on-line learning environment, or if you have taken the initial placement exam and did not reach the minimum ALEKS score for your course because you have been away from the material for a period of time. The modules are designed for you individually based upon your assessment and are very effective.

Additional single placement exams can be purchased

After the learning module has been completed when an option appears to purchase additional assessment tests.

To access ALEKS see the FAQ (4) ACCESS.

Q: How do I get technical support for ALEKS?

A: For problems with accessing the ALEKS test through the U of M portal call the U of M Tech support at (901) 678-8888.

For problems after the test has been accessed contact ALEKS customer support by phone or email:

Phone: (714) 619-7090
Email: http://support.aleks.com
website: http://www.aleks.com/faqs/technical

Q: How do I get math advising support?

A: For advising support you should first contact your assigned advisor since your chosen major/area of study affects what courses you need to take and thus what various scores mean for you.

Updated: May. 6, 2011

Site Manager: Dr. R. A. Clapsadle