How The Mathematics Placement Process (MPP) Works - Read all this information before registering

• Math Placement Process - overview and preparation

  The Math Placement Assessement (MPA) is online and uses ALEKS PPL as it's tool for assessment.

  The MPA is designed to measure a students skills in mathematics in order to place them into a math course that they can be successful in.

  Since ALEKS PPL is an adaptive exam, they do not give an explicit set of topics as the topics will vary to some degree from attempt to attempt. While we do not provide a list of specific topics, ALEKS PPL presents topics that go up through precalculus. There are no calculus topics in ALEKS PPL.

  Each attempt in ALEKS has a maximum of 25 questions and takes most students an average of 60-80 minutes to complete. But since ALEKS is adaptive, a student may see far fewer than 25 questions if the system is able to determine the student's skill level sooner.

  It is not a pass/fail test and no preparation outside ALEKS PPL is needed to complete the process. 

  Also, the MPA is set up to provide a practice exam and targeted preparation modules to help students do their very best.

  • The expectation is that students will:
    • TAKE ATTEMPT 1 IN ALEKS PPL FOR PRACTICE.
      • This is done on your own.
      • No proctoring needed. Do not log into ProctorU for this attempt.
      • Will not count for placement even if taken with a proctor.
      • This attempt is meant to allow students to see the types of questions, the format of the testing environment and the toolbox used to answer some of the topics.
    • DO SOME REQUIRED PREPARATION.
      • No proctoring needed.
      • Do not log into ProctorU while doing prep.
      • ALEKS provides preparation modules to help you improve your score. There is no need for outside preparation.
      • 3 hours minimum of prep time in ALEKS is required to unlock the next attempt.
    • THEN TAKE ATTEMPT 2 IN ALEKS PPL AS A PROCTORED ATTEMPT WITH ProctorU.
      • Must be logged into ProctorU at an appointed time that you'll choose via the ProctorU website.
      • This attempt will be used for placement.
  • Students are allowed one additional proctored attempt (attempt 3) in order to improve on their placement. 3 additional hours of prep in ALEKS PPL are required to unlock attempt 3.
  • Students are only allowed 2 appointments with ProctorU. If you max out your appointments, you won't be able to take any more attempts in ALEKS.
  • Students that place into Math 3 after the first proctored attempt are strongly advised to take a second proctored attempt in order to place into a higher course. Additional prep time is required to maximize the chance to improve placement.
  • Once a student registers for a math class, that student is no longer eligible to take a second attempt. Second proctored attempts are rejected by the system if a student is registered in a math class at the time that the attempt is uploaded into the system.
  • Highest of the 2 proctored attempts will be used for a final placement.