How The Mathematics Advisory Exam (MAE) Works

• ANNOUNCEMENTS - Please read carefully and check back here for important information

  The MAE will open for the 2024-2025 cycle in mid-May. Students will not have access to ALEKS until we open in May.

  Incoming students MUST have their MAE completed before they attend Highlander Orientations. Students without a math placement (the MAE or an exemption) may have trouble registering for classes and/or learning communities during orientation. 

• MAE Process - Overview of how to complete the MAE

  The MAE is an online placement test that uses ALEKS PPL as it's tool for assessment. Please follow the step by step instructions shown in the table below.

  • 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.
    • Do some preparation.
      • No proctoring needed.
      • Do not log into ProctorU while doing prep.
      • 3 hours minimum of prep time in ALEKS.
    • 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.
  • 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 ARC 35 after the first proctored attempt are strongly advised to take a second proctored attempt in order to place into a credit bearing course. Additional prep time is required to maximize the chance to improve placement.
  • Highest of the 2 proctored attempts will be used for a final placement.

   

• Step by Step instructions on how to complete the MAE process

  A step by step process with important notes is posted below. Please read this carefully and follow the steps.

  Step	What to do	Important notes
  1	Click on the tab “Register and Calendar”.	Please read all the information on that tab.
  2	Click on “Start The Registration Process Here”.
  3	After clicking the link, it will take you to a billing form that you must fill out.	You will be billed for the exam even if you do not attend UCR. Do not ignore emails about this bill. You will only be billed one time for the 2024-2025 testing cycle as long as you create one and only one ALEKS account. The fee for the MAE is $55 and there is no fee waiver available.
  4	After submitting the billing form, bookmark the webpage you are sent to.	The page contains 2 important links that you need.
  5	Create an account in ALEKS by using the link provided.	You do not need to pay for an ALEKS account and you MUST use the link provided in step 4 -You should NOT be logged into ProctorU for this step. -Make one and only one ALEKS account. If you forget your credentials, use the "Forgot your login info?" link to recover account access. Don't forget the email you use to create the account. -Making more than one account will result in being charged more than once for the MAE.
  6	Take the first attempt in ALEKS unproctored for your practice. Unproctored means do NOT log into ProctorU while taking this attempt.	You should NOT be logged into ProctorU for this attempt. Attempt 1 in ALEKS is set to unproctored and this cannot be changed by anyone. This attempt will NOT count for placement even if it is taken with a proctor. IMPORTANT: Students should not use any tools and receive any assistance when taking an unproctored assessment. No tools or assistance are allowed when taking the proctored exam.
  7	Make a Proctor U account by using the link provided.	You do not need to pay for a ProctorU and you MUST use the link provide in step 4. Make one and only one ProctorU account. If you forget your credentials, use the "Forgot Password?" link to recover account access. Don't forget the email you use to create the account.
  8	Schedule an appointment with ProctorU to take a proctored exam. Select a date that is at least 72 hours away. (Important: You are responsible for any additional fee that is charged if you schedule inside 72 hours.)	-You’re only scheduling the appointment in this step. You should now have at least 72 hours to finish the next steps. -You can schedule further out if you want more time to prepare in ALEKS. -Appointments are available daily during the dates shown on the MAE website. -Once you've made your appointment, log out of ProctorU before moving to Step 7.
  9	Do 3 hours of prep in ALEKS. This will help you improve your score.	-Do not log into ProctorU while doing prep time. -This is required after every attempt. -You must complete this before your appointment.
  10	Now you’re ready for your appointment time. When you log into ProctorU at your appointment time, a live proctor will walk you through the process to start the exam.	Note: Chromebooks are not compatible with ProctorU. You can either borrow a compatible device for the one proctored exam or if you have time, contact UCR’s Loan2 Learn program to see about getting a compatible device.
  11	While you are waiting, check your system to make sure it meets ProctorU requirements.	If your system does not meet the requirements when you log into ProctorU at your appointment time, you will have to reschedule with ProctorU.
  Important Notes: You can take 1 additional proctored attempt to improve your placement. Students that place into ARC 35 are strongly encouraged to take a 2nd proctored attempt. After completing an attempt in ALEKS, the next attempt will be locked until: You complete 3 hours of prep in the ALEKS preparation modules that you select after completing the practice attempt AND 24 hours has passed since the last attempt. Only the student can unlock the next attempt by completing these requirements. Two proctored attempt will be allowed. The highest placement of the two scores will be used.

• Start the registration process here

  Please read all the information on this site before starting the process.

  IMPORTANT NOTICE:

  • Please read ALL the information on this site before sending an email with questions. Most of your questions will be answered by the FAQ along with the other information on the site.

  • Also, incoming freshmen that need to take a math class for their major should have a math placement BEFORE Highlander Orientation.

  • The fee for the exam covers access to ALEKS PPL (the exam location) and up to 2 proctoring sessions via ProctorU (the site that will monitor you as you take the exam).

  • The fee will be assessed to the student's account if an ALEKS account is created.

  • DO NOT PAY FOR AN ACCOUNT on either site.

  • Non-UCR students will need to pay before registering in ALEKS PPL.

  THE MAE IS CURRENTLY CLOSED TO NEW REGISTRATIONS. It will reopen in mid-May 2024.

  You MUST be logged into your UCR Rmail account to access the link.
   

  The link will take you to a billing form. After submitting the billing form, you'll be shown the links to create your accounts in ALEKS PPL and ProctorU.
  Please see the information about the fee on the "Fee Info" section.

   

• MAE Calendar - This shows when the MAE is offered and when we process results

  Appointments to take a proctored attempt (attempt 2 and/or 3) are available for students at various times throughout the year (see Calendar below). Students that need to take a proctored attempt to be placed into a math class can take it during any of the following testing dates shown below in green.

  Appointments are made with our proctoring partner, ProctorU.

  ALEKS is always available to students to take attempt 1 for practice and to do prep work.

  Results are processed and uploaded at 1pm on the dates below. All results completed after 1pm on the dates below will be processed and uploaded on the next processing date.

  ---

  

  The MAE is an online placement test that uses ALEKS PPL as it's tool for assessment.

  • The expectation is that students will:
    • Take attempt 1 in ALEKS PPL for practice.
      • This is done on your own.
      • No proctoring needed.
      • Will not count for placement.
    • Do some preparation.
      • No proctoring needed.
      • Do not log into ProctorU while doing prep.
    • Then take 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 in order to improve on their placement.
  • Students that place into ARC 35 after the first proctored attempt are strongly advised to take a second proctored attempt in order to place into a credit bearing course. Additional prep time is required to maximize the chance to improve placement.
  • Highest of the 2 proctored attempts will be used for a final placement.

Who Needs To Take The MAE - Majors, Exemptions, And Information From Your College or School

• Who Needs The MAE - Specific majors that need to take the MAE

  Who needs to take the MAE?

  Each major determines the coursework needed to complete a degree. If that major requires a math class, then they are deemed required to take the MAE (or have an exemption, as stated below). You can check the UCR Catalog or contact your major department to find out if a math class is required for your major. Contact information for each department can be found via the UCR website. Select the “A to Z listing” in the upper part of the website to find your major department. 

  Undeclared students should consider if a major that they are considering requires at least one course in Mathematics.

  Below is a general list of majors that need a math class and therefore require the MAE by College or School:

  All majors in the Bourns College of Engineering (BCoE) require at least one course in Mathematics and students must take the Mathematics Advisory Exam (MAE) for appropriate placement.

  All majors in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) require at least one course in Mathematics and students must take the Mathematics Advisory Exam (MAE) for appropriate placement.

  All majors in the School of Public Policy (PP) require at least one course in Mathematics and students must take the Mathematics Advisory Exam (MAE) for appropriate placement.

  The following majors/programs in the School of Business (BUS) require at least one course in Mathematics and students in these majors must take the Mathematics Advisory Exam (MAE): Pre-Business Business Administration Actuarial Sciences

  The following majors/programs in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) require at least one course in Mathematics and students in these majors must take the Mathematics Advisory Exam (MAE): Pre-Business Business Administration Psychology Neuroscience Liberal Studies Economics Economics with Administrative Studies Economics with Law and Society Business Economics Political Science with Administrative Studies Sociology with Administrative Studies History with Administrative Studies Art History with Administrative Studies Psychology with Law and Society Students in CHASS majors other than those listed above may opt to fulfill their breath (general education) requirement by enrolling in either a computer science or statistics course that does not require taking the Mathematics Advisory Exam (MAE). Undeclared CHASS students should take the MAE based on the mathematics requirements in the majors they are interested in pursuing. If you're still not sure, please contact your major department to verify if you need to take the exam.

   

• Exemptions - What will exempt you from having to take the MAE

  Any one of the following conditions will exempt a student from having to take the MAE.
  These are the only things that will exempt a student from having to take the MAE:

  Receiving a score of 2 on the Advanced Placement Calculus AB Exam  This will allow a student to enroll into Math 4 or Math 5. Students that score a 2 on the AP Calc AB exam are still encouraged to take the MAE to see if they can qualify to take Math 9A/7A (calculus). No course credit is given for the score of 2.

  Receiving a score of 3, 4 or 5 on either the Advanced Placement Calculus AB or BC Exam. If a student takes the AB version and scored a 3 or higher, course credit for either Math 9A or 7A is given. If a student takes the BC version and scored a 3 or higher, then credit for Math 9A & 9B or Math 7A & 7B is given. Credit for Math 9 or Math 7 is determined by the students major.

  Have transferable college credit at the Pre-Calculus (Math 5 at UCR) level or higher from an accredited institution of higher education.  See Assist.org for information about transferable courses within the state of California.

  Passing score of 5 or higher on the International Baccalaureate Math Analysis & Approaches (AA) Higher Level. Only the Higher Level AA exams are considered. Standard Level exams and Applications and Interpretations (AI) HL exams will not exempt a student.

  Important Notes:
  Just taking an AP Calculus class in high school does not earn an exemption. In order to be exempt from the MAE, a students needs to take the Calculus AP exam and earn a sufficiently high score.

  Neither statistics transfer credit nor AP Statistics will exempt a student from having to take the MAE.

  Also, the i3 Mathematical Reasoning with Connection (MRWC) courses offered in Riverside County do not exempt a student from taking the MAE.

  If an exemption isn't posted to the system prior to attending orientation, the student will not be able to register for a math class. In this case, the student should consider taking the MAE to have a placement. If the student's exemption ends up posting to the system, the exemption will override the result of the MAE. So it is important to have your transcripts and/or exam scores sent to UCR so that they can be posted prior to enrolling in classes.

• Specific information about the MAE from each college or school

  These are college specific instructions from the colleges. These were sent to students via their UCR email account.

  INFO FOR THE INCOMING CLASS WILL APPEAR HERE ONCE IT'S AVAILABLE.
  THIS IS THE SAME INFORMATION THAT THE COLLEGES ARE SENDING YOU DIRECTLY.

  • Information about math placement from Bourns College of Engineering
  • Information about math placement from the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
  • Letter about math placement from the School of Education
  • Letter about math placement from the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

  (If any other letters become available, they will be posted above.)

Other Information

• Acceptable Forms of ID - A valid ID is required to take a proctored attempt
  Please be sure that you have one of these forms of identification when you create your ProctorU account as well as when you take the exam--a photocopy or picture of the ID will NOT be accepted.

  Acceptable IDs include:

  • UCR ID Card
  • Driver's Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
  • High School issued ID card
  • U.S. passport
  • U.S. passport card
  • DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  • U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DOD civilians)
  • Permanent Resident Card
  • Border Crossing Card
  • DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
  • Native American Tribal Photo ID
  • HSPD-12 PIV Card
  • An airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)
  • A foreign government-issued passport
  • Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card
  • Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
• Math Classes at UCR - A flowchart of math classes
  This chart shows how math classes at UCR are related and what general content is presented in each course.

  
• Fee Information - FAQ about the MAE fee

  Students must fill out the billing form as the first step in the process to taking the MAE.

  How much is it and what does it cover?
  The fee of $55 covers students accounts in ALEKS and ProctorU. So there is no need to pay any fees to ALEKS or to ProctorU.

  Do I have to pay if I don't go to UCR? Do I have to pay if I don't take a proctored attempt?
  The answer to both questions is yes. Once you take even one attempt in ALEKS, you will be charged for the MAE. Also, do not make multiple accounts or you will be charged more than once.

  ProctorU is asking me to pay a premium scheduling fee. Why?
  If you schedule with ProctorU inside 72 hours of the appointment, ProctorU will charge you a premium scheduling fee. This is not covered by the $55 MAE fee.

  When will I see it in my student account in R'Web?
  We bill student account 4 times per year. When the fee shows up depends on when you take the MAE. We bill to students accounts in August, October, January and April. We will only bill a student account 1 time.

  How do I pay for the MAE?
  You should see the fee in your student account which can be found by logging into your R’Web portal and selecting Student Account. You can also visit the Highlander One Stop Shop for information about paying fees.

  Who will get billed for the exam?
  If you created an ALEKS account, you will be charged the fee. Even if you do not complete the process or you do not attend UCR, you will be charged the fee.

• Placement Adjustment Process - Instructions on how to have your placement adjusted

  After taking the MAE, it's possible that you may need to have your placement adjusted due to several possible factors, including change of major, addition of a minor, special program requirements in math, etc.

  If this is the case, then here is the process that you'll need to follow to get this done. 

  1. Speak to your academic advisor about the adjustment. Your advisor will help you determine if this adjustment is necessary.

  2. If the advisor determines that the adjustment is needed, then the advisor will submit a request to have your placement adjusted.

  3. Once your placement is adjusted on Banner, you and your advisor will recieve an email that the adjustment has been completed.

  Please note, this process is for adjusting your placement based on your performance on the MAE. This is not a request to change your placement into a higher course.

• MAE FAQ

  FAQ

Information for Students With Disabilities

• Disability Accommodations

  Students that need special accommodations

  If special accommodations for testing are needed due to a disability, please contact Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC).  Appropriate documentation of need for accommodations must be provided to the SDRC prior to approval of testing arrangements.

  Accommodations will be provided for both proctored and unproctored exams. Unproctored exams do not count toward placement.

  Once accommodations are approved by the SDRC, students with visual impairments will be moved to a special cohort in ALEKS PPL to allow for the accommodations.

  Extended time and ALEKS: The exam is designed to be completed in less than 2 hours without accommodations.  In the name of universal design, additional time has been added to accommodate those who need extended time to complete the exam (2x).  If you feel you need more than 5 hours, please contact the Student Disability Resource Center to discuss your needs and discuss possible accommodations.

  If you require accommodations for a disability, the process is as follows:

  • Please fill out a reservation form at least 2 weeks in advance of the exam date.
  • Documentation of disability must be submitted to the SDRC. Visit the SDRC website for information about how to register to receive services.
  • The SDRC will approve the accommodation and notify us of all accommodations.

  If you have any other questions about receiving accommodations, please contact Steve Garcia via email at steven.garcia@ucr.edu or at 951-827-5245

Partner Platforms

• ALEKS PPL

  ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (PPL) is the tool used by UCR for placement testing. ALEKS PPL accurately measures the student’s math foundation and creates a personalized learning module to review and refresh lost knowledge, allowing the student to be placed and successful in the right course and on their path to degree completion.

  Students will need to create an account . Fill out the billing form on the main page to get the links you'll need.

  Once you've created an account:

  • you will take attempt 1 unproctored for practice. You should not be using ProctorU for this attempt. The first attempt is used as an initial assessment, i.e. as a practice test. This also helps ALEKS PPL create the personalized learning space for each student. 
  • you will be allowed up to 2 proctored attempts for placement. The highest placement will be used.These attempts must be taken while logged into ProctorU.
  • after each assessment, student must work in ALEKS PPL preparation modules for a minimum of 3 hours before taking another assessment. The preparation modules are different than an assessment.

  IMPORTANT: Students will get two PROCTORED assessment and the highest score will determine the students final placement.

  ALL proctoring is done via ProctorU. Please see the tab for information about ProctorU. 

• ProctorU

  We require that students only complete one proctored attempts in ALEKS. Students will be allowed up to 2 proctored attempts. The highest placement of the 2 attempts will be used for placement.

  What do we mean by proctored attempt? Proctoring means that someone, a proctor, is monitoring you while you take that attempt. You will need to use a ProctorU proctor at least one time.

  You should NOT be using a proctor to:

  • create your account
  • take attempt 1 in ALEKS. Attempt 1 is for practice.
  • do required preparation in ALEKS.

  So who will monitor you as your take that 1 proctored attempt? A proctor from ProctorU will monitor you. ProctorU is a live online proctoring service used by UCR to proctor the MAE. The entire proctoring session will be recorded and available for review by appropriate UCR personnel. Before your session begins, the student will be required to display your test environment via your webcam to the live proctor administering the exam. 

  Students will attempt up to two proctored ALEKS PPL assessment which will result in a final placement at UCR. The first attempt should not be taken with ProctorU monitoring.

  Students cannot start attempts 2 or 3 without the proctor adding the password to open those attempts.

  Creating a ProctorU account is simple. There is a link to a billing form on the main page. Once you fill out the billing form, you'll get the link you need for ProctorU. PLEASE USE THE LINK provided otherwise you may get charged for using ProctorU. Do not pay any fees to ProctorU.

  Below is the information you'll need about ProctorU. Please note that you must schedule your exam 72 hours in advance. 

  You will use this link provided after starting the process from the main page to register to take the exam. You'll select from the available start times once you've created your account and are ready to schedule a time. Select the tab "Testing Appts" to see available dates.

  ProctorU is available 24/7, however, you MUST schedule your proctoring session at least 72 hours in advance to avoid any on-demand scheduling fees. On demand fees would be incurred if scheduling within 72. Make sure you schedule your proctoring appointment ahead of time. Do not wait until the day you want to take the exam. You must plan ahead. 

  In order to use ProctorU, you will need a high-speed internet connection, a webcam (internal or external), a Windows or Apple operating system, and a government issued photo ID. ProctorU recommends that you visit https://support.proctoru.com/hc/en-us/sections/115003555488-Equipment-Requirements-and-Helpprior to your proctoring session to test your equipment. We recommend you click on the button that says “connect to a live person” to fully test out your equipment. Please make sure that you are using the current version of your browser and have downloaded the ProctorU extension available at http://bit.ly/proctoruchrome or https://www.proctoru.com/firefox.

  Additionally, please visit and review the test-taker resource center here. You should expect the start up process with the proctor to take about 10-15 minutes. However, this time will not affect your exam time. Please feel free to direct any questions to the test taker support team via the live chat within your account.