FAQs
Before the Placement Assessment
Why must I take the ALEKS PPL Assessment?
The Placement Assessment is used to determine the Bradley University mathematics course in which you will have the greatest success. Upon completion of your placement assessment, your score is available to your academic advisor. Your advisor will review your scores and help make appropriate recommendations for course registration.
Who has to take the ALEKS PPL Assessment?
The assessment becomes available in mid-March and after the student's enrollment deposit has been paid. The ALEKS Assessment MUST be completed as soon as possible. A hold will be placed on your account until you have completed the assessment, which will prevent you from registering for classes. Students who are have questions about the assessment at any time should contact success@bradley.edu to make testing arrangements.
Are ALEKS PPL Assessments proctored?
The Bradley Math Placement Assessment uses Lockdown Browser.
Is there a fee for using ALEKS PPL?
The use of ALEKS is included in your student fees.
Do I need to install any software or plug-ins prior to taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment?
No. There are no required plug-ins or applets required with your use of ALEKS PPL. 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. For a list of preferred browsers, please review the ALEKS system requirements on their support site: http://www.aleks.com/support/system_requirements
What topics are covered during the ALEKS PPL Assessment?
ALEKS PPL is an online, adaptive system that covers a broad spectrum of mathematics topics. The length of the Placement Assessment will vary, but can be up to 30 questions. You will see some, but not all, of the math you have learned in high school. It is a Placement Assessment, not a preview of math courses at your institution. It is designed to identify if you are prepared for a particular course. After you take your first Placement Assessment, you will have the opportunity to review and master additional topics to reassess and improve your placement.
Topics covered:
- Real numbers (including fractions, integers, and percentages)
- Equations and inequalities (including linear equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic equations),
- Linear and quadratic functions (including graphs and functions, linear functions, and parabolas), exponents and polynomials (including integer exponents, polynomial arithmetic, factoring, and polynomial equations), rational expressions (including rational equations and rational functions
- Radical expressions (including higher roots and rational exponents)
- Exponentials and logarithms (including function compositions and inverse functions, properties of logarithms, and logarithmic equations)
- Geometry and trigonometry (including perimeter, area, and volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).
Can I practice using the ALEKS input tools before I begin the Placement Assessment?
ALEKS will begin with a brief tutorial to make sure you are comfortable with the math palette tools before your Placement Assessment begins. The tutorial shows you how to enter different types of answers, how to use the ALEKS calculator, and how to graph. If you aren’t sure how to input an answer, or need help while you are taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment, select the Help button below the answer pallet tools. Going to the tutorial during your Placement Assessment will NOT impact your Placement Assessment results.
Taking the Placement Assessment
What is the format of the questions on ALEKS?
ALEKS is not a multiple-choice Placement Assessment. It is open-response and requires you to work out solutions with a paper and pencil, then enter them into ALEKS. Be sure to have scratch paper with you.
May I use a calculator while using ALEKS?
ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator if you need one to complete a particular problem. Otherwise, you may not use a calculator.
May I use any other resources during a Placement Assessment?
You may only use a pen or pencil, paper, and the resources provided within ALEKS. You should not receive assistance from friends, family, other websites, textbooks, or any other resource not provided by ALEKS. Using outside resources will lead to improper placement and potentially course failure. It is a violation of the institution’s honor code.
Can I review a question after I've answered it?
Because ALEKS is adaptive, once you submit an answer, you cannot change it. Be sure to carefully check your answer before submitting your response.
What if I see questions I don’t know?
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 how to solve the topic, and this will be reflected in the Placement Assessment results. There is no penalty for incorrectly answering a question on the Placement Assessment, it only helps ALEKS understand what you know and don’t know.
Are Placement Assessments timed?
Yes, most students complete the placement assessment under 2 hours however, you have up to 4 hours to complete a Placement Assessment once it has begun.
What happens if I do not complete a Placement Assessment in the allotted time?
If the incomplete Placement Assessment is proctored and timed, you will be given a placement result, but it will not be a true reflection of your abilities.
Placement Result
What is my placement result?
Your placement result (overall score) is a number between 0 and 100. It represents the percentage of topics ALEKS has identified you have mastered.
Course placement is determined as follows:
| Course | Name | Bradley Placement Score |
|---|---|---|
| MTH 109 | College Algebra | 46-60 |
| MTH 112 | Precalculus | 61-75 |
| MTH 114 | Applied Finite Mathematics | 61-75 |
| MTH 115 | Brief Calculus With Applications I | 61-75 |
| MTH 121 | Calculus I | 76-100 |
Where can I see my score?
- You will receive your score immediately upon completion of your Placement Assessment.
- Your ALEKS score can be viewed by re-entering ALEKS using the same access link for which you took the Placement Assessment.
- Your scores are automatically added to your student profile, which is accessible by your advisor.
- Your academic adviser will help you select appropriate courses when you are building your schedule. For first-year students, this conversation will occur at New Student Pre-advising.
What if I do not place into the course I wanted?
This is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the Prep and Learning Modules offered within ALEKS PPL. An individualized study plan will be created based on your performance on the Initial Placement Assessment. ALEKS will identify what you know and what you are ready to learn next so you can brush up on lost knowledge. I did not place into the class I wanted.
Can I take the class I want if I don’t have the proper cut-score?
No, you must achieve the minimum placement result to take each corresponding class. Which math course is required for my program? Link to program descriptions.
What if I placed into the class I wanted?
Congratulations! Continue to use your Prep and Learning Module to improve your chances for success. The placement result required is the minimum preparation for your course. Take advantage of the individualized review and learning features in ALEKS to get a better grade in your class.
Can I retake the Bradley Math Placement Assessment?
Yes, you may take up to 3 Placement Assessments. However, to make each attempt worthwhile, it is important that you spend time working in your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between Placement Assessments so that you can improve your skills. Include details about required Prep and Learning.
Can I retake the ALEKS Placement Assessment immediately?
You must wait 48 hours between Placement Assessments. There is generally no benefit to re-taking the Placement Assessment immediately after completing a prior attempt. You cannot improve your results by simply re-taking the Placement Assessment without spending time in the Prep and Learning Module to refresh material that you may have forgotten.
Prep and Learning Modules
How long do I have access to my Prep and Learning Module?
You will have access to your Prep and Learning module for your 12 month subscription. Access to the prep course will not begin until you select start on the top of your screen.
Is there an additional fee for my Prep and Learning Module?
Access to a Prep and Learning Module is included along with the additional Placement Assessments.
Must I work in my ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between Placement Assessments?
You can retake the Placement assessment up to two additional times to improve your score. (The highest score will be used for math placement). Students are required to work in the Prep and Learning Modules for a specific amount of time prior to each Placement Assessment to increase success.
- 2nd attempt—required to complete 10 hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
- 3rd attempt—required to complete 10 additional hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
Learning Modules before attempting assessment
What are ALEKS Knowledge Checks?
While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete a Knowledge Check to make sure you have mastered the topics you gained in Learning Mode. If you do not show mastery during the Knowledge Check, the topics will be added back into your Learning Pie so you can review them again.
Does progress in an ALEKS Prep and Learning Module count toward placement?
No. You must complete a new Placement Assessment to change your placement result. Select the placement tab in the upper right corner of the ALEKS page to start a new Placement Assessment.
Can I change to a different Prep and Learning Module later?
No. You may only use one Prep and Learning Module.Plan on using the module recommended by ALEKS.
Technical Support
What do I do if my web browser gets stuck or my computer crashes while I'm taking the Placement Assessment?
Simply close the browser, or log out and log back in. ALEKS will resume the Placement Assessment exactly where you left off, with no loss of your previous answers.
Where can I get help with ALEKS?
Practice and Retest
If you want to place into a higher-level course, you may use ALEKS learning modules to practice your skills and retake the assessment up to two additional times. You must wait 48 hours between assessments and spend at least 10 hours actively using the learning modules before taking your second assessment. If you wish to test for a third and final time, you must invest in an additional 10 hours of practice.Students who spend at least 15 hours in a learning module show the most improvement in their scores and a higher success in their enrolled course. Students generally improve their scores on each subsequent assessment, and 90% of students who retest move up by at least one course. The highest score is always used for placement.
To begin a learning module:
- Log on to your Sakai Staring Off course and go back into the same link where you took your first placement assessment.
- Go into your Bradley Math Placement Assessment Course
- Click the START MY PATH button to begin a learning module.
You must complete at least 10 hours of active practice in ALEKS before a new placement assessment becomes available.