ALEKS

ALEKS Math Placement Assessment

**CLICK THIS LINK TO TAKE YOUR ALEKS PLACEMENT TEST**

 www.purduecal.edu/mypuc

Log in to the portal using your career login provided in your admission letter.  If you have having issues logging in to the PUC Portal, please contact the Customer Service Center at 219-989-2888, option #2.  They can troubleshoot any portal sign-in issues via phone.


What is ALEKS? 

ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces) is a web-based, online mathematics assessment required of new freshman and transfer students.  During your New Student Orientation (NSO) or a follow-up advising session, advisors will use your ALEKS score and intended college major to determine your math placement. 

View this video for a quick tour of ALEKS:  http://www.aleks.com/video/quick_tour

PLEASE NOTE:  All incoming new, transfer and re-entry students are required to attend NSO.  In order to register for NSO, students are required to complete their ALEKS placement assessment.  Once the online assessment is complete, you will be redirected to the NSO webpage to register for an upcoming NSO date.  Plan to take the ALEKS math placement assessment as soon as possible after admission to the university.  This will give you plenty of time for testing and re-testing, if needed.

You do not have to study anything before taking the first ALEKS assessment.  If you are not happy with your results or placement, you can take a second assessment, or complete the free learning modules offered upon completion of your assessment.  These free learning modules will help you brush up on some math topics before taking another assessment.  You are encouraged to use the learning modules offered by ALEKS, not only for retesting, but also to refresh math skills prior to beginning the semester.  Students can take two assessments without using the learning modules.  After the second completed assessment, use of the learning modules is required in order to retest.  The assessment can be taken up to four times.  Your highest ALEKS percentage will be used for placement.

How Does ALEKS work?

To begin taking the ALEKS assessment, you must log in to the myPUC portal at www.purduecal.edu/mypuc.  To log in, use the login and password provided in your Admissions letter.  Upon first login, you will be required to change your password.  ALEKS is located on the Enrollment tab in the myPUC portal, at the top of the page.  Click the link provided to go to the ALEKS assessment.

A brief tutorial in ALEKS will show you how to use ALEKS answer input tools.  Once the tutorial is complete, you can begin the ALEKS assessment.

Plan to spend about 90 minutes to complete the assessment; however, you may want to set aside two hours in order to complete the assessment from start to finish.  ALEKS assesses your current math knowledge by asking a series of free response questions.  ALEKS chooses each question on the basis of your answers to previous questions.  No two tests will be alike.

By the time you have completed the assessment, ALEKS has developed a picture of your math knowledge, determining which topics you have mastered and which topics you have not mastered adequately.  Upon completion of the assessment, your percentage score and course placement will be shown.  Additionally, you will see your ALEKS pie, a multicolored pie chart which represents your current math knowledge by concept.

Based on your math knowledge, learning modules will be presented which will help you review mathematical concepts.  These learning modules will be available to you for six weeks following your assessment.  Again, use of these modules is highly encouraged to help you better place into the correct math course as well as help you prepare in advance for that course.

You do not have to complete the assessment in one sitting; you can take a break and go back to where you left off.  However, keep in mind that if the assessment is left inactive for 24 hours, it will be reset and you will need to begin the assessment again, using another of your four total attempts.

Purdue Calumet expects all students to adhere to the Honor Code – dishonesty or cheating will not be tolerated.  To ensure testing integrity, some students may be asked to retake the ALEKS assessment in the Testing Services Center, located on campus in the Lawshe building, Room 118.

What are the costs?

There is no cost to take the assessment.  If you are not satisfied with your assessment results or you wish to brush up on your Math skills, you are encouraged to use the self-guided learning modules provided by ALEKS.  There is no charge for use of these modules, which can be accessed for six weeks following your first assessment. 

Who is NOT required to take ALEKS?

Students who meet any of the following criteria do not need to take ALEKS:

  • Students with AP credit on the AB or BC exam or the equivalent on the IB exams.
  • Students who are transferring in equivalents of ALL math courses required by their intended major, or, ALL math courses covered by ALEKS which are required by their intended major, or, the student who is tranferring inthe most advance math course required by their intended major.
  • Students who transfer in a first college course in calculus.

Interpreting ALEKS Scores

Upon completion of the test, you will see a summary page which includes your math concepts pie chart, your percentage score and your course placement.  Placement scores are given in percentages which correlate to Purdue Calumet math courses as follows.

ALEKS Math Placement:

Course Description Percentage Score
MA 11500 Intermediate Algebra >=20%
MA 13700 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I >=30%
MA 14700 Algebra & Trigonemetry for Technology I >=30%
MA 15300 Algebra & Trigonemetry I >=30%
MA 15400 Algebra & Trigonemetry II >=50% and MA 15300 Credit
MA 15900 Pre-Calculus >=50%
MA 16300 Integrated Calculus & Analytic Geometry I >=70%
MA 21900 Calculus for Technology I >=60%
MA 22300 Introductory Analysis I >=60%
MA 22500 Calculus for Business & Economics I >=50%
 

Note:  MA 02100 <20% but having SATM >=350
 

Advisory <20% and having SATM <350
 

ATTENTION FOR THOSE WHO PLACE INTO MA 02100:  

Students who take the ALEKS math placement test and place into MA 02100 should note that Purdue Calumet no longer offers this course.  If you have placed into MA 02100, you have the following options. 

OPTION 1:  You may use the learning modules available in ALEKS or other tutorials of your choice and retake the ALEKS math placement test.  You will have six weeks from the date of your original ALEKS test to go through the tutorials and retest.   You can retest in ALEKS up to four times.  If you test higher into a college-level math or statistics class, then MA 02100 will be considered fulfilled.   If you still test into MA 02100 after completing the tutorials and up to four attempts, you may pursue option 2.

OPTION 2:  You may attend a local community college, take their math placement test, and enroll in the appropriate math course(s) there as recommended by that institution.    Having completed the math course(s), you must submit your official transcripts and retake the ALEKS placement test at Purdue Calumet.  If the six-week time period is exhausted, you will be responsible for purchasing access to retest through ALEKS.

 IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT MAY AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO PROGRESS IN THE MATH SEQUENCE REQUIRED BY YOUR INTENDED MAJOR.

How do I get technical support for ALEKS?

If you’re having trouble logging into the PUC Portal or are locked out, please contact:

Purdue Calumet Customer Service Center at (219) 989-2888, Option 2. 

For ALEKS customer support, please call or email:

Phone Support hours:  Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Other Questions?

For general questions (not technical), please contact the Testing Services Center at testingcenter@purduecal.edu or (219) 989-2504.  For questions regarding placement scores or course placement, contact the Purdue Calumet Math Department at (219) 989-2273.