Math Placement Assessment (ALEKS PPL)

Preparing for the ALEKS PPL Assessment

The ALEKS PPL Assessment helps determine which mathematics course is most appropriate for you. Your placement score will be added to your academic record and used to determine eligibility for mathematics courses.

Students without prior college-level mathematics coursework that appears on their FAU academic record as equivalent to FAU mathematics courses must take the assessment.

Students who completed mathematics coursework more than a year ago are also strongly encouraged to take the assessment to evaluate their readiness.

Students who need additional preparation should use the ALEKS Prep and Learning Module or consider FAU's Math Boot Camp.

The ALEKS PPL Assessment must be completed within one year of the semester in which you plan to enroll in a mathematics course.

New students should complete the proctored assessment well before their orientation session. Delaying the assessment may prevent registration for mathematics courses or other courses with mathematics prerequisites.

The ALEKS PPL program costs $25, which includes five placement assessments and access to the Prep and Learning Module.

Students have access to the assessments for one year from the initial payment date and access to the Prep and Learning Module for six months.

Additional proctoring fees apply:
  • FAU Testing Center: $10 per assessment
  • Honorlock Remote Proctoring: $12.75 per assessment

ALEKS PPL assesses a broad range of mathematics topics, including:
  • Real numbers, fractions, integers, and percentages
  • Linear and quadratic equations and inequalities
  • Functions, graphs, exponents, and polynomials
  • Rational and radical expressions
  • Exponential and logarithmic functions
  • Geometry and trigonometry
The assessment contains up to 30 questions and adapts to your responses.

Yes. ALEKS provides a tutorial introducing its math input tools, calculator, and graphing features. You can also access the tutorial using the Help button during the assessment without affecting your placement results.

What to Expect During the Assessment

ALEKS uses open-response questions rather than multiple-choice questions. You will work through mathematical problems and enter your answers directly into the system.

Have scratch paper and a pencil available.

Most students complete the assessment in approximately 60–90 minutes. However, the proctored assessment has a three-hour time limit.

ALEKS provides an on-screen calculator when one is needed for a particular question. Personal calculators are not permitted.

No. You may only use paper, a pen or pencil, and resources provided by ALEKS. Assistance from other people, websites, textbooks, or notes is prohibited and may violate FAU's Code of Academic Integrity.

No. Because ALEKS is adaptive, answers cannot be changed after submission. Review each answer carefully before proceeding.

You may select "I don't know" for unfamiliar material. However, you should attempt questions covering topics you recognize.

ALEKS uses your responses to evaluate your current mathematics knowledge and identify areas needing improvement.

Students may take the assessment at an FAU Testing Center or remotely through Honorlock.

Remote testing requires a webcam, Google Chrome, and the Honorlock Chrome extension.

Students unable to test at FAU or remotely should contact the Office of Testing and Evaluation at fautesting@fau.edu.

Understanding Your Placement Results

Your placement score ranges from 0 to 100 and represents the percentage of mathematical topics ALEKS has determined you have mastered. Your score determines which mathematics courses you are eligible to take.

ALEKS PPL Course Placement Scores

CourseALEKS PPL Score

MAT 1033: Intermediate Algebra

0

MAC 1105: College Algebra

30

MAC 1114: Trigonometry

60

MGF 1130: Mathematical 
Thinking in Context 1

0

MGF 1131: Mathematical 
Thinking in Context 2

0

MAC 1140: Precalculus Algebra

50

MAC 1147: Precalculus Algebra and Trig

65

MAT 1932: Topics in Mathematics50
MAS 2103: Matrix Theory75
MAD 2104: Discrete Mathematics60
MAC 2210: Introduction to Calculus with Applications65
MAC 2233: Methods of Calculus45

MAC 2311: Calculus w/Analytical Geometry I

75

Your score is available immediately after completing the assessment. You can also view it by logging back into ALEKS.

Your placement results are automatically added to your student profile and made available to your academic advisor.

In most cases, placement scores are posted by the next business day.

Placement results are valid for 12 months.

You can use the ALEKS Prep and Learning Module to review topics identified during your assessment and prepare for another attempt.

You must achieve the minimum required placement score before enrolling in the corresponding course.

Review your program's Flight Plan to determine the mathematics courses required for your major. Confirm your course selection with your academic advisor.

You are still encouraged to use the Prep and Learning Module. Additional review can strengthen your mathematics skills and help prepare you for success in your course.

Yes. Students receive five assessment attempts with their initial purchase.

You must wait at least 48 hours between attempts. FAU recommends spending at least 10 hours in the Prep and Learning Module before retesting.

Your highest placement score will be used for mathematics placement.

If you have exhausted all five attempts, contact fautesting@fau.edu for instructions on purchasing additional attempts.

ALEKS Prep and Learning Module

The Prep and Learning Module is an individualized, self-paced learning tool designed to help students strengthen their mathematics skills.

Based on your initial assessment results, ALEKS identifies topics you have mastered and areas where additional preparation may be beneficial.

You must complete at least one ALEKS PPL Assessment before accessing the module.

After completing your assessment, log back into ALEKS and select the Prep and Learning Module.

You have six months of access to the Prep and Learning Module.

The access period begins when you select "Start" in ALEKS. You should begin the module when you are ready to study.

No. Access to the Prep and Learning Module is included in the initial $25 ALEKS PPL purchase.

Although not required, FAU strongly recommends completing at least 10 hours of preparation before taking another assessment.

You can retake the assessment up to four additional times to improve your placement score.

Knowledge Checks are periodic assessments used to verify that you have mastered topics covered in the learning module.

If you do not demonstrate mastery of a topic, ALEKS will return it to your Learning Pie for additional review.

No. Progress in the Prep and Learning Module does not automatically change your placement score.

To improve your official placement result, you must complete another proctored Placement Assessment.

Select the Placement tab within ALEKS to begin another assessment.

Technical Support and Additional Help

ALEKS assessments must be completed in a proctored environment. A passcode is provided through the testing or remote proctoring process.

Visit the FAU Help Desk proctoring passcode instructions.

Close your browser and log back into ALEKS.

You may need to verify your identity and complete another room scan.

If you reconnect within the three-hour assessment window, ALEKS should resume where you left off without losing your previous answers. The assessment timer continues running during an interruption.

If your session expires, the assessment will be scored using the responses submitted.

For technical help, visit: For questions about testing arrangements or additional assessment attempts, contact the FAU Office of Testing and Evaluation at fautesting@fau.edu.