ALEKS®

Students who have already enrolled or received a grade in an ECC math class are NOT eligible to take the placement unless they earn a grade of A in their first math course taken at ECC. 

Review the testing scores summary to determine if you need to take placement testing. If you have not taken the ACT®, SAT®, PSAT, PARCC®, HiSet®, or high school equivalency tests, or if you do not meet any of the criteria listed in the testing scores summary, you must take ECC’s math placement test.

If you only need to satisfy the geometry requirement, email testing@elgin.edu for Geometry placement instructions.

Taking the math placement test requires the use of Respondus Monitor. Respondus Monitor is a video monitoring service that uses the Respondus Lockdown Browser. It serves as a deterrent to students using secondary computers, phones, calculators, textbooks, or receiving assistance from other students. 

Once a student has taken the placement, a proctor will review the session to ensure no test aids are used, or help is received. You must complete this assessment on your own, as this will ensure you are placed into the best class to help you succeed. Cheating or plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated. Engaging in such activity is considered a violation of our Academic Integrity policy and may result in a score of zero.

Learn more about Respondus Monitor

Respondus Monitor creates a video for the proctor to review at a later time. It is not a remote live proctoring program.

You may NOT use your calculator during this exam. A calculator will be provided on the screen when permitted during the test. The use of a personal calculator will void your attempt.

You shouldn't access other resources (a phone, tablet, notes, books, etc.) during this exam or communicate with others. Please stay in your seat and focus on the computer screen until the exam is complete. If an interruption occurs, briefly explain what happened by speaking directly to your webcam. And finally, remember that you cannot exit the exam until all questions are completed and submitted for grading.

You must complete this assessment on your own, as this will ensure you are placed into the best class to help you succeed. Cheating or plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated. Engaging in such activity is considered a violation of our Academic Integrity policy and may result in a score of 0.

Follow the steps below to register and access ALEKS Placement Prep & Learning, PPL. Please contact ALEKS Customer Support at 800-258-2374 or email support@aleks.com for registration help.

Step 1: Visit aleks.com and select Sign-Up New Student!

Step 2: Enter the 10-character ALEKS code: UCGD6-MNFYK into the Course Code box. Then select Continue.

Step 3: Verify the following:

If the information is correct, select Confirm. If the information is incorrect, select Cancel to re-enter the ALEKS Code.

Step 4: Select “No, I have never used ALEKS before.” Then select Continue.

Even if you have used ALEKS before, you still must select the first option to create a new ALEKS account.

Step 5: Complete the Student Information, and write down the password you create. Enter your seven-digit ECC student ID (including any leading zeroes) in the Student ID text field above. For email, enter the full ECC student email address (lexample1234@student.edu). Review and select “I Agree to the Terms of Use” and click Continue.

Step 6: You’ll next see your Login Name generated by ALEKS. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided, including your Login Name. Be sure to save your Login Name for future ALEKS testing. Select Continue.

Step 7: Click on the title to enter your Math Placement Assessment.

Step 8: A tutorial will begin. To view, click “Next” and follow the prompts on the screen.

Step 9: Complete the Survey and click “Next”.

Step 10: At the end of the survey, click “Continue”.

Step 11: Click “Get Started” to begin the “Take the Tools Tutorial and complete all the practice questions”.

Step 12: Once completed, you will see the below message “Congrats…” click continue.

Step 13: To begin the Placement Assessment, click “GET STARTED”.

Step 14: Click “Launch LockDown Browser + Webcam”.

Step 15: Read the “Terms of Use” and click Agree.

Step16: The “Webcam Check” will begin. Click “Yes” when ready. Remember, you are not able to use a personal calculator during the test.

Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs students on the topics they are most ready to learn. As a student works through the prep modules, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are retained. ALEKS prep modules are complete in their topic coverage, and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions. A student who demonstrates a high mastery of an ALEKS prep module will succeed in the actual course they are taking.

The placement assessment determines the mathematics course in which you will succeed most. Upon completion of the placement assessment, your score is entered into the student system. An academic advisor will review your score and help make appropriate recommendations for course registration during new student orientation.

• Students indicated they are pursuing a degree or certificate with courses requiring math.
• All students who wish to take MTH 102, 104, 110, or MTH 112 do not have the minimum mathematics sub-score ACT 23 or SAT 540 or SAT3 570 or HiSET 15, or GED 165 must take the ALEKS placement assessment.
• Students with the minimum scores listed above and who wish to enter MTH 114, 120, 125, 126, or MTH 190 should also take the ALEKS placement assessment.

Students must take the ALEKS placement assessment before being scheduled for New Student Orientation.

• No appointment is required, and there is no time limit.
• No fee is charged.
• Results are issued to students upon completion of the test.

Students are encouraged to meet with an ECC academic advisor to review test scores and high school and/or college transcripts to determine final placement. If a student does not have high school and/or college transcripts on file, only the ECC Math Placement Test scores will be used to determine the final placement.

Students will take the ALEKS test in the testing center located in Building B, Room B115. Allow at least two hours to take the ALEKS math placement test. Arrive no later than 2 hours before closing.

The testing center hours are:

• Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring:

• Your government-issued photo id, driver’s license, school id, or passport.
• ECC ID number.

We provide:

• Pencils and scratch paper.
• ALEKS provides an on-screen calculator for specific questions.
• No other calculator is allowed. You can solve most questions without a calculator.

When you arrive:

Ask to take the Math Placement Test. The Testing Staff will ask for your photo ID and ECC student ID number. You will be asked to lock away any personal items (cell phones, smartwatches, watches, bookbags, coats, purses, and other electronic devices) in a nearby locker for which you will be given a key.

There is no fee associated with using the ALEKS placement assessment.

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 ECC. 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.

• 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, volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).

Math course requirements are different for each program and certificate. Talk with an academic advisor to determine the math course required for your program.

ECC accepts ALEKS placement scores as long as the assessment was proctored. If the assessment was not completed in a proctored setting, the student must retake the ALEKS placement in a proctored setting for ECC to accept the scores.

Close the browser, or log out and log back in. ALEKS will resume the ALEKS PPL Assessment exactly where you left off without losing your previous answers. Testing staff will need to enter the password to resume the test.

Yes. You may take up to 5 Placement Assessments within one year. To make each attempt worthwhile, you must work on your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between Placement Assessments to improve your skills.

Students wishing to retake the placement assessment may do so after a 24-hour cool-down period between attempts and after completing the required Prep and Learning. Students must complete a minimum of hours in the Prep and Learning Module between assessments.

ECC accepts ALEKS placement scores as long as the assessment is proctored. If you did not complete the assessment in a proctored setting, the student must retake the ALEKS placement in a proctored setting for ECC to accept the scores.

Students can visit ALEKS.com for more detailed information and preview the types of questions by choosing the 'Free Trial' link.

No. You may only use one Prep and Learning Module. If you are unsure which module to select, use the module recommended by ALEKS or consult with your advisor.

No. You must complete a new ALEKS PPL Assessment to change your placement result. Select the placement tab in the upper right corner of the ALEKS page to start a new ALEKS PPL Assessment. Only testing staff can start a new placement assessment in a proctored setting by entering the password.

You will have 12 months of access to your Prep and Learning module. Access to the prep course will not begin until you select start at the top of your screen. Do not select the Prep and Learning Module until you are ready to start working.

No. Access to a Prep and Learning Module and the additional ALEKS PPL Assessment are included.

Yes. You can retake the ALEKS PPL Assessment. up to four additional times to improve your score. The highest score will be used for math placement. You must wait 24 hours between attempts and complete the required time in the Prep and Learning module. 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.

• 3 hours using the Prep and Learning Module before second attempt.
• 3 more hours (6 total) using the Prep and Learning Module before third attempt.
• 5 more hours (11 total) using the Prep and Learning Module before fourth attempt.
• 8 more hours (19 total) using the Prep and Learning Module  before 5th attempt.

While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete a Knowledge Check to ensure 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 to your Learning Pie so you can review them again.