Math Placement Test

You may appeal your placement if you’re unhappy with your allotted attempts and have not started the math, English, or reading courses. The Appeal Form is available from the testing staff via a request to testing@elgin.edu. All decisions on appeals will be made by the appropriate academic department designee in 15 business days or less from the submission date of the appeal. All decisions are final. The student may pursue one additional test attempt in the approved subject area if approval is granted.

You can complete a trial assessment by Selecting an ALEKS Free Trial.

Please see the ALEKS PPL Student Module Reference Guide - PDF.

• Uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately zero in on your strengths and any weaknesses in math
• Covers material to place you into the right course, from Basic Math to Calculus
• It contains 20-30 questions and generally takes 45-90 minutes.
• A "Prep and Learning Module" will be provided after your first assessment to help you improve your placement.
• Most students take the placement test more than once.

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Your placement assessment score is a number between 0 and 100. It represents the percentage of topics ALEKS has identified you have mastered. Your ALEKS score and your program of study determine course placement.

Math requirements vary greatly based on your major, degree, or certificate and the requirements of your intended transfer institution. Speak with an academic advisor during new student orientation or before registering to ensure the correct math course is chosen.

Your math placement score is valid for two years. If you have not enrolled in your first math course within two years after taking the ALEKS math placement, you must retake the assessment to enroll in a math course.

Once you have enrolled in a math course at ECC, you will not be eligible to retake the placement assessment unless you earn an A grade in your first math course taken at ECC. After several years, you may continue the math sequence or appeal to take the math placement assessment if you return to ECC.

You will receive a score report at the end of the test, available online within 24 to 48 hours after completion.

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 meet the college-readiness math requirement and want to enroll in MTH 114, MTH 120, MTH 125, MTH 126, or MTH 190, you must also take the ALEKS placement assessment.