MATHEMATICS
On this page, you will find valuable information to successfully complete the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment. This assessment is necessary to register for a Precalculus or Calculus course if you do not have transfer credit or Advanced Placement credit for such a course. Follow the links to the answers to the questions below.
Why would I need the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment?
Majors in the STEM areas and several in non-STEM areas will be required to take a Precalculus or Calculus course. To register for such a course, you must demonstrate that you have background knowledge and skills to be successful in such a course. Your score on the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment is the demonstration of that.
Hofstra’s course registration system will look for either prerequisite courses for any course and, if no prerequisite course exists, will look specifically for a minimum ALEKS Math Placement score to register for Precalculus or Calculus.
What is the ALEKS PPL MATH PLACEMENT Assessment?
The Placement, Preparation and Learning (PPL) ALEKS Student Module is a virtual AI platform where students can be assessed for their readiness for Precalculus or Calculus. The platform also provides students with an opportunity to enhance their skills via a prep module created based on the student’s score. (ALEKS is a product of McGraw-Hill and is in use by many colleges and universities around the world for this purpose.)
The actual placement test will take between 1 ½ and 2 hours to complete.
The ALEKS Placement Assessment is adaptive in that you will be presented with topics as you demonstrate that you have knowledge and skill with them. It starts with some basic algebra and will move you progressively through more advanced Precalculus topics as you answer questions correctly. You cannot choose these topics. Your score is not determined by the number of correct answers, but by how far you have progressed into and through Precalculus topics. In this way, the score is an indicator of your readiness for Calculus or Precalculus.
You should proceed with both accuracy and speed. After your first attempt, you can enhance your accuracy and speed by working on the Prep Module created for you. To improve your score, you should spend as much time as necessary so that you are being presented with problems that are traditionally taught in precalculus courses. These include “functions and relations” and “trigonometry.”
You will need to work on the prep module for at least 8 hours in it before being able to retake the placement assessment.
How will my score be used to determine my Math Class and the registration process?
Placement into the courses below have minimum ALEKS scores that will allow you to register for them.
MATH 71 requires an ALEKS PPL score of 76 or higher.
MATH 50 requires an ALEKS PPL score of 61 or higher.
MATH 50C requires an ALEKS PPL score in the range 55-60 and is only available for students who must take Math 71 for their major.
Students whose score is below 60 will take: MATH 6A
Note that Math 50 or 50C is a prerequisite for Math 71 and, if you take and pass Math 50 or 50C, you will not have to retake the placement test to take Math 71.
In the same way, Math 6A is a prerequisite for Math 50 and, if you take and pass Math 6A, you will not have to retake the placement test to take Math 50 or 50C.
When you register for a course, the system checks for the appropriate placement score. Therefore, the ALEKS PPL cannot be avoided.
What must I do prior to taking the Placement Assessment, if I am a brand-new first-year Hofstra student ?
The steps you need to follow are:
If you are a brand new, first-year student with a major requiring one of the math courses listed above, you should have the ALEKS icon without having to request access to ALEKS under My Apps on the top right of your Hofstra Portal (the waffle menu).
Open the app and make sure that you have access to ALEKS. If you see a message that your access has expired, please contact your advisor immediately.
Once in the app, you will be guided through a survey concerning your prior math courses, a tutorial on the on-line tools that are used during the placement test. Note that you are not allowed to use any kind of electronic device while taking the placement test and that an on-line calculator will be provided to you by ALEKS when you are answering a question for which a calculator is appropriate.
You will also be guided through the setting up of Respondus Lock Down Browser and Monitor on your device. These apps will disable access to all other sites or utilities on your device while taking the placement test. You will also need a webcam attached to your device as you will be recorded while taking the placement test. If at any point during this setup, you encounter technical problems, you should contact the McGraw-Hill ALEKS support team at the number that appears on your ALEKS page.
An email will be sent to you on the mornings of the days on which the placement test can be taken with the password you will need to take the test. Make sure that you have that password handy as you need it to begin the test.
What must I do prior to taking the Placement Assessment, if I am a current Hofstra student?
Go to the Hofstra Student Portal and click My Apps on the top right (the waffle menu). You should use the icon “ALEKS Sign-Up” to request access to ALEKS.
Once your information is processed, you should see an ALEKS icon.
Open the app and make sure that you have access to ALEKS. If you see a message that your access has expired, please contact your advisor immediately.
Once in the app, you will be guided through a survey concerning your prior math courses, a tutorial on the on-line tools that are used during the placement test. Note that you are not allowed to use any kind of electronic device while taking the placement test and that an on-line calculator will be provided to you by ALEKS when you are answering a question for which a calculator is appropriate.
You will also be guided through the setting up of Respondus Lock Down Browser and Monitor on your device. These apps will disable access to all other sites or utilities on your device while taking the placement test. You will also need a webcam attached to your device as you will be recorded while taking the placement test. If at any point during this setup, you encounter technical problems, you should contact the McGraw-Hill ALEKS support team at the number that appears on your ALEKS page.
An email will be sent to you on the mornings of the days on which the placement test can be taken with the password you will need to take the test. Make sure that you have that password handy as you need it to begin the test.
How do I begin the Placement Assessment?
Prior to beginning the test, you will have to complete a Student Survey. This is done only once before your first ALEKS test.
You will have to complete a “Tools Tutorial” before your first attempt. This is also done only once before your first ALEKS test.
You should NOT use a personal Calculator or any other reference material. You will not be allowed a calculator or other resources during the proctored test. ALEKS has a built-in calculator which will appear when numerical calculations are required and not part of the skill being tested.
You should be using a desktop or a fully charged laptop. You are allowed scratch paper along with pens or pencils, but nothing else. As you will be recorded while taking the test, it is important that you do not have a calculator or mobile device near you while you take the test. Any movement with such a device will void your attempt and may invoke Hofstra University’s Academic Honesty Policy.
You will be asked to enter the password provided to you by email on the morning of the beginning of the window during which the placement exam can be taken.
Several screens with valuable information will pop up and you will click your way through them.
You will then be presented with the first problem of the placement test. Continue until you are finished.
How will I know my score?
Immediately upon completing the last question, you will see your score.
Can I retake the test?
Yes, you can retake the test, but you will need to spend at least 8 hours on the prep module before you are allowed to do so. Generally, the next available window is a week later which gives you plenty of opportunity to work through the entire prep module.
You will also need to request a retake using the ALEKS Sign-Up icon that appears in the waffle menu at the top right of your Hofstra Portal.
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