Math Placement
UND requires an ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics classes, and ensure students are taking the most appropriate mathematics class for their knowledge level.
Who Should Take the Math Placement Assessment?
All students who have a major or double major, where a math class is required, need to take the math placement assessment unless an approved placement method such as ACT/SAT scores, exam credits, or transfer credits are applicable. It is recommended that new incoming students complete the placement assessment at least two weeks prior to registering for classes.
Students taking a math class in a future semester at UND must complete the math placement assessment prior to registering for a math class for that semester.
If you have one of the following majors, you do not need to complete the math placement assessment:
- American Indian Studies
- Anthropology
- Aviation Safety & Operations
- Communication
- Early Childhood Education
- English
- Environmental Studies
- General Studies
- Graphic Design
- Health Studies
- History
- International Studies
- Journalism
- Kinesiology
- Languages (Classical Studies, French, German, Norwegian or Spanish)
- Music
- Musical Theatre
- Philosophy & Ethics
- Public Health Education
- Social Science
- Theatre Arts
- Visual Arts
- Women & Gender Studies
Keep in mind if you change to a different major that requires math, you may be required to take the math placement assessment.
About ALEKS PPL
Class credit cannot be earned by taking the ALEKS PPL. The ALEKS PPL consists of three parts:
- An initial placement assessment
- The prep and learning module - an individualized, self-paced online review
- Access to 2 additional placement assessments
- You must wait 48 hours between placement assessments
- If you want to improve your score after the initial placement assessment, you must spend 3 hours in the prep and learning module before the 2nd placement assessment
- If you want to improve your 2nd score, you must spend 5 hours in the prep and learning module before taking the 3rd placement assessment
- The highest score is used for placement into a math class
What is the Purpose of the Placement Assessment?
ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that maps a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The Placement Assessment is up to 30 questions and takes about 60-90 minutes to complete. After the Placement Assessment, an individualized Prep and Learning Module is available for students to refresh their knowledge on forgotten topics. Students then can reassess and improve their placement if they choose.
Access Math Placement Assessment
To access the math placement assessment, read through the instructions below and then take the Placement Assessment.
- The Placement Assessment results will be used to determine the most appropriate classes for each student as they move forward in college. After taking a Placement Assessment, students should connect with their academic advisor to register for classes based on their scores.
- This is a placement assessment - not a test. It is designed to determine what a student knows and what a student needs to work on. At the end of the ALEKS PPL Assessment, a student will have the chance to brush up on topics that may have been forgotten or haven’t been practiced for some time.
- Be honest. There is no benefit to cheating on the Placement Assessment – the only result will be that a student enrolls in a class that is too difficult, potentially costing time and money. The purpose of the Placement Assessment is to give an accurate measure of a student’s current math knowledge so that they will be successful in math classes.
Placement Assessment FAQs
It is open-response and requires you to work out solutions with a paper and pencil, then enter them into ALEKS. Be sure to have scratch paper with you.
ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator if you need one to complete a particular problem. Otherwise, you may not use a calculator.
You may only use a pen or pencil, paper, and the resources provided within ALEKS. You should not receive assistance from friends, family, other websites, textbooks, or any other resource not provided by ALEKS. Using outside resources will lead to improper placement and potentially cause failure. It is a violation of the UND Code of Student Life.
Once you submit an answer, it cannot be changed. Be sure to carefully check your answer before submitting your response.
It is likely that you will be asked questions on material you have not yet learned. It is okay to answer, I don't know. ALEKS interprets this to mean that you do not know how to solve the topic. There is no penalty for incorrectly answering a question, it only helps ALEKS understand what you know and don’t know. If you are familiar with a question, do your best to answer it.
Yes, the Placement Assessment is timed. You have access to the Placement Assessment for 2 hours once it has begun.
If the Placement Assessment is unproctored, you will have to restart the Placement Assessment. If the incomplete Placement Assessment is proctored and timed, you will be given a placement result, but it may not be a true reflection of your abilities.
Yes. There are other ways to place into math classes.
- ACT or SAT math subscores, if officially submitted to UND, can place you into the following math classes:
*ACT Placement
| ACT Math Subscore | Math Class Placement |
|---|---|
| 0 - 20 | Math 98 |
| 21 - 25 | Math 103, 105, 107, or 110 |
| 26 - 36 | Math 103, 105, 107, 110, 146, or 208* |
| 27 - 36 |
Math 103, 105, 107, 110, 146, 165, or 208* *Math 208 is not recommended for first semester freshmen. |
*SAT Placement
Placement based on SAT is as follows:
- SAT Math score of 530 or higher may register for Math 103, 105, 107, or 110
2. Scores from AP (Calculus AB or Calculus BC exams), CLEP (College Algebra, Precalculus, or Calculus exams), or IB (mathematics) exams, if officially submitted, can be used to place you in the correct math class. See the AP, CLEP, and IB links above for details.
3. PSEO or dual-credit classes successfully completed in math can place you into the next appropriate math class.
4. Transfer credits in math can place you into the next appropriate math class.
*Submitting official ACT / SAT scores to UND does not give students academic credit for math. Scores are used only as a placement tool for a student's first semester.
Taking the Placement Assessment
If you are a new student and have not attempted the placement assessment yet, log in with your NDUS.identifier and the password you created when you claimed your UND account. Current students should use the same log-in information you use for Blackboard, Campus Connection, and your UND email.
BEGIN FIRST PLACEMENT ASSESSMENT
If you have completed at least one placement assessment attempt previously, please use the link below to return to the placement assessment.
RETURN TO PLACEMENT ASSESSMENT
Placement Results
Your placement result is a number between 0 and 100. The table below indicates the math classes your score will allow you to register for.
Please note, your ALEKS PPL score is not indicative of whether or not you will be able to successfully pass the class you've placed into at UND. Your academic advisor will work with you to select the appropriate class based on your program or major. Due to the structure of math prerequisites at UND, you need to confirm you are on the correct path to fulfill major requirements.
ALEKS PPL Scores
| ALEKS PPL Score | Note |
|---|---|
| < 30 |
A score below 30 indicates that a student is not likely to be successful in a UND math class. Although you may register for Math 98: Intermediate Algebra, we strongly recommend that you spend the time working in your Prep & Learning Module prior to the start of the class as it will help you improve your likelihood of success in the class. Students with a score below 30 will be contacted by the UND Math Department to ensure they are prepared to succeed in Math 98. Failure to work with the department will result in the student being dropped from Math 98. |
| ALEKS PPL Score | Class # | Class Title |
|---|---|---|
| 30 - 45 | Math 98 | Intermediate Algebra |
| 46 - 60 |
Math 98 Math 103 Math 105 Math 107 Math 110 |
Intermediate Algebra College Algebra Trigonometry Precalculus Mathematics in Society |
| 61 - 75 |
Math 98 Math 103 Math 105 Math 107 Math 110 Math 146 Math 208* |
Intermediate Algebra College Algebra Trigonometry Precalculus Mathematics in Society Applied Calculus Discrete Mathematics |
| 76+ |
Math 98 Math 103 Math 105 Math 107 Math 110 Math 146 Math 165 Math 208*
|
Intermediate Algebra College Algebra Trigonometry Precalculus Mathematics in Society Applied Calculus Calculus I Discrete Mathematics |
ALEKS PPL Scores FAQs
- You will receive your score immediately upon completion of your Placement Assessment.
- Your ALEKS PPL score can be viewed by re-entering ALEKS using the same access link for which you took the Placement Assessment.
- Your scores will be added to Campus Connection, which is accessible by your academic advisor.
- Your scores will be verified by the math department before the semester begins.
Your placement result is valid for up to 12 months.
This is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the Prep and Learning Modules offered within ALEKS PPL. An individualized study plan will be created for you.
You must achieve the minimum placement result to take each corresponding class. If you have other class credit or test scores (AP, ACT, CLEP, etc.) that allow placement into a mathematics class, talk with your academic advisor.
Math Placement FAQs
The Placement Assessment is used to determine the mathematics class in which you will have the greatest success. Your academic advisor will review your scores and help make appropriate recommendations for class registration.
Students should complete the ALEKS PPL Assessment at least 2 weeks prior to registering for classes.
No, it is not required for the first three placement attempts. We reserve the right to require a student to take a placement assessment in a proctored environment.
No, there is no fee for the use of ALEKS PPL.
No. There are no required plug-ins or applets required with your use of ALEKS PPL. You must have access to the internet and use an updated browser. For a list of preferred browsers, please review the ALEKS system requirements on their support site.
ALEKS PPL is an online, adaptive system that covers a broad spectrum of math topics. The length of the Placement Assessment will vary, but can be up to 30 questions. It is designed to identify if you are prepared for a particular class. After you take your first Placement Assessment, you will have the opportunity to review and master additional topics to reassess and improve your placement.
Topics covered:
- 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, and volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).
ALEKS will begin with a brief tutorial to make sure you are comfortable with the math palette tools before your Placement Assessment begins. The tutorial shows you how to enter different types of answers, how to use the ALEKS calculator, and how to graph. If you aren’t sure how to input an answer, or need help while you are taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment, select the Help button below the answer pallet tools. Going to the tutorial during your Placement Assessment will NOT impact your Placement Assessment results.
Prep & Learning Modules
You will have twelve months of access to your Prep and Learning Module. Access to the prep class will not begin until you select start on the top of your screen. DO NOT select into the Prep and Learning Module until you are ready to start working.
Access to a Prep and Learning Module is included along with the additional Placement Assessments.
You can retake the Placement assessment up to two additional times to improve your score. (The highest score will be used for math placement). 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.
- 2nd attempt—required to complete 3 hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting 2nd assessment.
- 3rd attempt—required to complete 5 additional hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting 3rd assessment.
While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete a Knowledge Check to make sure 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 back into your Learning Pie so you can review them again.
No. You must complete a new Placement Assessment to change your placement result. Select the placement tab in the upper right corner of the ALEKS page to start a new Placement Assessment.
Technical Support
Simply close the browser, or log out and log back in. ALEKS will resume the Placement Assessment exactly where you left off, with no loss of your previous answers.
Students can call ALEKS Customer Support at 1.800.258.2374 or visit the placement assistance website to submit a customer support ticket.