Preparation

FRESHMEN ENTERING FAU FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SPRING 2019 SHOULD NOT TAKE THE ALEKS PLACEMENT ASSESSMENT. 

Why must I take the ALEKS PPL Assessment? 

The Placement Assessment is used to determine the mathematics course in which you will have the greatest success. Upon completion of the Placement Assessments, your score will be entered in your academic record. That score will be used to determine your ability to register for particular mathematics courses.

Who has to take the ALEKS PPL Assessment?

 All students with no prior college-level mathematics coursework – that is, coursework appearing on the student’s FAU academic record as equivalent to FAU mathematics courses – must take the Assessment. We also strongly encourage those students with coursework taken over a year before to take the Assessment to determine their readiness for mathematics at FAU. Students who are not prepared should spend considerable time in the Prep and Learning Module or consider enrolling in FAU's Math Boot Camp .

Prep and Learning Modules and a retake of ALEKS PPL have been shown to improve your PPL score so that you can move to a higher level course, thereby graduating sooner and avoiding an expense for excess credits.

Some courses require ALEKS PPL both early in the term and at the end of the term.  If you have already taken ALEKS PPL 5 times and need to retake the assessment, please email  fautesting@fau.edu  for instructions on purchasing another 5 attempts.

When do I take the ALEKS PPL Assessment?

  The ALEKS PPL Assessment must be taken within one year of the start of the semester in which you plan to take a mathematics course. You must take the proctored ALEKS PPL Assessment well before the start of registration for the semester. New students must take the proctored Assessment well before their Orientation session. Any delay in taking the Assessment may result in their inability to register for a mathematics course, as well as other courses that require mathematics as a prerequisite.

Where can I have my ALEKS PPL Assessments proctored?

 FAU’s Office of Testing and Evaluation maintains an extensive list of proctoring dates, times, and locations. Students may also take the Assessment remotely with a webcam using HonorLock. Students unable to test at FAU or remotely using Honorlock should contact FAU's Office of Testing and Evaluation at fautesting@fau.edu .

Is there a fee for using ALEKS PPL?

 There is a charge of $25, which includes five ALEKS PPL Assessments and the Prep and Learning Module. Students have access to the Assessments for one year from date of initial payment and the Prep and Learning Modules for six months. Students pay the $25 with a credit card by clicking on "LOGIN/PAYMENT" in the menu at the top of the page. Students who wish to take the proctored Assessment elsewhere may do so but there is an additional charge of $12.75 for each HonorLock Remote Proctor Assessment attempt.

Do I need to install any software or plug-ins prior to using the HonorLock Remote taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment? 

 Yes, you    will need to use Google Chrome and install the HonorLock Chrome extension prior to using the HonorLock Remote Assessment. Information on the HonorLock Chrome extension installation is at https://honorlock.com/extension/aleks?v=faualeks .

What topics are covered during the ALEKS PPL Assessment?

 ALEKS PPL is an online, adaptive system that covers a broad spectrum of mathematics topics. The length of the Placement Assessment will vary, but can be up to 30 questions. 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 FAU. 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.

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).

Can I practice using the ALEKS input tools before I begin the Placement Assessment?

 Yes. 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. Because each Assessment attempt must be proctored, a password must be entered by the proctor (or remote proctoring system) before beginning the Assessment. 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 affect your Placement Assessment results.

What are the system requirements to use Aleks PPL and Honorlock?

HONORLOCK SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS                                            

  ALEKS PPL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

 

 

 

 

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