See below for some common questions regarding the ALEKS (Assessment & Learning in Knowledge Spaces) assessment.
If I'm not sure, why should I take the assessment?
If you are not sure whether to take Calculus 1, Long Calculus, or Consolidated Calculus, the ALEKS knowledge check for Calculus can help you assess your level of comfort with the subject matter. However, please note that ALEKS is not a placement test and it will not predict how well you will do in the course. Your performance will depend on the time and effort you put into learning the material, but it can help you assess where you are the least prepared, how much 'catch-up' you may need to do to keep up with the class, and what kinds of academic support you may need to be successful.
Due to the embedded chemistry content, we recommend that students enrolling in CELL 1010 (Intro to Cellular and Molecular Biology) take the Chemistry Knowledge Check and use the Learning Modules to review basic chemistry concepts prior to beginning classes.
The Chemistry Knowledge Check has been customized for General Chemistry I. The CHEM 1070 curriculum assumes that you have mastered these basic concepts and are ready to apply them in a more conceptual manner.
Will my score affect which course I can register for?
No. The Assessment is a self-diagnostic test to give you a good frame of reference for how prepared you are for college math and science. If you are unsure about what class to register for, the results of your Assessment may help you and your advisor make a good decision for you, but it will not be used to assign you to a class.
How long will the assessment take?
The assessment is a maximum of 30 questions and usually takes 60-90 minutes. The time can vary widely among users since ALEKS selects questions based on your success with previous questions, and the problems will be different. You should try to take the entire assessment at one time, but you can save your progress and come back if you need to.
Can I fail ALEKS?
No. ALEKS is not a test- it's an assessment. It tells you what you know and what you don't know. You will know more about some topics than others, and your ALEKS pie may look radically different from someone else's because you attended different schools and had a different learning experience. We recommend that everyone spend some time in the ALEKS Prep & Learning Module to strengthen their knowledge in the areas that show weakness.
Does doing well on ALEKS mean I know the course material and will get an 'A'?
No. ALEKS measures your proficiency with the skills you should have mastered up to this point in order to be ready to take this course. Your grade will depend on your performance in the class. Doing well on the Assessment means you may need to spend less time reviewing or catching up, but you will still need to put in the work to do well in the class.
Will my professor see my score?
Your professor will have access to the ALEKS data, but we send them an aggregate snapshot of the entire class, not individual scores. Again, your score on the Assessment only determines how ready you are to take the class. Your work ethic and study habits will determine your grade in the class.
