Math Placement Assessment
As a Simmons student, you are required to take a Quantitative Literacy course and demonstrate mathematical competency before you can graduate. The math placement assessment is how we make sure that you are placed into the correct mathematics or statistics class for you and your goals.
At Simmons, we use the ALEKS placement to help students figure out which of our courses they are ready for. You can take the ALEKS assessment up to 3 times (the initial placement + 2 retakes) before the start of your first semester at Simmons, and in between you will have the opportunity to practice skills that might need a little bit of a boost.
As a Simmons student you are required to demonstrate competency in mathematics in one of the following ways before you may take a Quantitative Literacy course and certain other courses:
Place out of Math 101 by taking the Math Placement Exam administered by the Office of Undergraduate Advising no later than the start of your first semester at Simmons;
The exam must be taken through the online proctoring system
You may take the placement exam no more than 3 times.
Successfully complete MATH 101 or a higher level mathematics course at Simmons;
Note: enrolling in a higher level course at Simmons without taking the placement exam will require the consent of the instructor
Present evidence of satisfactory completion at another accredited college of a mathematics course at the level of MATH 101 or above to the Registrar’s office.
You must satisfy the math competency requirement during your first year at Simmons. If you are placed into a pre-Math 101 cohort you must attend additional workshops during your fall semester to help prepare you for Math 101, which you will take in their spring semester. If you are placed into Math 101 at orientation or you do not meet the math competency requirement in one of the other ways described above, you must take MATH 101 in the first semester it is available to you.
Taking the ALEKS Math Assessment
When taking the assessment, it's important to remember that this isn't an exam, it's for placement. Think about it like going to the eye doctor — it doesn't matter what prescription you need, what matters is that you get the prescription that fits you.
Because the placement results need to fit you, it's important that you do the work on your own, with no outside help including AI, other people, etc. The only thing you need is a laptop (or iPad) with the software installed, paper, and a pencil. ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator if you need it.
How should you prepare to take the assessment?
The most important way to prepare for the first time you take the assessment is to make sure you have enough time set aside and that you can work uninterrupted. Once you have taken ALEKS the first time, you will be presented with various modules that you can review and practice on if you would like to try to do better.
How long will it take to complete the assessment?
Most students can complete the assessment in about 75 minutes, but we have set the time limit to 3 hours in order to accommodate students who may need extra time or get interrupted.
Try to make sure you have enough time set aside to do the assessment without rushing.
Do you have an accommodation for extra time on exams?
The time given for this assessment is 75 minutes. However, as a courtesy for those who will be registering for accommodations with our OAS office at the start of the semester, we have set the assessment to not close out until 3 hours. This will allow you the right amount of time, including the extra time, to complete the assessment. Be sure to register with OAS at the start of the term to get your accommodations in place for classes.
You will need a Windows, Mac, or Chromebook computer that allows you to install software. If using an iPad, the Respondus app needs to be downloaded. Simmons uses Respondus Monitor, so the the computer will also need a functioning webcam and microphone, as you will be recorded during the assessment.
The links to download the apps are on the ALEKS Respondus Lockdown Browser page. Run the installation program after the download is complete. Note: Even if you have previously downloaded LockDown Browser for another course or assignment, you will still need to download this version as it is unique to ALEKS.
Once Lock DownBrowser is installed, you need to check your setup to be sure LockDown Browser will launch properly from your computer. Setup checks are on the ALEKS Respondus Lockdown Browser page.
If you have any problems with LockDown Browser or the webcam setup, contact ALEKS Tech Support at 1-800-258-2374 or via the support page of their website.
To log in the first time
Go to the ALEKS student sign up page, put in the class code you received in an email from Simmons and click Continue
On the next page you will be asked to confirm that you are being added to the correct cohort (it should indicate that you are joining the incoming class for the semester you are joining Simmons, and that the code is for Simmons University). If the information is correct, click confirm.
On the next page select "No, I have never used ALEKS before" (select this even if you have, it's OK). Click Continue
On the next page you will be asked for your registration information. You can use your preferred name or nickname, but you must enter your Simmons ID number (you can find this on Workday) and use your Simmons email address to register. Agree to the terms of use, etc, and click Continue.
- You’ll next see your Login Name generated by ALEKS. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided that includes your Login Name. Be sure to save this information.
Logging in after the first time
Go to the ALEKS login page and use your ALEKS username and password.
Taking the assessment the first time
After you complete the registration process and log into ALEKS, you can:
Click on the name of your cohort to start the assessment
You will be presented with an introduction to ALEKS PPL and be required to complete a brief survey. Questions on the survey don’t influence the assessment, they just help us make sure you are placed correctly
You will complete a brief Tools Tutorial which shows you how to enter answers into ALEKS PPL.
You are now ready to take the Placement Assessment, so click Get Started!
Retaking the assessment
If you are not satisfied with your initial placement score and would like to try again, you can retake the assessment up to two more times. Before you take the assessment again you will need to wait at least 48 hours and spend at least 5 hours using the Prep and Learning Module, which you can assess from inside ALEKS. These waiting periods are designed to help you prepare so you can do better.
If you are having trouble with the software, your first step should be to contact ALEKS tech support.
ALEKS Tech Support (All times are Eastern Time)
Sunday: 4 pm – 1 am
Mon–Thurs: 7 am – 1 am
Fri: 7 am – 9 pm
Phone: 1-800-258-2374
Email: Email ALEKS Tech Support
Chat hours
Mon–Thurs: 10 am – 10 pm Eastern
Fri: 10 am – 9 pm Eastern
Scores and Placement
After you take the ALEKS exam you will be given a score, which we will use to place you in the appropriate class.
| ALEKS score | Placement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0-13 | Fall pre-101 workshop, Spring Math 101 | Placing into this category does not fill the Quantitative Literacy requirement |
| 14-30 | Math 101 | If you place into this group we recommend that you take Math 101 in your first Fall semester. Placing into this course does not fill the Quantitative Literacy requirement |
| 31-100 | Stat 118 or other Quantitative Literacy course whose prerequisites you meet | If you place into this group then you have passed the Math Competency requirement and you are free to take a Quantitative Literacy course. Check with your advisor to see what course is best for your intended major |
| 46-60 | Precalculus | If you place into this group then you are ready for precalculus. If you need to take Calculus for your major, please discuss this with your advisor or a Math professor |
| 61-75 | Calculus 1 with lab (MATH 120-02) | If you place into this group then you are ready for calculus with a little built-in review of precalculus. If you are planning on a major that requires calculus, then we recommend that you start the calculus sequence as soon as possible |
| 76-100 | Calculus 1 or higher | If you place into this group then you are ready for calculus, or possibly have already taken calculus in high school. If that's the case, then please talk to your advisor or get in touch with Professor Menzin ([email protected]) to get placed into the correct course |
If you are not satisfied with your placement you can retake the assessment up to two more times. ALEKS provides review and practice problems so you can brush up on some topics you might not have seen in a while using their Prep and Learning Modules, which are individualized, self-paced online reviews.
If you took statistics or calculus in high school and want to be placed into a higher class than then STAT 118 or Calculus 1, please reach out to your first year advisor or to Professor Menzin ([email protected]).
Questions?
Office of Undergraduate Advising
If you have questions about ALEKS or placement in general, please reach out to your first-year advisor or to the Simmons Advising team.
If you have questions about specifics mathematics or statistics classes, please reach out to either Professor Menzin or Professor Stubbs.
Margaret Menzin
Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics and Program Director of Mathematical Sciences
Amber Stubbs
Associate Professor and Chair of Computer, Data & Mathematical Sciences, and Undergraduate Computer Science & Informatics Program Director