Mathematics

The test is an online assessment using ALEKS PPL, an artificial intelligence assessment tool that identifies student strengths and weaknesses in mathematics. Using the ALEKS PPL system helps ensure you are adequately prepared for your first mathematics course in college and that you begin with the mathematics course that is most likely to lead to your success.  The ALEKS PPL is only used to place you in your first mathematics course. It cannot be used to place into a higher level course once you have taken a mathematics course at WCU.

The test is adaptive. Once you have submitted an answer, you cannot go back to that question.  There are up to 30 free-response questions and you have up to three hours to complete it. Do not use your own calculator or other resources other than pencil and paper; you may use the onscreen calculator whenever it is shown.

The test is proctored remotely via webcam using Honorlock (link). The placement assessment is covered as part of the  West Chester University Academic Integrity Policy. If your results are flagged for any irregularity, you may be asked to take a proctored exam to confirm your placement.

ALEKS PPL offers you the opportunity to develop your mathematics skills by working through learning modules that are provided free of charge. If you do not achieve your desired placement the first time around, you can work through the modules suggested by ALEKS PPL, then re-take the assessment up to two more times. You have access to the review and placement system for a year from your first test date.

You will need:

• A quiet, private location to limit potential proctoring flags
• A desk or table with pen / pencil and blank paper (no calculator , cell phone, or other items within reach)
• Computer, laptop, or tablet with a camera and Chrome browser installed
• A photo ID (school ID, driver's license, state ID, passport, etc.)

More detailed information about Honorlock proctoring  (including how to handle any technical problems) is available HERE (link),

If you want to review before you take the test (a good idea!),  Khan Academy and Ed Ready are some free options. You can also use the free drop in tutoring on campus in the Math Learning Center (UNA #124). 

STEP 1-Identify the Required Math for Your Major

Go to Find Your Path

Click on the tile for your major, you will see the option to list the degree requirements. Please note that scheduling for the first semester for freshmen is completed by their academic advisor.

STEP 2-Identify the Target Score

Once you have determined what math is required for your major, use the charts below to identify your target score on the Mathematics Placement Assessment.

MAT 101

• 30+: Met goal score
  You can enroll in MAT 101
• 0-29: Acceptable score
  Review / retake recommended. You can enroll in MAT 100. This 4-credit course meets the same requirement as MAT 101 but includes additional support.

MAT 103. 104, 106, and 121

• No PPL score required
• These courses are often taken within majors that require only one unspecified General Education mathematics course.
• Students in these majors (no math beyond courses on this list) do NOT need to take the Mathematics Placement Assessment.
• MAT 121 may also be a required course for majors that require multiple mathematics courses.

MAT 113, 115

• 61+: Exceeds goal score
  You can enroll in MAT 143 or MAT 145 depending on degree plan requirements.
• 45+: Met goal score
  You can enroll in MAT 113 or MAT 115.
• 30-44: Acceptable score
  You can enroll in MAT 112. This 4-credit course meets the same requirement as MAT 113 but includes additional support. Consider review / retake to try and improve your score.
• 0 – 29: Below goal score
  Review / retake STRONGLY recommended. Your algebra skills need improvement before you are ready for a college algebra course. If you do not improve your score to at least 30, you will need to take one additional prerequisite course (MAT 103, 104, 106, or 121), then MAT 112. Please consult with your advisor prior to making a course selection.

MAT 131, 143, 145

• 75+: Exceeds goal score
  You can enroll in MAT 161 depending on degree plan requirements.
• 61-74: Met goal score
  You can enroll in MAT 131, MAT 143, or MAT 145 depending on your degree plan requirements.
• 45 – 60: Below goal score
  Review / retake recommended. You need to complete one pre-requisite course, either MAT 113 or MAT 115 depending on your degree requirements, before you can enroll in MAT 131, 143, or 145.
• 30 – 44: Below goal score
  Review / retake recommended. You need to complete one pre-requisite course, MAT 112, before you can enroll in MAT 131, 143, or 145. MAT 112 meets the same requirement as MAT 113 but includes additional support in both content and class time.
• 0 – 29 – Two levels below goal score
  Review / retake STRONGLY recommended. Your algebra skills need improvement before you are ready for a college algebra or calculus course. If you do not improve your score to at least 30, you will need two pre-requisite courses before you can enroll in MAT 131, 143, or 145. Initial pre-requisite choices include MAT 103, 014, 106, or 121. Please consult your advisor prior to choosing the course. After successful completion you can enroll in MAT 112.

MAT 161

• 75+ Met goal score
  You can enroll in MAT 161.
• 61 – 74: One level below goal score Met goal score
  Review / retake recommended. If you do not improve your score to at least 75, you will need to successfully complete one pre-requisite course (MAT 131 Precalculus) before you can enroll in MAT 161.
• 45 – 60: Two levels below goal score
  Review / retake STRONGLY recommended. Your pre-Calculus skills need improvement before you are ready for a college Calculus course. If you do not improve your score to at least 61, you will need to successfully complete two prerequisite courses (starting with MAT 113 or MAT 115) before you can enroll in MAT 161.
• 30 – 44: Two levels below goal score
  Review / retake STRONGLY recommended. Your pre-Calculus skills need improvement before you are ready for a college Calculus course. If you do not improve your score to at least 61, you will need to successfully complete two prerequisite courses (starting with MAT 112 – Algebra and Functions with Support) before you can enroll in MAT 161.
• 0 – 29: Three levels below goal score
  Review / retake STRONGLY recommended. Your algebra and pre-Calculus skills need significant improvement before you are ready for a college Calculus course. If you do not improve your score to at least 30, you will need three pre-requisite courses before you can enroll in MAT 161. The initial pre-requisite choices include MAT 103, 104, 106, or 121. Please consult your advisor prior to choosing the course.

If you are an incoming first-year student in a major that requires an algebra or calculus course, there will be a link to the assessment in your Journey. If you think you should have the link but don't see it, contact your academic advisor.

• You should complete the assessment as soon as possible so there is time to review and retake it if needed.
• You need to take assessment even if you have AP or dual enrollment mathematics credits transferring to WCU. Your schedule will be adjusted later if needed once these credits post.
• You will not receive a schedule unless all assessments in the First-Year Enrollment Portal are complete, including the mathematics assessment.

If you are a transfer or readmit student, you will have a link to the mathematics assessment in your Journey if:

• you have not transferred a mathematics course to WCU, or
• the mathematics course you transferred to WCU does not fulfill the mathematics general education or major requirement, or
• your previous mathematics course(s) do not meet the prerequisite for the WCU mathematics course you want to take

If you are a non-degree student, you need to complete the mathematics assessment if you want to enroll in a mathematics course and

• you do not have a college-level mathematics course on your transcript, or
• your previous mathematics course(s) do not meet the prerequisite for the WCU mathematics course you want to take

Take the assessment as early as possible so you have time to review and retake it if you need to!

You must meet the prerequisite ALEKS PPL score before you can enroll in a mathematics course. You will have access to the review modules for 12 months once you start. To give yourself the best chance of meeting your score goal (and getting a seat in the course you want!) do not procrastinate.

1. ALEKS PPL is a web-based program.  The test is proctored using Honorlock remote proctoring. You need a computer or tablet with Chrome installed (such as an iPad) with a camera, reliable internet access and a quiet place to work where you won’t be disturbed. Do not use a cell phone because the screen is too small to display all the information you need.
2. Have your photo ID, paper and pencil ready and nothing else—no calculator or phone, no friends or family, no nothing! Just you, your computer, and your writing instruments.
3. The assessment consists of about 30 questions. Once you begin, you have 3 hours to complete it. Most students take between 60 and 90 minutes. If you don’t complete the assessment within 3 hours, your progress will reset and you will have to start again. IF YOU NEED AN ACCOMMODATION (use a screen reader, etc.) contact mathexam@wcupa.edu before you start the assessment.
4. Keep in mind:
   • You cannot return to questions after you submit answers because the system is adaptive. Make sure you carefully check your answer before submitting your response.
   • If you have any familiarity with a question, try your best to answer. ALEKS PPL adapts as you work through the assessment, using your answers to pinpoint what you do and don’t know and what questions to present next.
   • You are likely to encounter material you have never learned. On those questions, it is OK to select "I don’t know."
5. After logging in, you will confirm your identity with Honorlock, then take a short tutorial on using ALEKS PPL. The tutorial shows you how to navigate the ALEKS PPL system and how to enter answers (fractions, math symbols, etc.). Your timed assessment will begin after the tutorial.
6. Once you complete the assessment, ALEKS PPL shows your score, a pie chart showing your areas of strength and weakness, and a personalized review module. Return to this page "What score do I need?" to see if you are on-track for your major OR need to review and retake the assessment.
7. When you're ready, click the purple "Start My Mathematics Assessment" button below. Use your WCU email as your user login and the password you have chosen for your campus e-mail as your password.
   Start My Mathematics Assessment

    

Did you meet the goal score for the first mathematics course in your major? (Check the "What score do I need?" tab if you're not sure)

YES: Congratulations! Even if you place into your desired/required mathematics class, consider doing the review and re-taking the assessment. Give yourself options and set yourself up for success by trying for highest ALEKS PPL score you can!

• Improving your background and knowledge prior to taking your required class will likely improve your performance in that course.
• You may change your major and need to take a higher-level mathematics class.
• You may be interested in a specialized career path or graduate school that requires a mathematics course beyond your degree plan requirements.

NO: Don’t despair! When you complete the assessment, ALEKS PPL will show your placement score AND will create individualized learning modules for you. These modules are designed to refresh your skills and provide you with the opportunity to earn a higher placement. You do not have to complete all the review at once but working through the process in a timely manner is the best way to improve your score.

Once you have spent at least 5 hours working on the review, you will have the opportunity to retake the assessment. If you have not yet met your placement goal, you can work on more review topics (minimum of 8 additional hours), then attempt the assessment for a third and final time.

Accurate placement is critically important for your success in mathematics. College level mathematics courses cover more content in a 15-week semester meeting 3 hours per week than a typical high school course covers in 35 weeks meeting daily. You are much more likely to fail a course if your prerequisite skills are rusty or have gaps, or you relied on a calculator for the assessment and need to take course that does not allow you to use one. If your results are flagged for any reason, you may be asked to retake the assessment with proctoring.

To give yourself the best chance of improving your placement:

• Don’t procrastinate. Working through the review/retake process in a short time frame (days or weeks, NOT months) gives you a better chance of improving your score.
• Work on more difficult topics in ALEKS PPL. Reviewing easy topics will not help your score.
• The more topics you master, the higher your likelihood of improving your placement score. Learning approximately 70 topics on your ALEKS PPL Pie correlates to the highest likelihood of improving your placement score to the next level.
• Set a realistic and specific goal for yourself such as “I am going to aim for 70 topics and learn 7 per day over the next 10 days.”
• Be realistic. Don’t be tempted to inflate your score – you are unlikely to be successful in a mathematics course if you don’t have the prerequisite skills!

 

Students have access to the PPL for 12 months from their initial test date for review and up to two retakes. If you need access after your WCU-paid subscription to the PPL has expired, there is a $20 fee for a new subscription. Contact mathexam@wcupa.edu for more information.

To unlock a 2nd placement attempt,  you must spend at least 5 hours working in your personalized review modules, which were built based on your performance on your first test attempt. To get started on the review, click the "ALEKS Review Modules" button above. If you don't get the score you need on your 2nd attempt, you are eligible for a 3rd and final attempt if you complete an additional 8 hours of review work in the modules.

To give yourself the best chance to improve your placement:

• You do not have to complete all the review at once but working through the process in a timely manner (a few days or weeks) is the best way to improve your score.  You can see the  minimum review time still required in the blue bar on the left side of the ALEKS home page.  
• Complete at least 70 ALEKS review topics, even if this takes you longer than the minimum required hours. 

On your retake:

• Have blank paper and a pencil ready and NOTHING ELSE (no calculator, cell phone, smart watch, etc.)  Close all other programs and browser tabs on your computer before starting the assessment and leave them closed until you've finished.
• You may use the onscreen ALEKS calculator whenever it is shown.
• If you have any familiarity with a question, try your best to answer. ALEKS adapts as you work through the assessment, using your answers to pinpoint what you do and don’t know and what questions to present next.
• You cannot return to questions after you submit answers. Carefully check your entry before submitting your response.
• You may encounter material you have never learned. On those questions, it is OK to select "I don’t know." 

Please do not attempt to inflate your placement score by using a phone app, website, or any other resources. You are much more likely to fail a math course if your prerequisite skills are rusty or have gaps, or you relied on a calculator for the assessment and need to take a course that does not allow you to use one.  If your results are flagged for any reason, you may be asked to retake the assessment with proctoring.

The PPL math assessment is only used to place students in an initial mathematics course.  It cannot be used to improve your placement after you have taken  a mathematics course at WCU.

If you are a first year student:

• Log into Ramportal
• In Ramportal, find the “Request to Change First Semester Schedule” form under Useful Links in the Academic Information section.
• Complete and submit the “Request to Change First Semester Schedule” form.

If you are a returning, transfer, or non-degree student, you can add or drop courses through your Ramportal account. Please allow up to 24 hours for your new score to load to the registrar's system. IMPORTANT: changes to your mathematics courses should be made in consultation with an academic advisor.

The PPL math assessment is only used to place students in an initial mathematics course.  It cannot be used to improve your placement after you have taken  a mathematics course at WCU.