Preparation

Students should plan to take ALEKS math assessment based on the schedule below. The score is valid for up to 12 months.

• Fall semester: Take placement exam between March 1 and August 15.
  
   
• Spring semester: Take placement exam between July 1 and January 15.
  
   
• Summer semester: Take placement exam between December 1 and May 15.

Required technology:

Before taking the Placement Assessment make sure you have access to the internet and are using an updated browser. For a list of preferred browsers, please review the ALEKS PPL system requirements on their support site.

ALEKS PPL utilizes the Respondus Lock-down Browser during the assessment. ALEKS PPL will take you through the process of downloading and installing the lock-down browser on the computer you will be using. It is important that the computer has the necessary permissions that will permit you to download and install Respondus.

Signing into ALEKS PPL requires using your KU Online ID and password. If after entering your KU Online ID and password you are not able to access the exam, check that your password is correct. If necessary, you can reset your password. If you are a new student, make sure you have claimed your KU Online ID. New students must claim their KU Online ID 24 hours prior to taking the assessment.

Topics covered during the ALEKS PPL assessment:

ALEKS PPL 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 the University of Kansas. Here are sample topics:

• 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).