Mathematics

ALEKS PPL is 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.

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.

Take the ALEKS PPL assessment honestly and to the best of your ability. An accurate assessment of your current mathematical knowledge helps:

• your advisor place you in the appropriate first mathematics course; and
• build the most accurate learning module for your specific needs

To "take the assessment honestly" means you must not consult any outside resources for help (friends/family, phone applications, internet sites, notes, books, etc.). Scratch paper and a pencil is all you need. DO NOT use your calculator.

Please do not be tempted to inflate your placement score by using outside resources! Accurate placement is critically important for your success in mathematics. College level mathematics courses move quickly and assume you have already mastered prerequisite skills. 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. Dishonesty is also a violation 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.

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.

Your goal score depends on the mathematics requirements for your major. Check the specific requirements for your major in the Undergraduate Catalog Program List. The quick reference tables below list requirements for many undergraduate plans.

If you are an Exploratory Studies major, check the requirements for degree plans you’re considering. It is to your advantage to score as high as you can to give yourself options.

If you are an incoming first-year student, you must complete the mathematics assessment.

• 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 need to complete the mathematics assessment 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
• you need a higher mathematics placement score as a prerequisite for a class

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. You need a computer or tablet (such as an iPad) with reliable internet access and a quiet place to work where you won’t be disturbed. Chrome, Firefox, and Safari are preferred browsers. Do not use a cell phone because the screen is too small to display all the information you need.
2. Have paper and pencil ready and nothing else—no calculator or phone, no friends or family, no nothing! Just you 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 take a very brief survey, then 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 and list of eligible math courses, a pie chart showing your areas of strength and weakness, and a personalized review module.
7. After you see your results in ALEKS, return to your myWCU portal and complete any remaining tasks. Because the math assessment is web-based, this task may still be marked as 'in progress' in your new student portal, even if you have completed it. Once you see your score on ALEKS, this task is complete even if the status does not update on your task list.
8. 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?

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 develop 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.

Please resist the temptation to inflate your placement score by using extra 'help' during the assessment! 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.

If you do not reach the minimum goal score for the mathematics course on your degree plan, you will be placed in a developmental course that does not count toward the 120 credits required for graduation. This means you will need to take MAT Q20 or MAT Q30 (depending on your major) AND at least one additional mathematics course.

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!

Note: Because the ALEKS PPL is web-based (not on a WCU system), you may see 'in progress' for this task in your MyWCU portal even if you have completed the assessment. It is OK if this does not change - if you see your ALEKS score, this task is complete, even if the status does not update in your portal.

If you are a first year student:

• Log into myWCU
• In myWCU, 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 myWCU 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.