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Policies, Procedures, and Math Placement Testing
In addition to the general AUM Academic policy, the department issues several policies such as the Calculator policy, Math Lab policy, Placement policy, etc.
The College of Sciences offers students a scientific education to meet the needs of the 21st century, allowing them to compete for a variety of careers in an increasingly complex and evolving world.
Mathematics Placement
ALEKS Math Placement Test
Click here for information about the ALEKS Math Placement Program.
Students who wish to take the Aleks Math Placement Test begin by registering with the ALEKS Program.
Students who are ready to register for an on-campus, proctored Aleks Math Placement Test can do so by clicking here.
About the ALEKS Math Placement Test
Each test consists of approximately 30 questions and takes about 60-90 minutes to complete. However, you’ll have three hours to finish the test.
Answers are free-form (not multiple-choice) and require an input that’s either a number, expression, graph or some other type of mathematical quantity. Most questions require you to work out the problem on a piece of paper to determine the final answer. You then input the answer using the keyboard and mouse.
A calculator is provided within ALEKS for those questions where one is needed. No outside devices, notes, textbooks, or other materials are allowed during the test.
Improving Your Math Placement
ALEKS can be used for math placement from the time of admission through the start of classes. The better result between a student’s ACT/SAT Math score and proctored ALEKS test score (before the first day of classes) will be used for placement in a first math course.
Prerequisites
Note: Each student must fulfill AT LEAST ONE of the prerequisite columns to enroll in the class. (updated 10/12/20)
Course | Minimum ACT/SAT Score Prerequisite | Minimum ALEKS Placement Test Score Prerequisite | Minimum Course Credit Prerequisite |
---|---|---|---|
MATH 0020 | None | None | None |
MATH C1020 + MATH 0020 | ACT (0-21) | ALEKS (0-45) | None |
MATH 1020 Contemporary Math | ACT Math: 22 OR SAT Math (old): 520 SAT Math (new)**: 550 | 46 | C# in MATH 0703 OR C# in MATH 0803 OR C# in MATH 0902 OR C# in MATH 0903 |
Math 0050 | ACT 17 | ALEKS 25 | B#/C# in MATH 0703 or C in MATH 1020 or STAT 1070 |
MATH C1050 + MATH 0050 | ACT (17 – 21) | ALEKS (25 – 45) | B#/C# in MATH 0703 or C in MATH 1020 or STAT 1070 |
MATH 1050 College Algebra | ACT Math: 22 OR SAT Math (old): 520 SAT Math (new)**: 550 | 46 | A# in MATH 0703 C# in MATH 0803 C# in MATH 0902 C# in MATH 0903 B in MATH 1020 or STAT 1070 |
MATH 0120 | ACT 18 | ALEKS 30 | A#/B#/C# in MATH 0703 C# in MATH 0803/0902/0903 B in MATH 1020 or STAT 1070 D in MATH 1050 |
MATH C1120 + MATH 0120 | ACT MATH 18 – 21 | ALEKS 30 - 55 | A#/B#/C# in MATH 0703 C# in MATH 0803/0902/0903 B in MATH 1020 or STAT 1070 D in MATH 1050 |
MATH 1120 Precalculus Algebra | ACT Math: 22 OR SAT Math (old): 520 SAT Math (new)**: 550 | 56 | (B# in MATH 0803/0902/0903) OR C in MATH 1050 |
MATH 1130 Trigonometry | ACT Math: 23 OR SAT Math (old): 540 SAT Math (new)**: 565 | 66 | C in MATH 1050 OR D in MATH 1120 |
MATH 1150 Precalculus Algebra with Trigonometry | ACT Math: 23 OR SAT Math (old): 540 SAT Math (new)**: 565 | 66 | B# in MATH 0803 OR B# in MATH 0902 OR B# in MATH 0903 OR C in MATH 1050 OR D in MATH 1120 |
MATH 1510 Survey of Calculus | ACT Math: 25 OR SAT Math (old): 580 SAT Math (new)**: 600 | 71 | D in MATH 1120 OR D in MATH 1150 |
MATH 1610 Calculus I | ACT Math: 26 OR SAT Math (old): 600 SAT Math (new)**: 620 | 76 | D in MATH 1150 OR D in MATH 1120 and D in MATH 1130) |
STAT 0070 | None | None | None |
STAT C1070 + STAT 0070 | ACT (0-21) | ALEKS (0-45) | None |
STAT 1070 Elementary Statistics | ACT MATH: 22 OR SAT Math (old): 520 SAT Math (new)**: 550 | 46 | C# in MATH 0703 OR C# in MATH 0803 OR C# in MATH 0902 OR C# in MATH 0903 |
Note: Each student must fulfill AT LEAST ONE of the prerequisite columns to enroll in the class. (Updated 05/29/2024)
* Corequisite Support for MATH xxxx classes are taken concurrently with the respective MATH xxxx class
** SAT score since March 2016
Mathematics Placement FAQ
If you haven’t taken the ACT (or SAT) – Yes. If you have taken the ACT (or SAT) – No.
It depends. Most scores expire after 1-2 years, and some scores are not transferable to other institutions. We’ll evaluate other scores on a case-by-case basis.
The ALEKS product from McGraw-Hill Education is a state-of-the-art math placement testing, preparation, and learning program that has been shown to place and prepare students for college-level math coursework better than other products. ALEKS uses artificial intelligence to diagnose proficiency levels for a variety of math skills and topics. It then builds an online module meant to address only those areas requiring the most amount of relearning. Each learning module is adapted to and tailored for each individual test-taker. In most cases, students who spend up to 15-20 hours working in their learning module will have relearned enough previous math content to improve their placement by one course.
Research over the years has shown that other tests may not place students as accurately as ALEKS in a math class. They may be placed in a class that’s either too easy or too difficult for them, leading to higher tuition costs or, worse, higher failure or dropout rates. Sometimes, a student may only need to learn a small portion of material from a course, but their test score places them such that they have to retake the entire course just to relearn those few topics.
Of course! ALEKS works under the premise that most new college students probably need a refresher in high school math courses before being placed in a college-level math course. It starts with a practice placement test in which a student is provided a detailed summary of their math skills. The student then works through a customized learning module that is built to specifically address their weak areas. The student is then given a proctored placement test. The score from this test is used by their adviser in helping them register for the appropriate course.
Most students experience a significant increase in placement score from the practice to the proctored test, and many students can skip a developmental math course, cutting tuition costs.
Yes, if it’s proctored. If you feel as if you know your math well, you can take the test once to get your score and get placed in a math course.
Yes, you can take another test in 48 hours, but this only after you’ve worked in the ALEKS Learning Module for at least five hours. In fact, you can take a total of five tests in ALEKS. We’ll use your best score (if proctored) for placement in a math course.
Yes! You can use ALEKS to improve your placement and get into a higher math course. However, you cannot use ALEKS to test out of a math course that’s required for graduation credit. AUM requires every student to complete at least one core math course for graduation.
Maybe. Prior to Summer 2017, the department did not accept transfer credit for remedial-level math courses. However, this policy has changed and, effective immediately, the department will allow courses that can be determined as equivalent to either MATH 0703 or MATH 0803 to be used as prerequisites for any AUM math course.
If you transferred to AUM on/after summer 2017, then the Admissions Office has probably already coordinated with the Registrar’s Office to ensure that all transfer math credit (including remedial-level math) is articulated. The transfer course work will appear on the student’s transcript when articulation has been completed.
If you transferred to AUM before summer 2017, then there is a good chance that remedial-level math courses were not articulated. If you have unarticulated math coursework at the remedial-level, then you are welcome to make a request to the Registrar’s Office for the coursework to be reevaluated. A student’s academic advisor should be able to provide assistance in making such a request.
In either scenario, the transfer coursework will be evaluated by the Department of Mathematics, and a determination will be made as to whether or not the transfer coursework is equivalent to any AUM math course.
If previous coursework cannot be used, the department will defer to ACT Math sub score or require an ALEKS math placement test to ensure the student has a current placement score and is adequately prepared for college math.
Maybe. For students who have taken an AUM equivalent math course but said course is not listed on their AUM transcript, simply send an email to Dr. Jerome Goddard II ([email protected]), with the following information:
- Student’s full name;
- AUM Student S# (student ID number)
- The name of the desired AUM course and semester of enrollment for that course
- A description of the course from the college or university in question.
Each case will be carefully evaluated and a decision to issue an override or not will be made based on the course’s similarity to the given AUM prerequisite course. Please note that incomplete requests will be immediately returned.
Department Policies
In addition to the general AUM Academic policy, the department has some math-specific policies.
Math Lab Policy
Students enrolled in a MATH 703/803 class must attend two lectures and two labs per week. There are attendance requirements. Students are expected to purchase the required software MyMathLab Student Access Code and bring it to the first class meeting. If a student does not have the access code for the first class meeting, he/she may request temporary access, which lasts for 14 days.
Students enrolled in a Math 703/803 will receive one course grade for the combined lab and lecture which is issued by the lecture instructor. Please see the current MATH 0703/0803 syllabus for the grading scale and attendance requirement.
NOTE: Grades in MATH 0703/0803 are not included in determining AUM grade point average.
Calculator Policy
The general policy concerning the use of calculators in Mathematics courses at AUM is one of moderate conservatism. Calculators should be used to enhance conceptual understanding by minimizing tedious calculations but are in no way a substitute for proficiency in algebraic manipulations.
In accordance with this policy, we have agreed on the following calculator requirements for the various courses taught:
(Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry) having a graphing calculator may give you a slight edge, and is to be recommended if you need (or want) to take MATH 1510 (Survey of Calculus) or MATH 1610 (Calculus I). The precalculus text introduces the use of this technology step by step and will make it so much easier for you to master some of its additional capabilities in Calculus.
Please consult your instructor for their calculator policy.