Math Placement
Who Needs to Take ALEKS? You Do!
All incoming students are required to complete the ALEKS assessment before enrolling in a math class or any class with a math prerequisite at Albion. If you don’t complete the assessment in a timely manner, you may experience a delay in receiving your completed schedule for the fall.
Your initial math placement will be decided on the basis of your ALEKS score and your area of interest at Albion.
Dates & Deadlines
Fall 2024 Incoming Students
- February 1, 2024 – Math placement opens for incoming students
- April 12, 2024 – First ALEKS assessment complete
- May 3, 2024 – Second ALEKS assessment complete (if needed)
- May 17, 2024 – Third ALEKS assessment complete (if needed)
- June 1, 2024, or as soon as feasible – All ALEKS assessments completed
If you can’t meet the above dates just complete the assessment and retakes as soon as you can.
Returning Students
Need to take or retake the math placement exam or just have questions about math placement? Contact Karla McCavit, Director of STEM Success (kmccavit@albion.edu).
The policy for proficiency testing is explained in the College Algebra Proficiency Testing Policy document (pdf).
Taking the Assessment
There is no charge for taking the ALEKS assessment.
The ALEKS assessment is designed to determine what you know. It’s important that you do your best work without using outside resources. Starting in a class that is too low for you could increase the number of math classes that you need to take in order to graduate, and may delay your enrollment in other classes outside of math. On the other hand, starting in a class that is too advanced could set you up for a bad experience. We want you to be successful and challenged in your first Albion math class.
Once your admissions deposit has been processed, you will be able to access the ALEKS assessment through your student portal, Briton Bound. There is no cost to you for accessing ALEKS.
We will begin building student schedules in May, so have at least your first math placement assessment done by late April/early May. This gives you time if you decide to use the modules and then retake the assessment before coming to SOAR.
If you deposit after some of the dates listed to the right, don’t worry! Just complete the assessment and any retakes as soon as you can.
If you don’t score high enough on your initial assessment, don’t be discouraged! It’s common not to score high enough initially. Just use the modules for at least 3 hours, and take another assessment.
When you are ready to start the test, log in to your student portal, Briton Bound.