Integral Domain
Mathematics at Mercyhurst University
Mercyhurst University requires an ALEKS mathematics placement assessment to determine readiness for various courses. The ALEKS Placement Assessment covers material from basic mathematics through precalculus and will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.
At the end of the ALEKS Placement Assessment, you will have a much better sense of your strengths and weaknesses in math. You will then have a chance to work on those weaknesses through a targeted Prep and Learning Module geared to your goals to improve placement and eventual course outcomes.
You are strongly encouraged to spend several hours using the ALEKS Prep and Learning Module after your first assessment. Even if you have achieved placement in your desired course, time spent in ALEKS will better prepare you for your upcoming course and ultimately lead to better grades.
It is important that you relax and that you are honest about your skill level. This is simply an assessment, not a test. The difference is that an assessment is designed to determine what you know in order to best serve your academic success at Mercyhurst University.
There is no benefit to cheating on the placement assessment – your only reward will be that you are placed into a class that is too difficult for your current level of mathematical knowledge. Therefore, while you are taking the assessment, do not consult any other source for help. Remember, you not only want to get into the right course, you want to be very successful in that course.
ALEKS is free for incoming students and current freshmen.
After April of your freshmen year, there is a $25 fee (plus tax) to take the assessment. This fee includes 5 attempts at the placement assessment, as well as 6 months of personalized remediation if you need to improve your score.
Yes, you may take up to 5 placement assessments. However, to make each attempt worthwhile, it is important that you spend time working in your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module in between placement assessments so that you can improve your skills. Only the highest ALEKS score is used for placement.
For incoming students you are on your honor to take the assessment without assistance. You will have access to ALEKS through the Orientation Portal until the first day of classes.
After the first day of your freshmen year, you will need to schedule an appointment to take the assessment with a proctor.
ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator if you need one to complete a particular problem. You may also use a single-line calculator. No graphing or two-line calculators can be used. It is strongly recommended that you do not use a calculator while taking the assessment to ensure the most accurate score.
You may only use a pen or pencil, paper, and the resources provided by ALEKS. You may not receive assistance from friends, family, other websites, textbooks, or any other resource not provided by ALEKS. Using outside resources will lead to improper placement and ultimately course failure. Remember, your goal is to be successful in your first math course.
You must wait 24 hours between placement assessments. There is generally no benefit to re-taking the assessment immediately after completing a prior attempt. Unlike the SAT or ACT, you cannot improve your results by simply re-taking the assessment without spending time in the Prep and Learning Module to refresh material that you may have forgotten or to learn new material.
After your second attempt, you will be required to spend some time using ALEK's built in remediation.
Yes, you have 48 hours to complete a placement assessment once it has begun. You can take a break, however, if you wait more than 48 hours you have to start a new assessment and it will not count as one of your five attempts.
Placement assessments require approximately 90 minutes to complete, but the amount of time will vary by student. We suggest you set aside two hours. There will be a maximum of 30 questions.
Your placement result is your percentage mastery on your best assessment.
ALEKS will begin with a brief tutorial before your placement begins.
You will have six months of access from the time that you start using your Prep and Learning module.
Access to a Prep and Learning Module is included along with up to 5 placement assessments.
While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete progress assessments to solidify your gains in knowledge.
No, you must complete a new placement assessment to change your placement result. Click on the placement tab on the upper right of the page from within ALEKS. Only your placement assessment results will be used for course placement.
You can use a Prep and Learning Module to review and learn, and you may take another placement assessment to improve your placement result.
No, you must achieve the minimum placement result to take each corresponding class.
Congratulations! Continue to use your Prep and Learning Module to improve your chances for success. The placement result above is the minimum preparation required for your course! Take advantage of the targeted review and learning features in ALEKS to get a better grade in your class.