Math 425 Placement

This page describes the ALEKS Math Assessment for students interested in taking MATH 425 who are not in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS). Students who are in CEPS should refer here.

About ALEKS Math Assessment

Who takes the ALEKS PPL Placement Assessment?

Any student who wants to take MATH 425 but who has not met the prerequisite must take the ALEKS PPL Mathematics Placement Assessment. The prerequisite for MATH 425, Calculus I, is either:

• a grade of C or better in MATH 418, Analysis & Applications of Functions
• a score of 4 or better on the AP Calculus AB exam
• a score of 3 or better on the AP Calculus BC exam
• or a qualifying score on the ALEKS PPL Mathematics Placement Assessment.

First-Year College of Engineering and Physical Sciences students have specific directions for the fall semester.

WHO canNOT take the ALEKS placement exam?

Any student who has taken MATH 418 but did not earn a grade of C or better may NOT take the ALEKS PPL Placement Assessment as a means of entrance into MATH 425.

What is ALEKS?

ALEKS is a powerful artificial-intelligence based assessment tool that zeros in on the strengths and weaknesses of a student’s mathematical knowledge, reports its findings to the student, and then provides the student with a learning environment for improving this knowledge to an appropriate level for course placement.

Is there a fee for using ALEKS PPL?

Yes, you will have to pay a $25 fee via credit card before you begin. The fee covers the cost of your original placement assessment and up to three additional placement assessments, if you need them. Six months of access to a Prep and Learning Module is also included.

When must I take the ALEKS PPL Placement Assessment?

 

 

BE SURE TO TAKE THE PLACEMENT ASSESSMENT EARLY, AND DO YOUR VERY BEST THE FIRST TIME YOU TAKE IT. You can take the ALEKS Placement Assessment up to four times before the first day of MATH 425. However, between any two consecutive attempts, you will be required to have a 72-hour cool-off period before taking the test again. Based on the results of your first attempt, ALEKS will select a Prep and Learning Module in which you must work for five hours before retaking the assessment. That module will be the only module that you can access. If you don’t take your first placement attempt seriously, the module selected for you will not be at the appropriate level for you, and you will not be adequately prepared to test into calculus when you take the ALEKS Placement Assessment the second time.

You will not be permitted to take MATH 425, Calculus I, unless you demonstrate readiness by earning the required ALEKS score (even if you are only one point away). If you want to change your placement, you may use your ALEKS learning module to improve your skills and then retake the assessment. 

 

How long will the assessment take?

The assessment will ask up to 25 questions. You will have 2 hours to complete the assessment, and you should plan to complete the assessment in one sitting.

 

Get Ready

Academic integrity

The only purpose of the assessment is to give an accurate measure of your current mathematical skills so that you will have a better opportunity to be successful in your mathematics course. There is no benefit to inflating or deflating your abilities on the assessment. Taking a class that is not appropriate for your current level of mathematical knowledge could delay your graduation. Therefore, while you are taking the assessment, do not consult any other source for help (friends, family, internet searches, textbooks, etc.), and do your honest best.

In addition, as a member of the UNH community, you are expected to uphold UNH’s principles, which include doing honest academic work. 

What you need

• A valid credit card
• Your 9-digit UNH ID number
• Your UNH email address
• A pencil and paper
• A reliable internet connection
• 2-3 hours of time
• A space conducive to doing your best work

All other resources are provided by ALEKS.

You should NOT use your own calculator. If one is needed to answer a question, ALEKS will provide one automatically for that question.

You should NOT use other resources such as textbooks, websites, or friends. Use of non-permitted resources is a violation of UNH’s academic honesty policy, and may result in your being required to take a course for which you are not prepared.

What to expect

This is a free response assessment; there are no multiple choice questions. Before you take the assessment, ALEKS will present a short tutorial on how to enter answers, how to use the graphing utilities, and how to use the built in calculator that will be offered when appropriate. TAKE YOUR TIME WITH THIS TUTORIAL AND BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THESE FEATURES WORK.

Take the Assessment

In order to access the placement assessment, go to ALEKS and follow the directions. You will be asked to enter a 10-character class code; the code for those hoping to take 425 in the Spring 2025 semester is XR9CT-YHFJG

Technical Support 

What do I do if my web browser gets stuck or my computer crashes while I'm taking the Placement Assessment? Simply close the browser, or log out and log back in. ALEKS will resume the Placement Assessment exactly where you left off, with no loss of your previous answers.

Where can I get help with ALEKS?

Contact Customer Support - Higher Education

Hours (Eastern Time):
Sunday from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Friday, from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Phone: (714) 619-7090

Online

Test AccomModations

This is a timed test. The assessment will ask up to 25 questions. 
If you already have SAS-approved exam accommodations and you would like to use them on the placement assessment, please email Melanie Vining at Melanie.Vining@unh.edu. 
If you do not have SAS-approved exam accommodations but would like to implement accommodations on the placement assessment, please contact Student Accessibility Services. 

Understand Your Score

ALEKS scores cannot be interpreted in the same way as exam grades. Your placement result (overall score) is a number between 0 and 100. It represents the percentage of topics ALEKS has identified you have mastered.

Course placement is determined as follows:

You will not be permitted to take MATH 425, Calculus I, unless you demonstrate readiness by earning the required ALEKS score. You must score a 80 or higher to place into the course.

If your ALEKS score is below 46, you will be allowed to enroll in MATH 418. However, we strongly urge you to review topics in algebra and precalculus before the course begins.

Expiration

Your ALEKS PPL score will expire twelve months from your test date.

For all questions regarding the ALEKS placement test, please contact Melanie Vining, Mathematics Center Director, at melanie.vining@unh.edu