ALEKS Pre-Assessment for Calculus

Some students get into trouble trying to do calculus with only a shaky grasp of these essential prerequisites. The ALEKS system is an adaptive engine for assessment and learning. It will identify any weaknesses in your preparation, and give you customized tutorials and practice to bring you up to speed.

ALEKS in ISU Calculus Courses

• At ISU, "up to speed" means a score of at least 80% on the ALEKS pre-assessment.
  • The pre-assessment counts 10% of the grade in your Calculus course.
  • A score of 80% or better counts as an "A".
  • A score under 80% counts as an "F".
• You should take the ALEKS pre-assessment as soon as possible.
  • If you are "up to speed" the first time, you are finished with this assignment and have locked in 10% of your course grade as an "A".
  • To improve your score, choose topics from your pie chart and work practice problems.
  • As you work practice problems, ALEKS will periodically give you progress assessments. The result of each progress assessment updates your score. It is reported automatically to your instructor.
• You have until Thursday, January 31, 2008 to achieve a score of 80%.
• After the Thursday, January 31 deadline, you may continue to use ALEKS to improve your pre-calculus knowledge and skills, but progress assessments taken after that date will not count toward your grade.

Signing up with ALEKS and Taking the Pre-assessment

• On the first day of class, your instructor will give you your section's "Course Code" for access to ALEKS.
• Allow about 45 minutes for the pre-assessment. (There is no time limit, however. You can take as long as you need.)
• You must take the first pre-assessment in one of the Math Department Computer Labs, 250 Carver Hall or 449 Carver Hall. This is important: if you do not take the pre-assessment first in one of these Labs, you will receive no credit for it.
• Consult the Math Department Computer Labs Spring Schedule for times the Labs are open.
• At the Lab, check in with the lab monitor and sign in on the sheet for your instructor and section.
• Bring a pencil and blank paper for working problems.
  • Do not bring a calculator or any reference materials.
  • If a calculator is needed for a problem, you can pop up an on-screen calculator.
• At the computer, point the browser at http://www.aleks.com/plugin.
• At the ALEKS site, follow the link marked "SIGN UP NOW" (to upper left) and supply your Course Code, along with other information, when prompted.
• Trouble using ALEKS? For technical support
  • email support@aleks.com, or
  • phone (714) 619-7090.

Frequently-Asked Questions

• "I accidentally took the initial assessment on my laptop at home. Do I need to retake it?"

  Yes. See your instructor to arrange for a new assessment so you can take it in one of the Mathematics Department Computer Labs.

• "How will my instructor know that I took the initial assessment in the lab?"

  At the lab, be sure to sign in on the yellow sheet that has your instructor and section of calculus at the top. Your instructor will use this sheet together with other information reported by ALEKS to verify that you took the initial assessment in the lab.

• "What is a progress assessment?"

  After the initial assessment, you can use ALEKS in learning mode, choosing topics to work on from your pie chart. As you solve practice problems, ALEKS will periodically give you a progress assessment that is shorter than the initial comprehensive assessment. The results of all progress assessments are shown as bar graphs just like the initial assessment, and are reported to your instructor.

• "I scored 73% on the initial assessment. Then I did some work in learning mode. My score now shows 73% blue + 8% green. Is my score now over 80%?"

  Yes. The ALEKS score that counts is your last blue plus green bar graph percentage before the January 31 deadline.

• "When is that deadline, exactly?"

  The deadline is midnight on January 31. ALEKS reports all assessments to your instructor. No assessment completed on February 1 or after will count.

• "Will access to ALEKS be shut off after January 31?"

  No. You can continue to work in learning mode, but your instructor will not count learning scores or progress assessments taken after January 31.

Last Revised: Wed Jan 30 2008