Calculus Placement Assessment: ALEKS PPL

What is the ALEKS PPL Assessment?

ALEKS PPL is the mathematics placement program that Cal Poly Pomona uses. It allows you to review, take practice tests, and do guided study before taking the test a final time to place into a mathematics course.

What is the Cost?

There is no fee to take the ALEKS PPL assessment. Once you are logged in, your account will be activated for one year.

Who needs to take the ALEKS PPL Assessment?

In general, the following majors need to take the ALEKS PPL Assessment unless exempt from it:

• College of Science: All majors except Kinesiology.
• College of Engineering: All majors.
• College of Agriculture: Food Science and Technology, Nutrition Science, and Nutrition and Health majors.

More specifically, if your major requires you to take MAT 1140, MAT 1200, or MAT 1300, then you are required to take the ALEKS PPL assessment unless you have achieved one of the following:

• You earned a 3 or higher on the AP AB and/or BC Calculus exam.
• You took College Algebra (as the prerequisite for MAT 1200) or College Algebra and Trigonometry (as the prerequisites for MAT 1140 and MAT 1300) at an accredited college and earned a C or higher.
• You earned a 4 or higher on IB Mathematics HL.

NOTE: Your SAT math score and/or your ACT math score do not make you eligible to take MAT 1140, MAT 1200, or MAT 1300, regardless of your scores. You are only exempt from taking the ALEKS PPL assessment if you meet the conditions stated above.

Why do I need to take the ALEKS PPL Assessment four times?

ALEKS is designed as a guided learning experience. After you take an ALEKS PPL Placement assessment, ALEKS provides you with practice problems specifically tailored to you. The sequence of ALEKS PPL Placement assessments and guided learning practice will allow you to place into the appropriate mathematics course and be well prepared for success.

NOTE: The Fourth Assessment score will be used for your placement.

How soon should I start the ALEKS PPL Assessment?

The deadline to complete ALEKS is June 1, 2021. Since ALEKS is designed to be a guided learning experience, we recommend starting your work on ALEKS by May 15, 2021. This will give you time to complete the required learning modules in order to do your best on the official fourth assessment (and optional fifth assessment).

How do I sign up for the ALEKS PPL Assessment?

Using your Bronco email and password, sign up for the Calculus Placement, Cal Poly Pomona, AY 21-22 Calculus Placement, Cal Poly Pomona, AY 21-22 at the ALEKS website. This link should take you directly to the correct ALEKS cohort. Be ready with pencil, scratch paper, and time for a 1-hour practice assessment when you first log in.

After taking the practice assessment, expect the following:

• Practice and review topics in the Learning and Prep Modules.
• After the Learning and Prep Module, you will take another practice assessment.
• Repeat the Learning and Prep Module process until you have completed your third practice assessment.
• The Fourth Assessment Score is used for your math placement.
• A Fifth Assessment is optional to improve your placement.
  
  This video shows the initial steps after logging in, through the end of the first practice assessment: 

 

The next video shows the enrollment into the Prep and Learning Modules and goes over the policies and what you need to do to finish the ALEKS placement. 

 

What do the scores mean on the official proctored test? 

Math Placement Chart (PDF)
ALEKS Composite Score	Trig Subscore	Initial Placement	Comments
76-100		MAT 1140 Calculus I MAT 1200 Calculus for Life Sciences MAT 1250 Business Calculus MAT 1300 Technical Calculus I	Also eligible to take PHY 1210/1210L.
61-75	0-22	MAT 1060 Trigonometry	Only MAT 1060 is required for continuing into MAT 1140 or MAT 1300. MAT 1050 may be skipped unless required by major.
	23-29	MAT 1050 College Algebra	Only MAT 1050 is required for continuing into MAT 1140 or MAT 1300. MAT 1060 may be skipped unless required by major.  Also eligible to take PHY 1210/1210L.
	Any trig subscore	MAT 1200 Calculus for Life Science MAT 1250 Business Calculus
53-60		MAT 1050 College Algebra MAT 1060 Trigonometry MAT 1070 Pre-calculus MAT 1250 Business Calculus	Must take MAT 1070 OR take both MAT 1050* and 1060* before taking calculus (1140 or 1300). *May be taken in either order or at the same time.
46-52		MAT 1050 College Algebra MAT 1060 Trigonometry MAT 1070 Pre-Calculus	Must take MAT 1070 OR both MAT 1050 and 1060 before taking calculus (MAT 1140 or MAT 1300). MAT 1050 and 1060 may be taken in either order or at the same time.
0-45		Category IV students required to take MAT 1051/A or STA 1201/A. Category III students take either MAT 1051/A or STA 1201/A or designated sections of MAT 1050 or STA 1200 with corequisite activity unit.	MAT 1051+1052 is a two course sequence equivalent to MAT 1050. STA 1201+1202 is a two‐course sequence equivalent to STA 1200.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Whom can I contact for further information?

For questions or concerns about whether you are required to take the ALEKS PPL placement, please contact Ian Carlson in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at iccarlson@cpp.edu. 

If you need to take ALEKS and require a version for those with visual disabilities, please contact mathstat@cpp.edu.

For questions about using the ALEKS PPL website, please contact the office of Mathematics and Statistics at 909-869-3142 or MathStat@cpp.edu.