Math Placement FAQs

Math Placement (MP) is the process of measuring your current mathematical knowledge and skills to determine your readiness for your first-year math course. The Placement Assessment results will be used to determine the most appropriate courses for each student as they begin college coursework. 

This is a “Placement Assessment,” not a test. The difference is that a Placement Assessment is designed to determine what a student knows and what a student needs to work on. At the end of the ALEKS PPL Assessment, a student will have a much better sense of his/her strengths and weaknesses in math. Students then have a chance to brush on topics that may have been forgotten or haven’t been practiced for some time. 
Be honest. It is important that the Placement Assessment is taken seriously, and each student gives it an honest effort so that the Placement Assessment truly reflects their current level of knowledge and math preparedness. There is no benefit to cheating on the Placement Assessment – the only result will be that a student enrolls in a class that is too difficult, or not challenging enough, potentially costing time and money. Therefore, while taking the Placement Assessment, students should not consult any outside sources for help (friends/family, internet searches, textbooks, notes etc...). The purpose of the Placement Assessment is to give an accurate measure of a student’s current mathematical knowledge state so that he/she will be successful in mathematics courses.
Wentworth requires an ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics courses. ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The Placement Assessment is up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete. After the Placement Assessment, an individualized Prep and Learning Module is available for students to refresh their knowledge on forgotten topics. Students then have the opportunity to reassess and improve their placement. 
ALEKS consists of three parts:
•    An Initial Placement Assessment 
•    The Prep and Learning Module, an individualized, self-paced online review
•    Access to additional Placement Assessments
Wentworth encourages each student to spend time in the Prep and Learning Module, even if the desired score is achieved, because time spent in ALEKS will ultimately lead to better preparation and improved grades.
 

All new first-year students must complete the MP including transfer students who have not already received credit for their program’s first-year math requirement (see chart below). Students expecting to receive AP, IB or Dual Enrollment credits should still complete the MP as well as conditionally admitted students.

The MP assesses your knowledge of topics covered in algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, and calculus. This information is used in combination with your intended major to design an individualized math plan for your academic success.

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 by degree program and ALEKS score. 

Your program traditionally starts with Calculus IA & IB. Math Placement results will indicate whether it is best for your first math class to be MATH-1525 Foundations of Calculus, MATH-1600 Intro to Calculus, or MATH-1776 Calculus 1A. If you place into a course that is not Calculus IA & IB, it is recommended that you spend time with the ALEKS Prep and Learning Module and plan on retaking Placement Assessments so that you can improve your skills. 

Image

Your program traditionally starts with College Mathematics. Math Placement results indicate whether it is best for your first math class to be MATH-1000 College Mathematics, MATH-1500 Precalculus, or MATH-1776 & 1777 Calculus 1A &1B. 

Image

Your program traditionally starts with Plane & Solid Geometry. Math Placement results will help us understand the skills you bring to your first math course of MATH-1020 Plane & Solid Geometry.

Your program traditionally starts with Applied Math for Business. Math Placement results indicate whether it is best for your first math class to be MATH-1040 Applied Mathematics for Business or MATH-1776 & 1777 Calculus 1A &1B. 

Image

Because AP scores will not be processed until later in the summer, you should still complete the MP as another indicator of your math readiness. If you performed better on the AP exams than you did on the MP, your AP scores will be accepted instead. We will give course credit, depending on what makes sense for your major (see catalog for details) for Advanced Placement Calculus AB and Advanced Placement Calculus BC exams with a score of 4 or better. For additional information, review the policies and procedures in Wentworth’s academic catalog: AP, IB, College Level Examination Program, Project Lead the Way

Because IB credit will not be processed until later in the summer, you should still complete the MP as another indicator of your math readiness. If you performed better on the IB exams than you did on the MP, your IB scores will be accepted instead. We will give course credit (see catalog for details) for the Mathematics Standard Level IB Exam. Students who receive a score of 5, 6 or 7 will receive credit for Calculus 1A and 1B or Engineering Calculus 1. For additional information, review the policies and procedures in Wentworth’s academic catalog: AP, IB, College Level Examination Program, Project Lead the Way

We invite you to complete the MP as another indicator of your math readiness, but you only need to complete the MP if you are planning on taking your first-year math courses at Wentworth. If you are transferring math courses as part of your transfer credits, you do not need to complete the MP.

Topics covered:
•    Real numbers (including fractions, integers, and percentages)
•    Equations and inequalities (including linear equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic equations),
•    Linear and quadratic functions (including graphs and functions, linear functions, and parabolas), exponents and polynomials (including integer exponents, polynomial arithmetic, factoring, and polynomial equations), rational expressions (including rational equations and rational functions
•    Radical expressions (including higher roots and rational exponents)
•    Exponentials and logarithms (including function compositions and inverse functions, properties of logarithms, and logarithmic equations)
•    Geometry and trigonometry (including perimeter, area, and volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).
 

 ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The Placement Assessment is up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete. After the Placement Assessment, an individualized Prep and Learning Module is available for students to refresh their knowledge on forgotten topics. Students then have the opportunity to reassess and improve their placement. 

ALEKS consists of three parts:
•    An Initial Placement Assessment 
•    The Prep and Learning Module, an individualized, self-paced online review
•    Access to additional Placement Assessments
Wentworth encourages each student to spend time in the Prep and Learning Module, even if the desired score is achieved, because time spent in ALEKS will ultimately lead to better preparation and improved grades.
 

No, you are free to complete the Placement Assessment at your own pace. The system will allow you to access your Placement Assessment for 3 hours. If you need to exit the Placement Assessment for any reason, you will be able to log back in and pick up where you left off.

There are no required plug-ins or applets required with your use of ALEKS PPL. As long as you have access to the internet and are using an updated browser, you should not experience difficulties in taking your Placement Assessment.  For a list of preferred browsers, please review the ALEKS system requirements on

 their support site: http://www.aleks.com/support/system_requirements

ALEKS will begin with a brief tutorial to make sure you are comfortable with the math palette tools before your Placement Assessment begins. The tutorial shows you how to enter different types of answers, how to use the ALEKS calculator, and how to graph. If you aren’t sure how to input an answer or need help while you are taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment, select the Help button below the answer pallet tools. Going to the tutorial during your Placement Assessment will NOT impact your Placement Assessment results.

The Math Placement opens on May 1. You have until May 21 to complete all attempts.

No. Your Math Placement attempt is an individual effort. The Math Placement process only works if your score indicates a genuine, authentic reflection of your own current math skills and knowledge. You'll have plenty of time in your courses to collaborate with others.

No. The Math Placement is not just measuring whether you got the right answer – it’s measuring how your mind interprets the mathematical problem and arrives at an answer. So, we want to know how your mind approaches the questions without any resources influencing it.

You may only use a pen or pencil, paper, and the resources provided within ALEKS. You should not receive assistance from friends, family, other websites, textbooks, or any other resource not provided by ALEKS.

If you have a diagnosis that could impact you while completing your MP attempt, you may consider requesting accommodations. Please contact accessibilityservices@wit.edu as soon as possible to start the approval process. Accessibility Services’ responses typically occur within 48 business hours, but implementing your request may require additional time and documentation. Because requests must be manually approved and implemented, we thank you for your patience.

Contact techspot@wit.edu for technical support. 

ALEKS is not a multiple-choice Placement Assessment. It is open-response and requires you to work out solutions with paper and pencil, then enter them into ALEKS. Be sure to have scratch paper with you. 

Your Math Placement score will appear immediately after you complete your attempt. 

This is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the Prep and Learning Modules offered within ALEKS PPL. An individualized study plan will be created based on your performance on the Initial Placement Assessment. ALEKS will identify what you know and what you are ready to learn next so you can brush up on lost knowledge. 
You may retake Placement Assessments. However, to make each attempt worthwhile, it is important that you spend time working in your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between Placement Assessments so that you can improve your skills.
 

Yes, you may retake the Math Placement Assessments. However, to make each attempt worthwhile, it is important that you spend time working in your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between Placement Assessments so that you can improve your skills.  These modules are individually created to target concepts the Math Placement Assessment identified for review.  

No, you must wait 48 hours between Math Placement Assessments. You must work through the given Prep and Learning Modules. There is generally no benefit to re-taking the Placement Assessment immediately after completing a prior attempt. You cannot improve your results by simply re-taking the Placement Assessment without spending time in the Prep and Learning Module to refresh material that you may have forgotten.
 

Yes, students are required to work in the Prep and Learning Modules for a specific amount of time prior to retaking the Math Placement Assessment to increase success.
•    2nd attempt—required to complete 3 hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
•    3rd attempt—required to complete 3 additional hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
•    4th attempt—required to complete 5 additional hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.
•    5th attempt—required to complete 8 additional hours of work in the Prep and Learning Modules before attempting assessment.

While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete a Knowledge Check to make sure you have mastered the topics you gained in Learning Mode. If you do not show mastery during the Knowledge Check, the topics will be added back into your Learning Pie so you can review them again.  
 

No. You must complete a new Math Placement Assessment to change your placement result. Select the placement tab in the upper right corner of the ALEKS page to start a new Placement Assessment.

We can work together to get you in the appropriate course for your program. Reach out to admissions@wit.edu to start the process.