If your degree requires MATH 104B or MATH 116, you do NOT need to take the placement assessment.
If you need to take MATH 120, MATH 124, or MATH 126, but do not place into the desired course, you can still register for MATH 120E, MATH 124E, or MATH 126E, which are the normal versions of those courses taken with a 2- or 3-credit Corequisite course. See our infographic (PDF) for more details.
Or, you can self-remediate in the ALEKS PPL to raise your placement level.
IMPORTANT: This test will help decide the best placement for you. We want you to succeed in your next Math course. Data has shown students have the best chance of succeeding in their next course when they take this test with no other resources so as to make sure to get an accurate assessment of their knowledge. Please be aware that using outside resources could place you in a course for which you are not adequately prepared.
CSN uses the ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics courses. ALEKS PPL is an adaptive web-based program that can map a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The Placement Assessment has up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete. After taking 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:
CSN requires that students spend 3-8 additional hours in the Prep and Learning module before re-attempting the placement assessment.
Taking the Test:
Not necessarily. Students may also use SAT scores, ACT scores, or Next-Gen ACCUPLACER scores for placement, provided the scores are less than two years old. If your degree requires MATH 104B or MATH 116, you do NOT need to take the placement assessment. If you wish to take MATH 120E, MATH 124E, or MATH 126E, you do not need to take the placement test, but you may still need to meet with an academic advisor to remove a hold on your account before you can register. Otherwise, then you should take the ALEKS PPL assessment for placement.
No. The ALEKS placement assessment and the Prep and Learning modules are provided to all CSN students for up to 12 months at no cost to the student.
If you take it at home using the Respondus Lockdown Browser, no appointment is needed; you may take the placement test whenever it fits into your schedule. Just make sure you have a 2-3 hour window to do so. If, however, you wish to take the test in the CSN Testing Center, then, yes, you need to schedule an appointment.
The ALEKS PPL assessment is an open-response (no multiple choice) assessment, which will require you to work out solutions on paper. The questions will adapt to your knowledge of mathematics. As such, occasionally the assessment may ask you a question that you don’t know how to solve. In that circumstance, just choose the option “I don’t know.” The topics cover a range from Prealgebra through Precalculus.
You will get 2 hours and 30 minutes to take the assessment, while most students finish in 60-90 minutes. Keep in mind, the timer runs even if you close your browser or turn off your computer during the test. It is also important to note that once you start it, you need to complete it in its entirety. If the test is not completed in its entirety, no score will be recorded.
Again, you will have a time limit of 2 hours and 30 minutes. If you have to close the browser for some reason you can always pick up where you left off (when you restart the assessment, it will take you right back to the problem you were working on). If you are disconnected in the middle of your assessment, please do your best to log back into the program quickly as the 2 hour and 30 minute timer will continue to run.
If your degree requires MATH 120 but you not place into it, you may still register for MATH 120E, which is the normal 3-cr MATH 120 taken with a 2-cr MATH 20 Algebra Review course. Or, you can self-remediate in the ALEKS PPL to raise your placement level.
Every student has 4 additional attempts at the ALEKS PPL within a 12 month period. However, CSN requires that the student uses the Prep and Learning module for an extended period of time depending on the attempt:
NOTE: This is for your benefit. The more time you spend learning in ALEKS, the better chance you have of improving your placement results. Also, there is also a 24-hour cooling-off period in-between attempts at the assessment.
CSN will always take your highest placement score, regardless of the attempt.
Nope. As of this time, the software is not supported for smartphones.
Your placement result (overall score) is a number between 0 and 100, and will automatically be transferred into MyCSN within 24-48 hours. See our How to View Your Placement Scores in MyCSN page for instructions on how to see your placement scores in MyCSN, and see our CSN Math Course Placement and Prerequisites page for more specific cut-off requirements for CSN MATH/STAT courses. You can also view your placement score by re-entering ALEKS from GoCSN if you wish.
You ALEKS placement score is valid for 2 years. After 2 years you must retake the placement test.
If you experience technical difficulties: