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Interpret My Score

Congratulations on completing an ALEKS assessment! Your score represents the percentage of high school math topics (through the end of precalculus) that ALEKS considers you to have mastered.

See the two tables below to interpret your ALEKS score. Then, choose a Prep and Learning Module, use it to review for at least three hours, and take another ALEKS assessment to attempt to raise your score. A majority of APU students who have worked with the Prep and Learning Module for 5-10 hours have been able to raise their initial placement, waiving one or two semesters of mathematics courses! We recommend that you spend up to 20 hours reviewing with ALEKS to prepare you to do the best you can in your math classes at APU. ALEKS placement scores expire after one year, to ensure that they reflect students’ current preparation level. You are expected to enroll in a math course during your first semester at APU (unless you have already completed all of your math requirements).

Placement score ranges and prerequisites for common math courses are summarized in the table below.

Common Math Course Prerequisites

 
Courses Prerequisites
MATH 90 Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning ALEKS 15-29
MATH 95 Intermediate Algebra ALEKS 30-44 or MATH 90
MATH 99 Self-Paced Mathematics Lab ALEKS 0-29
MATH 115 Mathematics in Society1 ALEKS 30-100 or MATH 90
MATH 130 Introduction to Statistics1
MATH 110 College Algebra1 ALEKS 45-100 or MATH 95
UNRS 299 Statistics for Nursing1
MATH 149 Fundamentals of Precalculus ALEKS 60-100 or MATH 110
MATH 150 Precalculus
MATH 151 Applied Calculus I ALEKS 65-100 or a B- or higher in MATH 110
MATH 165 Calculus I ALEKS 75-100 or MATH 149 (which may be taken concurrently) or MATH 150

The Quantitative Literacy Pathways chart (PDF) illustrates the relationships among these courses. The table below provides a more detailed understanding of your ALEKS score.

ALEKS Score Interpretation

 
Placement Score Interpretation
0-14 You will benefit from some additional review prior to enrolling in a math course. Work in your Prep and Learning Module for at least three hours and then take the ALEKS assessment again. Repeat if necessary. Contact the Academic Success Center at (626) 815-3886 to find out about its free tutoring resources. If you are unable to raise your score to 15 or higher, then you will enroll in MATH 99 Self-Paced Mathematics Lab during your first semester at APU in order to receive additional support.
15-29 With a score in this range, you must take either MATH 90 Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning or MATH 99 Self-Paced Mathematics Lab during your first semester at APU. Try to raise your ALEKS score above 30 before the semester begins so that you can start with MATH 95, MATH 115, or MATH 130 instead.
30-44 If your major or minor requires MATH 110 or UNRS 299, you must prepare by taking MATH 95 Intermediate Algebra during your first semester at APU. Otherwise, you qualify to take MATH 115 Mathematics in Society or MATH 130 Introduction to Statistics to satisfy your Quantitative Literacy requirement.
45-59 You are prepared to take any of the four courses that satisfy the Quantitative Literacy requirement: MATH 110, MATH 115, MATH 130, or UNRS 299. Students whose major and minor do not require a particular course from this list are strongly encouraged to take MATH 115 Mathematics in Society.
60-64 You have waived your Quantitative Literacy requirement. However, if you plan to take CHEM 151 General Chemistry I or to apply to any of the majors in the School of Business and Management other than the BA in Business Management, you must either increase your ALEKS score to at least 65 or earn a B- or higher in MATH 110 College Algebra. You qualify to take MATH 130, UNRS 299, MATH 149 Fundamentals of Precalculus, or MATH 150 Precalculus, if needed for your major or minor.
65-74 You have waived your Quantitative Literacy requirement. You qualify to take MATH 130, UNRS 299, MATH 149 Fundamentals of Precalculus, MATH 150 Precalculus, or MATH 151 Applied Calculus I, if needed for your major or minor.
75-100 You have waived your Quantitative Literacy requirement. You qualify to take MATH 130, UNRS 299, MATH 151 Applied Calculus I, or MATH 165 Calculus I, if needed for your major or minor.

For questions about the ALEKS process, contact the Academic Success Center at (626) 815-3886.

For questions about interpreting your ALEKS results, contact the Department of Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Physics, and Statistics at (626) 815-6470 or [email protected].


Footnotes

  1. GE Quantative Literacy course.