Mathematics Placement Guidelines

The chart below shows the scores necessary to place into the various levels of introductory math courses. If you have taken multiple tests (ACT, SAT, ALEKS), the highest mathematics score among these is used for math placement. 

Course Prerequisite Placement Scores

You will not be permitted to take a course that is above your readiness level (even if you are only one point away). If you want to place into a higher-level course, you may use ALEKS learning modules to improve your skills before taking the proctored assessment or a retake. You must qualify for a course before scheduling it.

What math courses are required for your degree plan?

If your SAT/ACT scores aren't high enough to place into the math course that you want, then the proctored ALEKS assessment is the score that counts. If you are not satisfied with your initial placement, then using the provided learning modules will help to improve the skills that you were less successful with. 

The vast majority of students who use these learning modules improve their scores on each subsequent assessment, and 90% of students move up by at least one course. 

Students who spend at least 15 hours in a learning module show the most improvement in their scores. This may seem like "a lot of time" to spend on math review before you even get to college, but you can save both time toward your degree and tuition money, if you take a little time to prepare yourself to start in a higher math course! 

To access the learning modules, return to the ALEKS Assessment through the link you were initially provided.

Your placement score is used to help you start in the course where you have the best chance to succeed. Students who are not successful in their first math course are highly unlikely to persist in engineering and science majors. If you need calculus, starting where you place is the best path to success. 

New first-year students will work with an academic adviser to identify appropriate math courses at New Student Orientation. Questions about course selection will be addressed then. 

Transfer students and continuing students should contact their assigned adviser with questions.

What is ALEKS? 

ALEKS is a powerful artificial-intelligence based assessment tool that zeros in on the strengths and weaknesses of a student’s mathematical knowledge, reports its findings to the student, and then provides the student with a learning environment for improving this knowledge to an appropriate level for course placement. 

The ALEKS Math Assessment ensures students’ readiness for particular mathematics courses at St. Edward's University. Since these courses are demanding, it is important for students to begin in the course most likely to lead to success. Students will not be permitted to take a course unless they have demonstrated readiness. After completing the initial assessment, students who wish to improve their skills may use the included learning modules.

Who must take ALEKS? 

To make sure you are placed correctly into the correct math course, every student is required to take the math placement exam unless their success coach has indicated otherwise. If you have AP or college credit for a math course, or high SAT/ACT math subscores, you may contact your success coach to find out if you qualify for a math placement exemption. 

What does ALEKS cost?

A $25 placement fee will be billed to students who take at least one placement test in ALEKS. This one-time fee allows access to the included learning modules and five proctored placement tests. Access to the learning modules extends into the student's first semester, and may be used as a supplement to the first math course.

 When do students take ALEKS?

New St. Edward's students will be given access to ALEKS within Hillstart, usually around April 1 for students beginning in the fall or November 1 for students beginning in the spring. After their initial proctored test, students may still work within the learning modules to attempt to place into a higher-level course, up until the end of the add-drop period (usually Friday of the first week of classes).

Transfer Credit may be awarded for college-level math credits with an earned grade of C or better. 

No student will be placed into a mathematics course on the basis of high school transcripts.

View Credit by Exam equivalencies for APT (Advanced Placement) and CLEP (College-Level Examination Program).

Advanced Placement credit is awarded for MATH 2413 (Calculus I) for scores of 4,5 on the Calculus AB exam, and for scores of 3,4,5 on the Calculus BC exam. Additionally, credit for MATH 2414 (Calculus II) is awarded for scores of 4,5 on the Calculus BC exam. If incoming students are registering for classes while awaiting AP scores, it is advised to use the ACT/SAT scores or take the ALEKS placement exam in the meantime.

ALEKS is not a timed test. The assessment will ask up to 30 questions. You may take as long as you need to answer the questions in the practice test, as long as the assessment is completed within 48 hours of starting. Additional time for the proctored test (up to 3 hours) will be granted by special request at least 48 hours prior to the testing appointment. 

If you need accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services Office at St. Edward’s University 

Hours (Central Time): Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Campus Location: Moody Hall, Suite 155 

Contact: SDS@stedwards.edu or (512) 448-8561