The ALEKS website provides you with the opportunity to take a practice test. It is highly recommended that you complete this practice exam prior to taking the official placement test. The actual placement test will take longer to complete than the practice test but will give you an idea of the program and the types of questions to expect.

Once you begin, you will have 48 hours to complete practice questions and receive feedback. There are two modes:

  1. Review mode: Math topics that ALEKS deems you are proficient in.
  2. Learning Mode: Attempt new topics that ALEKS determines you are ready to learn.

These will be presented on the left side of the homepage.

It is preferred that you spend time on the Learning Mode to prepare you for the actual placement test.

Here are the steps to get to the practice test and after completion, the review and learning modes:

  • Go to the ALEKS website and click on Free Trial in the upper right of the screen, the second of four choices from left to right.
  • On this page, under Independent Use, click CONTINUE.
  • Here under Explore Student Module, click TRY ALEKS NOW.
  • On the next page, click Terms of Use, read as desired, then check the box next to I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and then click CONTINUE.
  • Next complete the short form Enter Your Personal Information. You fill in your first name, last name, email and verify email (please use a personal email account here – not a school account), then choose College or K-12 Student in the first drop-down menu, then Higher Ed | Math in the middle one, and Beginning and Intermediate Algebra Combined for the last choice, then click CONTINUE.
  • A Guest Account will then be created with a username and password. Write them down if you want to come back and access ALEKS again for more practice before the placement exam. Then click CONTINUE TO FREE TRIAL.
  • There are a couple of pages of explanation, then you will go through a Tools Tutorial that shows you briefly how to enter various types of answers in the ALEKS platform

The link to your specific Placement Test will be available through your online Applicant Portal.