If you have taken your COMPASS tests you can disregard this letter. The letter is just a reminder from admissions and is sent to all students. You will continue to receive information about placement tests until you come for your Summer Advising Conference.
You will need to contact UK Enrollment Management and verify that they have added your COMPASS scores to your file. The person you need to contact is Michelle Nordin and her e-mail is mnordin@email.uky.edu.
Transfer students do not need to take a math placement test if they:
1. Have taken a 100-level or higher math course
2. Have submitted ACT or SAT scores to UK (However, if your math ACT subscore is below 19 or SAT subscore is below 460, and you have not taken a 100-level math course than you must take a placement test).
It is, but you MUST take your COMPASS test BEFORE coming to your Summer Advising Conference.
Yes, those COMPASS scores will work for UK. If you are/were enrolled at a public high school in Kentucky, then your scores will be pulled at the end of the summer. You can also fax your scores to the attention of Michelle Nordin at 859.257.3823
All scores can be faxed to the attention of Michelle Nordin at 859.257.3823 or they can be mailed to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
100 W. D. Funkhouser Bldg
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0054
ALEKS = Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces. 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, if necessary, provides the student with a learning environment for bringing this
knowledge up to an appropriate level for course placement.
Students who have an ACT math subscore below 19 (or SAT below 460) are required to
take the ALEKS online placement test.
Students who have an ACT math subscore 19 or above (or SAT 460 or above) will be
placed in the appropriate math course based on their ACT or SAT scores. Please see the
chart here.
You do not have to take the ALEKS Online Placement Test if the math component of
your:
ACT is 19 or above
SAT is 460 or above
KYOTE is 22 or above
COMPASS is 36 or above
If you would like to take a higher math course you would then take the ALEKS online
placement test. You should consult with your academic advisor when making the decision
whether or not to take ALEKS.
Please see the information in the previous question.
ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions and instead uses flexible and easy to use answer input tools that mimic paper and pencil techniques. When you first log on to ALEKS, a brief tutorial shows you how to use these ALEKS answer input tools. You then begin the ALEKS Assessment. In a short period of time (30-45 minutes for most courses), ALEKS assesses your current content knowledge by asking a number of questions (usually 20-30). ALEKS chooses each question on the basis of answers to all the previous questions. Each student, and therefore each set of assessment questions, is unique. It is impossible to predict the exact questions that will be asked.
You will be able to access the ALEKS Placement test using this link: https://secure.aleks.com/uky Students will sign in with their linkblue username and password the same as they would for their MyUK.
Yes $25.00 which can be paid by credit card through the ALEKS website. For this $25
fee, you also get 6 weeks of tutorial material to help you pass the exam in the future.
You will take the ALEKS math placement test and then have the option to work in ALEKS
for 6 weeks and retake the placement test.
Generally, you are asked 20 to 35 questions. None of the questions are multiple choice.
Students who are unable to answer many of the first questions may only be asked a few
questions.
No. ALEKS provides you with a calculator when needed. ALEKS grays out the button that starts the calculator when it thinks you should be working by hand. Paper and Pencil will be helpful.
There are several topics on the ALEKS Online Math Tests. ALEKS chooses each question
on the basis of a your answers to the previous questions. Each student, and therefore
each set of assessment questions, is unique. It is impossible to predict the questions that
will be asked. By the time you have completed the assessment, ALEKS has developed a
precise picture of your knowledge of the course, knowing which topics you have mastered
and which topics you have not out of all of the topics in the course.
The content of the questions is chosen from Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II topics.
The test measures the material you know in order to place you into the correct course .
It is not to keep you out of courses, but it is putting you in the best credit-bearing
mathematics course for you major in which you should be successful.
No, once you submit an answer, you cannot change it. You should keep this in mind while
taking the placement test.
If a previous ALEKS math placement test score resulted in a higher math placement, the
system will keep the higher score, unless the score has expired. Test scores are good for
one year.
You may be asked questions on material that you have not yet learned. Only click on "I
don't know" for your answer to an ALEKS test question if you really don't know how to
solve the problem and it is content that you have not seen previously.
Try your best to solve all problems that you think you might be able to solve. It is much
better to answer incorrectly on a topic that you have seen before, than to use the "I don't
know" button and then skip related topics. Once you answer a question, you cannot
change your answer.
Do not think of the "I don't know" button as a way to skip a problem. It does much
more than this. It is important that you do your best on the assessment or ALEKS will
underestimate your knowledge.
The chart (available here) on the Academic Enhancement and Mathematics websites is
a general guide for which ALEKS scores allow access to certain math courses. Students
will consult with their academic advisor between taking the ALEKS assessment and
registering for a math course.
Be sure you are ready to take your exam prior to logging on. Set aside at least a 2-
hour block of time in which to complete the assessment. Most students will finish the
assessment within an hour or so, but every student will be different. You will need only
pencil and paper to work on problems. ALEKS has a built-in calculator available when
needed, so you do not need a calculator.
Scores are valid for one year.
You might choose this option if you feel that your pre-calculus or algebra skills are weak
and you would like to review that knowledge in an effective online learning environment.
This may be a good option if you have taken the initial placement exam and did not reach
the minimum ALEKS score for your desired course. The ALEKS Learning Mode should
assist you in reaching the required minimum score for placement into a Math class.
Using Learning Mode does not result in a new math placement. Students will need to
retake ALEKS Online Placement in order to attempt to place higher, after using learning
If you have computer problems, you should be able to log back into the ALEKS assessment and resume testing. For ALEKS customer support please email at this website ALEKS Customer Support.
