How to access the
U of I ALEKS Math Placement Exam
All new freshmen coming to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are required to take the ALEKS Math Placement Exam. All new transfer students who do not already have credit for Calculus I (or a higher level math course) are required to take the ALEKS Math Placement Exam. When you are ready to take the test, use the link below.
The initial placement exam is free. Whether you complete the exam or not, it counts as your one free exam. Please note that the average completion time is 90 minutes, though your time may be longer or shorter, so plan accordingly. Paper and pencil will be helpful. A calculator will be provided by ALEKS when needed, thus you should not use your own.
The U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS is a fully automated, adaptive system that covers a broad spectrum of pre-calculus material. The length of the assessment runs from 20-35 questions. The exact number of questions will vary due to the adaptive mechanism. You may be asked questions on material you have not yet learned. On such questions it is appropriate to answer, "I don't know." On any question that you have familiarity with, however, it is important to do your best. "I don't know" is interpreted by ALEKS to mean that you do not know the topic, and this will be reflected in the assessment results. If you do not do your best on the assessment, ALEKS will underestimate your knowledge.
Your browser will need the ALEKS plug-in (which will download automatically) and java. Refer to this troubleshooting guide if you have problems.