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ALEKS® (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces)

ALEKS® is a powerful artificial intelligence based assessment software product. ALEKS is used for the Mathematics Placement assessment to assess the student's mathematical strengths and weaknesses.

Convenient Remote Assessment

Students will take the first placement assessment remotely, at a time and place convenient for them, proctored remotely by the Respondus Lockdown browser and Respondus Monitor.  Some regional campuses offer on-campus testing for those students unable to test remotely.  

• What is Respondus LockDown Browser?
  • The Lockdown Browser is a custom browser that secures the testing environment by preventing access to other applications, copying, printing, or visiting other websites while taking the ALEKS Placement Assessment.
• What is Respondus Monitor?
  • Respondus Monitor is an automated "remote proctoring" companion application for LockDown Browser that uses webcam and video technology to record you during the online assessment. Testing Center staff monitor the recordings to ensure the integrity of the proctored assessment. 

For specific directions for downloading the Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor, please refer to this document: Directions for Downloading Respondus and/or to the Placement and Testing Website.

Expectations

Students are expected to take the ALEKS placement assessment without assistance from another person or resource.  Results from ALEKS will lead to placement in a mathematics course.  If students complete the assessment using assistance, there is a strong chance that they will perform poorly in their mathematics course and have to pay tuition fees to retake it.

ALEKS will have students answer between 25 and 30 questions, none of which are multiple choice.  Before beginning the assessment, students will complete an online tutorial so they know how to enter answers in ALEKS.  The tutorial and placement may take up to 90 minutes to complete. The ALEKS assessment will be available 48 hours from the time of your first login.  After that, it will timeout and you will not be able to complete the assessment.

Students will need paper and pencil/pen to complete the placement assessment but NO PERSONAL CALCULATOR is permitted!  A calculator will be provided by ALEKS when needed.

Technology requirements are listed here for your convenience: Technology Protocols for Respondus. If, for any reason you are not able to meet these requirements, please contact your home campus testing center to let them know of your special circumstances.

Answering "I don't know"

Students may be asked questions on material that is unfamiliar.  On such questions the student should answer, "I don't know."  Any question which is even slightly familiar to the student should be attempted.  "I don't know" is interpreted by ALEKS to mean that the student has no knowledge of the topic and will be reflected in the assessment results.  If the student's best effort is not given, then ALEKS will underestimate their knowledge.

Disability statement: 

If you are a student with a disability and are requesting accommodations for the ALEKS placement assessment, please contact Student Accessibility Services at 330-672-3391 or sas@kent.edu. As a reminder, the ALEKS placement assessment is untimed and will be available for 48 hours from the time of your first log in.