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The ALEKS program at Augustana

All students who attend Augustana College must submit their SAT or ACT scores if they've taken one/both of these tests (even if they applied test-optional.) Your test score(s) and high school GPA are used to calculate your Math Index Score (MIS) and determine your math placement. 

You must have a math placement in order to pursue the following STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) majors or programs:

Applied mathematics
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Computer Science
Data analytics
Engineering
Mathematics and mathematics education
Physics
Pre-med
Pre-physical therapy (program)
Pre-optometry (program)
Pre-pharmacy (program)

If you do not plan to pursue any of the above majors, you do not need a Math Index Score (MIS) or math placement. Do not enroll in the ALEKS program.

Students who have not taken the SAT or ACT can establish their math placement by taking an assessment through a program called ALEKS. (ALEKS stands for Assessment and Learning Knowledge Spaces.) ALEKS is an online mathematics education tool used by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Augustana College. Its purpose is to:

  1. Provide a math placement for incoming students who do not have a Math Index Score.
  2. Help incoming students improve their math placement, if desired.
  3. Help new and current students refresh their math skills in preparation for pre-calculus or calculus.

Students who do not have a Math Index Score (MIS)

If you did not take the SAT or ACT you will not have a Math Index Score or a math placement. 

(If you took one/both of these tests, but applied test-optional, we still need your scores. Contact Admissions for information on how to provide your scores. Do not enroll in ALEKS.)

Your placement in math will be determined by an assessment in the ALEKS program. You will not be charged a fee for ALEKS. Students who use ALEKS to determine their placement cannot later submit SAT/ACT scores to override the ALEKS placement.

If this is your situation, please complete and submit this form to request access to the ALEKS Program. We will send you instructions for creating an ALEKS account and getting started in the program. You can take assessments within the program, but your math placement is not official until you take a timed, proctored assessment on campus. If your official score is lower than your unproctored assessments, we will make class schedule changes as needed prior to the start of the semester. To avoid this situation, we strongly discourage getting help from people or other resources while taking the unproctored assessments. Proctored assessments do not allow use of any resources other than pencil and paper.

See the information below about signing up for a proctored assessment.

Students who want to improve their math placement

If you believe your MIS does not accurately represent your math skills, you have the option of enrolling in ALEKS to demonstrate you are ready for a higher-level math course. The cost of ALEKS is about $15, paid online when you enroll.

At the start of the program, you will take an assessment that evaluates your current skills and shows your strengths and weaknesses. ALEKS then targets the areas you need to improve and leads you through tutorials and exercises that will help build your skills. You work independently at your own pace.

You can take assessments (four maximum) along the way to monitor your progress. However, your new math placement is not official until you take a timed, proctored assessment on campus. If your official score is lower than your unproctored assessments, we will make class schedule changes as needed prior to the start of the semester. To avoid this situation, we strongly discourage getting help from people or other resources while taking the unproctored assessments. Proctored assessments do not allow use of any resources other than pencil and paper. 

→ Follow these instructions to enroll in ALEKS.

See the information below about signing up for a proctored assessment.

Students who want to refresh their math skills

You can enroll in ALEKS to refresh your skills prior to taking pre-calculus or calculus. The program will assess your math skills and help you to independently learn the skills needed to improve the likelihood of your success in pre-calculus or calculus. The cost of ALEKS is about $15, paid online when you enroll.

At the start of the program, you will take an assessment that evaluates your current skills and shows your strengths and weaknesses. ALEKS then targets the areas you need to improve and leads you through tutorials and exercises that will help build your skills. You work independently at your own pace. You can take assessments (four maximum) along the way to monitor your progress. 

→ Follow these instructions to enroll in ALEKS.

Proctored assessments — what you need to know

• Proctored assessments are offered prior to the fall semester, once during fall and spring semester, and once during January (J) term. Students must wait at least one month in between proctored assessments.

• Proctored assessments are timed (two hours), supervised, and taken in-person only. Students can use paper and pencil, but no other reference material or aids, including a calculator (although a general use calculator is provided within the ALEKS assessment.) Students are discouraged from getting help during the unproctored assessments to avoid a discrepancy between the unproctored and proctored test results.

• If you arrive late to the assessment, you will have to reschedule your assessment.  

• You must bring your student ID to the assessment.

• Students must already have an ALEKS account set up prior to taking the assessment. If you do not have an active ALEKS account, or you cannot access it, your proctored assessment will be rescheduled.

• Students who take the ALEKS proctored assessment cannot later submit SAT/ACT scores to override the ALEKS result. If you have taken the SAT/ACT, you must provide your scores to Admissions, even if you applied test-optional. If you are not satisfied with your MIS, you can work in ALEKS according to the information above for "Students who want to improve their math placement."

• If you use the ALEKS program, your math placement isn't official until a proctored (official) score is entered into your record. If your official score does not qualify you for a class in which you are currently enrolled (MATH, CSC, PHYS, ENGR), you will be dropped from the course.

Upcoming proctored assessments offered:

A proctored ALEKS assessment for incoming students who need a math placement and did not take the ACT or SAT will be offered from 6:00-8:00 pm on the dates below (i.e., the evening before each on-campus Orientation & Registration program).

  • Sunday, June 11
  • Friday, July 14
  • Sunday, July 23
  • Thursday, August 3

Other students (new and continuing) may be added on a space-available basis. Submit the form below for more information or to sign up.

Watch here for additional test dates just before the start of the Fall semester of 2023.

Submit this form for more information or to sign up.