Overview 

Many majors at USM have specific math requirements. We use the ALEKS PPL to help students determine the most appropriate course to take.  PPL stands for “Placement, Preparation and Learning.” 

ALEKS PPL is an online adaptive system that covers a broad spectrum of mathematics topics. This Placement Assessment is intended to identify the course that best matches your current skill level. One hallmark of the ALEKS PPL is that you have a total of 5 attempts! After you have taken your first assessment, you will have the opportunity to use the Prep & Learning Modules to review and master various math topics and areas, which can refresh your knowledge and skills.  Students who spend time working in the Learning Modules could be placed into a higher level course.

Before taking the ALEKS PPL Math Placement Assessment: Please read all of the instructions and details on this webpage, which gives you all the information you need to login to the assessment, interpret your assessment score, and options you have to use the preparation modules and repeat the assessment. If you still have questions after reviewing this page, please contact the  Department of Mathematics & Statistics ALEKS support: usmaleks@maine.edu

Important Note about Accommodations: If you require disability-based exam accommodations, you must contact the Disability Services Center to make these arrangements before taking the exam. Please complete the following webform to start the request. If you have questions, please contact the Disability Services Center office at 207-780-4706 or dsc-usm@maine.edu.

About the ALEKS Placement Assessment

The Placement Assessment has up to 30 questions and students are allowed a maximum of 3 hours, however many students complete the assessment in under an hour. Once you start the assessment, the clock starts ticking! If you experience any power or internet problems, you can re-enter and complete the assessment within the 3 hour period.

After your initial Placement Assessment (this would be your first attempt at the ALEKS PPL) you can stop here and use this score to select your course.  If you are not satisfied with your score, you can retake the assessment up to four additional times, with a 24 hour waiting period between each attempt. An individualized “Prep and Learning Module” becomes available to you after your initial assessment. This learning module allows you to work on targeted math areas to refresh your skills (a specific learning module will be recommended to you). 

When you are ready, you can retake the assessment. Although it is not required for your second attempt, it is highly recommended that you spend time in the Prep and learning module before retaking the assessment. After your second attempt, you will be required to spend at least 3 hours working in the Prep and Learning Module before you can complete additional attempts. You have access to as many as five  attempts within a one-year period.

Who is required to take the Math Placement Assessment?

All incoming students who will take a math course above MAT 100 must take the ALEKS PPL unless they have submitted a SAT math score of 570 or above or an ACT math score of 22 or above. Students who want to enroll in Math 140, 145 or 152 must take the assessment regardless of their SAT or ACT score. Students with other test scores, such as AP or CLEP should contact the Credit for Prior Learning Office, 207-780-4663 or priorlearningusm@maine.edu.

Any continuing or transfer student who has not yet met their minimum math requirement may need to take the Math Placement Assessment.

Topics that may be covered:

  • Whole numbers, fractions, and decimals (including operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals; equivalent fractions and ordering; decimal place value
  • Percents, proportions, and geometry (including percentages, proportions, perimeter and area, volume and surface area, angels and triangles, similar figures)
  • Signed numbers, linear equations and inequalities (including integers, signed fractions and decimals, signed numbers and exponents, algebraic expressions, properties of real numbers, solving linear equations, applications with linear equations, solving inequalities, solving multivariable equations)
  • Lines and systems of linear equations (including graphing lines, slope, linear equations, graphing linear inequalities, applications with lines and systems)
  • Relations and functions (including sets and intervals, evaluating functions, domain and range, graphs of functions and their transformations, composition of functions and inverse functions)
  • Integer exponents and factoring (including properties of exponents, scientific notation, operations with polynomials, factoring polynomials)
  • Quadratic and polynomial functions (including quadratic equations, solving quadratic inequalities, graphing quadratic functions, polynomial functions, and circles)
  • Radical expressions and functions (including simplifying rational expressions, division of polynomials, solving and graphing rational equations, direct and inverse variations)
  • Radicals and rational exponents (including simplifying expressions with radicals, solving equations with radicals, Pythagorean Theorem and the Distance Formula, higher roots, rational exponents)
  • Exponentials and logarithms (including properties of logarithms, solving and graphing logarithmic and exponential equations, application with exponential functions)
  • Trigonometry (including angles, right triangle trigonometry, unit circle, graphing trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, trigonometric identities and equations)

Additional Details about the ALEKS Placement Assessment:

  • The purpose of the assessment is to evaluate each student’s current understanding of math – identifying the topics they know, the ones they do not, and the concepts they are ready to learn. The ALEKS Placement Assessment provides a detailed picture of this knowledge so that USM can place students into the math or math related course that best matches their skill level. Because of this, no outside assistance, such as getting help from others or help from other materials, is allowed. 
  • A pop-up onscreen calculator will be provided on some items. No personal calculators, cell phones, or other resources besides pencil and paper are allowed during the assessment. 
  • There may be material on the assessment that you are not familiar with, but please try your best. There is not a penalty for incorrect answers. If you don’t know how to solve a problem, you can choose to say “I don’t know” on the assessment. Your  score will be based upon what you currently do know.
  • Your  score will be available to view immediately after you have completed the assessment. However, it may take 24 hours to post your ALEKS PPL score to your MaineStreet student account.

How do I take the ALEKS PPL?

The ALEKS PPL can be taken from your home computer (Windows, Mac or tablets are allowed). Be sure your USM email account is activated, and then review the log-in procedures below before clicking on the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment link (the link is just below the bulleted list).

  • Once you click on the ALEKS link, please login using your USM ID and password. If you have forgotten your username or password, please contact the IT Help Desk (207-780-4029).
  • Select the Math Placement Exam for University of Southern Maine (USM), if not automatically redirected.
  • Check the box to accept the terms of use, then click on “Continue.”
  • Then, your account will be linked to the ALEKS software, and click on “Continue.”
  • The first time that you login, you will be directed to an introduction and a brief survey.
  • Complete the small tutorial of the ALEKS software, showing you how to respond to the Assessment items.
  • ALEKS will ask you for a proctor password. The password is: SOUTHERNMAINE1.
  • Lastly, you will be directed back to the home page. There, click the placement tab to take the Math Placement Assessment.
  • If you have any issues with the login procedures, please contact the IT Help Desk (207-780-4029) if you need assistance.

Here is the direct link to the USM Math Placement Assessment.

Interpreting the ALEKS Math Assessment Score

Your overall ALEKS Placement Assessment score ranges from 0 to 100 and represents the percentage of topics you have mastered, as identified by ALEKS. If you retake the ALEKS PPL, USM will use your highest score for placement. Your ALEKS Placement Assessment scores are valid for three years. 

The following rubric to will show the ALEKS score required for enrollment in courses*.

ALEKS Math Assessment ScoreMath Course Placement
No score on the ALEKS or a score below 30MAT 100
A score between 30 – 45MAT 101, MAT 105, MAT 120, MAT 131
A score between 46 – 60MAT 108
A score between 61 – 75MAT 140, MAT 145
A score of 76 or aboveMAT 152

*Any course grade in a USM Math Course will override the Math Placement Exam score.

Other Course Placement Options: Placement Assessment scores can also be used to place into the following courses. 

A score of 30 or above: LOS 120, PSY 201, SOC 307

A score of 46 or above: ACC 110

A score of 61 or above: COS 160

Contact Information?

If you have technical problems accessing the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment and procedures, please contact the IT Help Desk (207-780-4029 or help@maine.edu).

If you have questions regarding which math course (or related course) you should take, based upon the requirements of your academic major, please contact usm.advising@maine.edu.

If you have additional questions about the Math Placement Exam, please send an email to: usmaleks@maine.edu.