Students need to complete the online ALEKS math exam at least one week prior to attending New Student Orientation or meeting with an advisor to register for classes. The exam can be taken any time at any computer.
Tip: A score of 0 - 35 may require a pre-college math course. Students may take the ALEKS assessment a second time after the initial test and study with the help of the learning modules in ALEKS. Usually, students improve scores on their second attempt.
Length of the Exam
Once you log on, you have 3 hours to complete the exam. Please ensure you have a distraction free space, conducive to doing your best work.
Cost of the Exam
There is no separate cost to take the exam as it is covered by the Student Services fee that is assessed to all students. You will have access to the exam for one year from the first time you take it and will have a total of 5 attempts.
Math Coaching
The Academic Centers for Excellence (ACE) offers FREE services to help you refresh your math skills in preparation for the Math Placement Exam or simply to be BETTER PREPARED for your first college math class.
- Option 1: Sign up for a Math Coach for one-on-one coaching sessions.
- Option 2: Stop by the Math Tutoring Center in Room 310 Northside Hall or join online. No appointment is necessary for drop-in sessions. Click here for the current schedule.
To get you started we have created sample problem sets to review and bring to coaching sessions. Problem sets are based on placement exam score ranges and their associated math classes. Start with Problem Set Level 1 and continue to the next level as you make progress.
Email sbtutor@iu.edu or call 574-520-5022 with questions.
Retaking the Exam
Prior to retaking the exam, students must wait 48 hours and are required to study the learning modules for a minimum of four hours before retaking the exam. Beginning with the third attempt, the exam must be completed on campus at the Testing Center. Email tpciusb@iusb.edu or call (574) 520-4164 to make an appointment.
Academic Integrity
The purpose of the assessment is to give an accurate measure of your current mathematical skills so that you will have a better opportunity to be successful in your courses. There is no benefit to inflating or deflating your abilities on the assessment. While you are taking the assessment, do not consult with any other source for help (friends, family, internet searches, textbooks, etc.), and do your honest best. Use of outside resources may result in you being placed into a course you are not prepared for.
What you need before you begin:
- You must be admitted to IU South Bend in order to take ALEKS.
- Your IU computer account username and passphrase. If you need to set up your account, go to Account Management Service. You will be asked to enter your last name, date of birth, and university ID number. You will need to wait 24 - 48 hours after setting up your account before you can access ALEKS.
Ready to begin?
Previously enrolled students
Contact Rick Dennie at rdennie@iusb.edu or (574) 520-4164 for information on taking the ALEKS exam.
(note: Purdue students do NOT take this exam, please call 574-520-4180 for info)
How to View Your English and Math Exam Results:
- Go to One.IU
- In the search bar, type “Student Center”
- Open up Student Center
- Under “Academics,” click on the link for “My Academics and Grades”
- Under “Transfer, Test, Other Credit,” click on “View Test Scores” (important, do not click on “View Test Credit”)
The next screen will show all your test scores, including ACT and SAT if you have taken those. For your IU South Bend placement exam scores, they will be displayed as follows:
Exam | Symbol | Score Range |
|---|---|---|
English | SBENG | 10, 20, 30, or 40 |
Math | MA700 | 0 - 100 |
If you don’t see your scores, either they haven’t been entered or there could be more to display. Click on the “view all” link to see more scores. English exam results are posted within 7-10 days of testing. Math exam scores are posted 24 hours after completing the exam.
Interpreting Your ALEKS Score
The first math course you take will vary, depending on your intended major. Your advisor will help you select the appropriate math course. Please note that you will see your score in ALEKS displayed as a percentage. Do not think of your score in terms of a traditional grading scale of 0-100. For example, a score of 38%, which may seem like a failing score, actually places you into a college level math course. In most cases, a score of 36 or higher is needed in order to take a college-level course. Thus, if your score is 0-35, we strongly advise working through the learning modules that ALEKS provides and taking the test again.
| Score | ALEKS Score Rang | Math Course Eligibility |
| <10 | 0–9 | Contact the Math Department at (574) 520-4335 or email Dr. Yi Cheng at ycheng@iusb.edu for permission. |
| >=10 | 10–15 | Enhanced Math A100 |
| >=16 | >=16 | Math A100 |
| >=31 | >=31 | M109, M111 |
| >=36 | 36–50 | Math K300, Math M107, Math M118, Math T101 |
| >=51 | 51–60 | Math M115, Math M125, M127 |
| >=61 | 61–75 | Math K310, Math M126, Math M119 |
| >=76 | 76–100 | Math M215 |
For information about lower level math course pre-requisites, click on the flow chart here.
