Math Placement

ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (PPL)

Bergen Community College requires an ALEKS PL Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics courses.  ALEKS must be taken on campus, in person.

The initial Placement Assessment contains up to 30 questions and usually takes about 90 minutes to 3 hours to complete. Afterward, students are provided with an individualized Prep and Learning Module to review concepts and improve their placement. All retesting must be done prior to registering for your first math course.

Components of ALEKS PPL

  • Initial Placement Assessment
  • Prep and Learning Module: A free, self-paced, personalized review tool
  • Additional Placement Assessments: Up to two retakes are allowed (not mandatory)

Purpose of the Placement Assessment

The Placement Assessment identifies a student’s current math understanding to help place them in the most appropriate course. Students should review their results with an academic advisor.

Topics Covered

  • Real numbers (fractions, integers, percentages)
  • Equations and inequalities
  • Linear and quadratic functions
  • Graphs, exponents, polynomials, and factoring
  • Rational and radical expressions
  • Exponentials and logarithms
  • Geometry and trigonometry

Taking the Assessment

  • A brief tutorial is included at the beginning.
  • Open-ended questions: use paper and pencil to work out solutions.
  • Once submitted, answers cannot be changed.
  • Only use the ALEKS-provided calculator (external calculators not allowed).

Timing and Retakes

  • The Placement Assessment is timed: 3 hours max.
  • You must wait 48 hours between attempts.
  • You are required to complete 5 hours in the Prep and Learning Module before a retake.
  • Only the highest score will be used for placement.
  • Students are ineligible to challenge/retake the ALEKS placement test if a grade of A, AU, B, C, CBE/PLA , CNP, CP, D, E, F, INC., M, N, Q (Audit), R, TR, or W is listed on a student’s record for a math class.
  • Challenge/retake tests must be taken before the last day of the DROP/ADD registration dates for any semester that a student is enrolled in a math class.

Tutoring for Mathematics Placement Test

  • The Tutoring Center is offering  the Mathematics Placement Prep Sessions for Spring 2026.
  • These sessions (in-person and hyflex) are intended for students seeking to prepare for the Arithmetic and Algebra components of the Mathematics Placement Test using ALEXS.
    In addition, students can visit the Math and Science Walk-In Center (room L-131) to seek assistance to prepare for all levels (MAT-011 – MAT280) of Mathematics.

In-Person ALEKS Prep Sessions

(effective from 1/28/2026)
Study Group Day Time Location
Arithmetic & Algebra Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m
    • Room L-106, Pitkin Building (1st Floor),
      inside the Tutoring Center

Virtual & In-Person (Hyflex) ALEKS Prep Sessions

(effective from 2/7/2026)
Study Group Day Time Location
Arithmetic & Algebra Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m
  • Room L-107, Pitkin Building (1st Floor),
    inside the Tutoring Center
  • Virtually/online – Contact Tutoring Center for the Webex link

ALEKS Placement Test Accommodations

For  information regarding Accommodated Testing, visit the Office of Specialized Services, in Room L-115, Pitkin Building (1st Floor) or the Accommodated Testing information Web page – Click here.