Math Placement

ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (PPL)

Bergen Community College requires an ALEKS PPL 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.

ALEKS Placement Test Accommodations

Students requiring accommodations (such as extended time, a reader or a scribe) must submit documentation to the office of Specialized Services prior to taking the ALEKS placement test.
Once accommodations are determined, students will receive an email from the Office of Specialized Services with instructions on how to schedule the ALEKS placement test.
For more information on the accommodation request documentation submission process, visit the Office of Specialized Services website: bergen.edu/oss