ALEKS Math Placement

What is ALEKS PPL?

ALEKS PPL is an online assessment and learning system that offers math placement exams and individualized review to assist in accurate placement.  Studying with ALEKS and retaking the assessment will allow you to improve your placement score and take the most appropriate class for your success.

How does it work?

An access fee of $20.00* will give you 12 months of access to 1 practice assessment, 4 placement assessment attempts, and ALEKS-generated learning modules for personalized math review.

*If unable to pay online, the Cashiers can take cash or check for $20.00.

What do I need to do?

  • Go to the ALEKS website and click “Sign up Now!”
  • Input Shoreline's course code: CDXMU-DXAUY
  • Confirm your class information (Math Placement, Academic Year 2023-2024).
  • Select “I have never used ALEKS before”.
  • Purchase an access code when prompted by using a credit or debit card.
  • Fill out the Student Registration Information. Be sure that your student ID number and school email are correct for accurate score reporting.
  • When registration is complete, you will be sent an email with your username and password.
  • Go to the ALEKS website and log in with your username and password.
  • The first time you login, you will see an animated introduction as well as a Tutorial to acquaint you with the system.

The practice assessment is designed to prepare you to find the right level of math class for you. ALEKS will help you identify which topics you might have already learned and could be "refreshed" without needing to study them again in a math class.

  • You can take this first practice assessment from any web-enabled computer, and you do not need anyone monitoring while you do it.
  • The first placement assessment is optional and entirely for your benefit. The score will not count for placement into a course at Shoreline Community College. If you do not wish to take a practice assessment, skip to step "6. Take a Placement Assessment."
  • The ALEKS system will use this test to develop your learning module to help you study before your first official placement assessment.
  • The assessment will have at most 30 questions and is timed at 3 hours. Generally, it takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours to complete.
  • You have 24 hours from when you start to complete this initial practice assessment.  You may log out, and ALEKS will keep track of your progress.  After 24 hours, the assessment will refresh to new.
  • Although you are taking this practice test on your own, we suggest you follow the same rules that will apply to your official placement test:
    • No calculator is allowed except when provided on-screen by ALEKS.
    • No outside resources other than a writing tool and scratch paper are allowed.

To take the practice assessment, click “Get Started” when you access ALEKS.

After each assessment, your score (a single number between 0 and 100) will display on your screen as soon as you are finished. The table below shows the math course placement for each ALEKS score.

ALEKS Score Places you into:
0-13 ABE Math Foundations
14-19 ABE Math Transitions
20-38 Math 99 with support / Math 107 with support / Math 146* with support
39-45 Math 141 with support / Math 99 / Math 107 / Math 146*
46-60 MATH 111/141
61-79 MATH 142/148
80-100 MATH 151

*Note: MATH& 146 has an English prerequisite. For placement above MATH 151, contact mathadvising@shoreline.edu. Want to improve your placement? Then the two-credit MATH 7 course might just be the class for you.

After you complete the practice assessment, ALEKS will use the results of your assessment attempts to identify areas for review and create an individualized learning module for you.

Using the learning module is optional.

Note that the topics in the prep module span over a wide range of math courses.  You do not need to master all the topics to retake the placement assessment.  Even just a few hours in the Prep and Learning Module can yield a higher course placement.

To access your Prep and Learning Module after an assessment, click on “Get Started,” and then click “Start My Path” or "Continue My Path".  

Online Placement Assessment

Students may use Honorlock Proctoring to take the ALEKS placement assessments remotely using a webcam, microphone, and Google Chrome web browser. Remote proctoring is available 24/7 for the ALEKS with no scheduling required. There is a $10.00 proctoring fee for each attempt. The Math Department allows two attempts per quarter. Please allow 24 hours for the upload of scores, as Testing Center staff need to review test sessions.

Please review the Honorlock quickstart and guidelines prior to the test.

To use Honorlock to proctor your ALEKS Placement Assessment:

  1. If not already using, install Google Chrome, Google's free web browser. The Honorlock Proctoring software will only work on Google Chrome and no other browser.
  2. Using Google Chrome, install the Honorlock Chrome Extension at https://honorlock.com/aleks?v=shorealeks
  3. With the extension installed, navigate to your ALEKS placement assessment and follow the proctoring instructions that appear on-screen.

Screen shots with step-by-step instructions for setting up your ALEKS exam with Honorlock can be found through the Honorlock Knowledge Base. Please visit Honorlock's Student Support website for any remote proctoring questions.

In-Person Placement Assessment

Shoreline’s Testing Center will proctor your assessment for free. No appointment necessary, Monday-Thursday 9am, 1pm, and 2pm.

  • Bring a physical photo ID to your appointment, either a SCC ID, drivers license, or passport.
  • If you will be driving, park in the Visitors Lot and come to the Testing Center for a FREE parking permit.
  • The assessment will have at most 25 questions and generally takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours to complete.
  • No calculator is allowed except when provided on-screen by ALEKS.
  • No outside resources other than a writing tool and scratch paper are allowed.
  • Placement assessment scores are valid for 2 years at Shoreline Community College.

  • In addition to your optional practice assessment, you will have four total attempts at placement assessment.
  • Between each placement assessment attempt, you will be required to complete 3 hours of studying using the prep modules prepared by ALEKS.  
  • You may take the ALEKS assessment for placement up to twice per quarter (not including the optional placement assessment).

Below is a visual summary of the steps for math placement using ALEKS

A visual depiction of the steps involved in math placement at Shoreline using ALEKS PPL