ALEKS Math Placement

Take fewer classes to satisfy your math requirements

New this fall, we are offering enhanced (corequisite) math classes designed to help you navigate the course material with additional time and support from your instructor in a smaller group setting. These courses are noted with an “E” in the course number.

To learn more and ensure proper course selection, please schedule an appointment with a counselor.

OCC ALEKS

Oakland Community College does not recognize Math practice that is completed through the $10 ALEKS App! You MUST complete your Mandatory Practice through the OCC ALEKS Practice for placement into our Math Courses.

Taking ALEKS with OCC

ALEKS PPL is a web-based, adaptive assessment system that includes material from basic mathematics through pre-calculus. The placement assessment will take approximately 60-90 minutes to complete but is limited to three hours. Follow steps below to get started:

Step One - Enter ALEKS

  1. Login to MyOCC. Under the Pre-Registration Steps card, select ALEKS PPL Mathematics Placement.
  2. Enter the ALEKS test through the on-screen directions (Go to ALEKS-most users)
  3. Do the quick tour of the test. This will let you know how to input your answers.

Step Two - Take the Mandatory Practice Test 

Before you take a proctored Placement Test attempt for math in ALEKS PPL, you must complete a Mandatory Practice attempt (an unproctored placement attempt within the ALEKS PPL placement tool, taken on your own at a place and time of your choosing, with a time limit of 48 hours). This practice score will not count for math placement.

We recommend that the Mandatory Practice attempt be taken with no one assisting you, no books or notes, and a three-hour time limit to make your practice more realistic and the practice score more accurate.


If you are satisfied with your Mandatory Practice score, you may take the proctored placement (typically done at an ASC facility at one of OCC's campuses). See Step Three.

If you are not satisfied with your score, please use the built-in Practice and Learning (remediation) tool within ALEKS PPL. You can access it through the ALEKS site (from this page) to begin your customized learning program and improve your placement. The remediation program is available for up to 6 months from the time you begin using it.

How to take the ALEKS Practice

Step Three - Schedule Proctored Exam

Depending on OCC campus, the ALEKS PPL Placement is administered on-site in either a Testing Center or an Academic Support Center (ASC).

Testing Time Slots

Auburn Hills Testing Center
Monday - Thursday | 10:00 a.m. , 2:00 p.m. , 5:00 p.m.
Friday | 10:00 a.m. , 2:00 p.m.                                                                                                                                                             
Orchard Ridge Testing Center
Monday - Thursday | 10:00 a.m. , 2:00 p.m. , 5:00 p.m.
Friday | 10:00 a.m. , 2:00 p.m.
                                                                                                           
Royal Oak & Southfield Academic Support Centers
Monday & Wednesday | 10:00 a.m. , 2:00 p.m. , 5:00 p.m.
Friday |10:00 a.m. , 2:00 p.m.                                                                                                                                                     
Highland Lakes Academic Support Center
Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 10:00 a.m. , 2:00 p.m.   
                                                                                                                                                

When you are ready to take the official math placement (proctored), please email the Testing Center or Academic Support Center of your choice, using your OCC email address. Contact information is posted at the bottom of this page.

Put ALEKS placement in the subject of your email. Include your name, birth date, and OCC Student ID number in the email along with date/time requested.

A paraprofessional will respond by email to confirm your appointment. Try to arrive 10 minutes early to check-in.

Please allow up to 24 hours during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm) between your request to take ALEKS and a response from a Testing Center or Academic Support Center.

Students with documented disabilities who wish to receive reasonable accommodations for placement testing  must contact the OCC Accessibility Compliance Center & Educational Support Services (ACCESS) department at a campus of their choice to arrange for an accommodations review. A student must make an appointment for an intake interview and bring any documentation regarding the student's disability. For details, please visit the ACCESS webpage.

Exemptions

If you qualify for an exemption, visit the Counseling office with the paperwork to verify the exemption and your score will be entered into the system.

SAT Score

Use your SAT Math Score. See the chart below. If you are satisfied with your placement, you may upload your SAT score report in the Online Application or email the report to ces@oaklandcc.edu where the scores will be noted on your OCC student record! Otherwise you will need to bring that score in for verification and upload. If you are not satisfied with your SAT placement, see Other Exemptions or take the ALEKS Placement Test.

Other Exemptions

  • You have earned a bachelor degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college
  • You are admitted to OCC under a College Guest Application from another college
  • You have evidence of passing with a "C" or better the prerequisite math course at OCC or the equivalent college transfer course at another accredited college within the past three years
  • You have earned a score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement Exam in Calculus AB or BC
  • You have already earned credit for a math course at OCC or at another accredited college within the past three years and you wish to enroll in the same math course.

 

SAT Math Score
(taken within 2 years)		 OCC Course
Below 400 Take ALEKS PPL for placement into Math
400 + MAT 1070 - Business Math
410-450  
460-490 MAT 1125 - Math Literacy
500-520 MAT 1125 - Math Literacy
460-530 MAT 1125 - Math Literacy
530+ MAT-1150 - Intermediate Algebra
MAT-1580E - Statistics Enhanced
540+ MAT-1525 - Quantitative Reasoning
MAT-2530 - Math for Elementary Teachers
550+ MAT-1580 - Statistics
570+ MAT-1500 - Finite Math
MAT-1540 - College Algebra
580+ MAT-1560 - Trigonometry
600+ MAT-1600 - Applied Calculus
MAT-1630 - College Algebra & Trigonometry
670+ MAT-1730 - Calculus I

 

After taking the ALEKS Practice Placement Test

  • You will receive a score and a projected OCC math course placement.
  • If you wish to improve your score/placement, a custom, online preparation program will be available to you in the ALEKS system.

Improving Your Score

  • Do the Prep and Learning Modules until you feel confident to try the Placement Test again.
  • You are allowed to take the proctored Placement Test without Prep and Learning.
  • Before retaking the Placement Test after your first official attempt, you must complete the required amount of Prep and Learning: at least 3 hours before your second try, at least 5 hours before your third try, and at least 8 hours before your fourth and final try
  • In addition, you must spend at least 3 hours working through the preparation modules before retaking the Practice Assessment. The 3 hours does not need to be completed all at once.

FAQS

What resources can I use during the ALEKS Placement?

 

Allowed Items:
Pencil or pen
Paper
Resources within ALEKS (ALEKS provides an on-screen calculator)


Prohibited Items:
Assistance from other people
Websites
Textbooks
Personal calculator 
Notes

Can I retake the ALEKS?

You have a total of four (4) proctored placement attempts allowed in ALEKS PPL for up to 12 months from the time of your Mandatory Practice unproctored attempt. If you wish to further improve your score after your first "official" proctored attempt, you must spend the required amount of time working in the Practice and Learning (remediation) module as described below:

  • At least 3 hours working in Practice and Learning after your first proctored Placement attempt before you may have a second attempt;
  • At least 5 hours working in Practice and Learning after your second proctored Placement attempt before you may have a third attempt;
  • At least 8 hours working in Practice and Learning after your first proctored Placement attempt before you may have a fourth and final attempt.

Once you have used up all remaining Placement Test attempts, or if your six months of access to the Practice and Learning (remediation) tool have expired, or if your 12 months of access to ALEKS PPL for placement have expired, you must purchase a new subscription to ALEKS PPL if you wish to continue using the Practice and Learning tool or take additional placement attempts.

What is the question format?

ALEKS is an open-response assessment. You may use a paper and pencil to work out solutions, then enter them into ALEKS. There are opportunities within the ALEKS module to get familiar with the style of the questions and entering answers before the exam.

Where can I find technical assistance?

ALEKS Support Contact Info

McGraw Hill hosts an online Technical Support page.

Contact an Academic Support Center (ASC) or Testing Center to make arrangements to take the Official Placement Test. If you are registered with ACCESS contact an ACCESS Office to make arrangements.