How Math Placement Works
All St. Edward’s students are required to complete a quantitative reasoning course. These and other mathematics courses require satisfactory placement, which can be achieved through SAT/ACT subscores, prior college credit (including dual credit and AP test scores), or a proctored ALEKS placement test taken on campus.
Incoming students will receive information about math placement through their Success Coach and New Student Orientation. The online Math Placement Tool can help you determine the placement requirements specific to your intended major, your SAT/ACT subscores, and any prior college credit. For students wishing to register for classes beyond their initial math placement, online access to the ALEKS placement test and review modules is provided as part of pre-registration and New Student Orientation. With ALEKS, you may take practice tests and use the review modules to prepare for a proctored placement test during move-in week, which will determine or replace your official placement score.
Additional Information
The chart below shows the scores necessary to place into the various levels of introductory math courses. If you have taken multiple tests (ACT, SAT, ALEKS), the highest mathematics score among these is used for math placement.
Course Prerequisite Placement Scores
You will not be permitted to take a course that is above your readiness level (even if you are only one point away). If you want to place into a higher-level course, you may use ALEKS learning modules to improve your skills before taking the proctored assessment or a retake. You must qualify for a course before scheduling it.
What math courses are required for your degree plan?
Your placement score is used to help you start in the course where you have the best chance to succeed. If your degree plan requires calculus, starting where you place is the best path to success, even if that means taking other math classes first.
New first-year students will work with their Success Coach to identify appropriate math courses at New Student Orientation. Questions about course selection will be addressed then.
Transfer students and continuing students should contact their Success Coach with questions.
If your SAT/ACT scores are not high enough to place into the math course that you want, then a proctored ALEKS assessment can determine or replace your math placement. Start by taking an ALEKS practice test well in advance of the scheduled proctored test on campus. If you are not satisfied with your initial scores on the practice ALEKS placement tests, then using the provided learning modules will help to improve the skills that you were less successful with.
The vast majority of students who use these learning modules improve their scores on each subsequent assessment, and 90% of students move up by at least one course.
Students who spend at least 15 hours in a learning module show the most improvement in their scores. This may seem like "a lot of time" to spend on math review before you even get to college, but you can save both time toward your degree and tuition money, if you invest the time to prepare yourself to start in a higher math course!
To access the learning modules, return to the ALEKS Assessment through the link you were initially provided.
What is ALEKS?
ALEKS is a powerful artificial-intelligence based assessment tool that zeros in on the strengths and weaknesses of a student’s mathematical knowledge, reports its findings to the student, and then provides the student with a learning environment for improving this knowledge to an appropriate level for course placement.
The ALEKS Math Assessment ensures students’ readiness for particular mathematics courses at St. Edward's University. Since these courses are demanding, it is important for students to begin in the course most likely to lead to success. Students will not be permitted to take a course unless they have demonstrated readiness. After completing the initial assessment, students who wish to improve their skills may use the included learning modules.
What does ALEKS cost?
A $25 placement fee will be billed to students who take at least one placement test in ALEKS. This one-time fee allows access to the included learning modules and five proctored placement tests. Access to the learning modules extends into the student's first semester, and may be used as a supplement to the first math course.
When do students take ALEKS?
New St. Edward's students may request access to the ALEKS platform during the pre-registration process, which usually begins around April 1 for students beginning in the fall or November 1 for students beginning in the spring. It is recommended to take a practice test early in the pre-registration process, to allow time to work in the learning modules, in preparation for the proctored ALEKS test on campus. After their initial proctored test, students may still work within the learning modules to attempt to place into a higher-level course, up until the end of the add-drop period (usually Friday of the first week of classes).
Transfer Credit may be awarded for college-level math credits with an earned grade of C or better.
View Credit by Exam equivalencies for AP (Advanced Placement) and CLEP (College-Level Examination Program).
If incoming students are registering for classes while awaiting AP scores, it is advised to use the ACT/SAT scores or take the ALEKS placement exam in the meantime.
No student will be placed into a mathematics course on the basis of high school transcripts.
ALEKS is not a timed test. The assessment will ask up to 30 questions. You may take as long as you need to answer the questions in the practice test, as long as the assessment is completed within 48 hours of starting. Additional time for the proctored test (up to 3 hours) will be granted by special request at least 48 hours prior to the testing appointment.
If you need accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services Office at St. Edward’s University
Hours (Central Time): Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Campus Location: Moody Hall, Suite 155
Contact: SDS@stedwards.edu or (512) 448-8561
Contact and Support
Access to Canvas and MyHilltop
If you encounter an issue logging into Canvas or myHilltop, contact OIT Support desk or 512-448-8443.
Assistance with ALEKS
If you encounter a technical issue within ALEKS, contact ALEKS Higher Education Customer Support at 714-619-7090.
General Inquiries
If you have general questions about math placement at St. Edward's University, please send an email to mathplacement@stedwards.edu with your full name, student ID number, and question.