Mathematics
Placement into the math courses is based on a combination of the student’s college and the student's highest score on the ALEKS Math Placement Exam. Cutoff scores and course placement decisions are derived in collaboration with the Mathematics Department and are reviewed annually. The policies below apply to all students entering the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Summer 2015 or Fall 2015.
Effective Spring 2016, ALEKS PPL replaced the original ALEKS PLACEMENT EXAM. SCORES FROM THE ORIGINAL ALEKS MATH PLACEMENT EXAM ARE NO LONGER VALID!
Click here to see ALEKS PPL Math Placement Test cutoffs and course placement messages.
All new freshmen are required to take the ALEKS Math Placement Exam prior to registration, even if you earned AP or IB course proficiency credit.
All transfer students who intend to enroll in a Calculus I or lower-level math class are required to take the ALEKS Math Placement Exam. If you are transferring to Illinois with math credit earned elsewhere, you should check with your college to verify what other math courses, if any, your program requires. Click here for information about what your college expects you to complete.
The ALEKS Math Placement Exam does not award proficiency credit. Click here for information about the Math Proficiency Exams.
Questions should be directed to the Department of Mathematics by emailing mathadvising@illinois.edu
You will have more options than students who did not take AP or IB. You may accept your test-based credit and follow the placement recommendation that is based on your AP or IB score, or you may decline your test-based credit and enroll in the course that your ALEKS score corresponds to. Please discuss your course enrollment options with your academic advisor, who will guide you through your particular program's requirements. Duplicate credit is not permitted. This means that if you accept your AP or IB proficiency credit for a particular course, you cannot also take the course at Illinois and get credit for it again.
ALEKS Math Score
| Admission College
| Placement Message
|
0-19
| All colleges
| Remediation is required before Math 112, which is a prerequisite for all other Math courses.
|
20-29
| AHS, DGS, EDU, FAA, LAS, MEDIA, SSW
| If calculus is needed, remediation is required before Math 112. If calculus is not needed, Math 181 is appropriate.
|
ACES, BUS, ENG
| Remediation is required before Math 112, which is a prerequisite for all other Math courses.
|
30-49
| ACES
| Math 112 before Math 124 or Math 234. If Math 220 is needed, take Math 112 followed by Math 115 before Math 220.
|
AHS, DGS, FAA, LAS, MEDIA, SSW
| If calculus is needed, take Math 112 before Math 234, or Math 112 followed by Math 115 before Math 220. If calculus is not needed, Math 119 or Math 181 is appropriate.
|
BUS
| Math 112 before Math 125 or Math 234. If Math 220 is needed, take Math 112 followed by Math 115 before Math 220.
|
EDU
| If calculus is needed, take Math 112 before Math 234, or Math 112 followed by Math 115 before Math 220. If calculus is not needed, Math 103, 117, 119, or 181 is appropriate.
|
ENG
| Take Math 112 followed by Math 115 before Math 220.
|
50-69
| ACES
| Take Math 124 or Math 234; Take Math 115 before Math 220
|
AHS, DGS, FAA, LAS, MEDIA, SSW
| If Math 220 is needed, take Math 115 before Math 220. If Math 220 is not needed, Math 119, 124, 181, or 234 is appropriate.
|
BUS
| If Math 220 is needed, take Math 115 before Math 220. If Math 220 is not needed, Math 125 or Math 234 is appropriate.
|
EDU
| If Math 220 is needed, take Math 115 before Math 220. If Math 220 is not needed, Math 103, 117, 119, 124, 181, or 234 is appropriate.
|
ENG
| Take Math 115 before 220.
|
70-100
| ACES, AHS, DGS, FAA, LAS, MEDIA, SSW
| Take Math 220 if you had less than a year of calculus in high school; take Math 221 if you completed a year of calculus in high school; alternatively, you may take Math 234 or any 100-level math course. With AP or IB credit, higher courses may be appropriate.
|
BUS
| Take Math 125 or Math 234 or any 100-level math course; take Math 220 if you had less than a year of calculus in high school; take Math 221 if you completed a year of calculus in high school. With AP or IB credit, higher courses may be appropriate.
|
EDU
| Take Math 103, 117, 119, or 181 or a 100-level math course; take Math 234; or take Math 220 if you had less than a year of calculus in high school; Math 221 if you completed a year of calculus in high school. With AP or IB credit, higher courses may be appropriate.
|
ENG
| Take Math 220 if you had less than a year of calculus in high school; Math 221 if you completed a year of calculus in high school. With AP or IB credit, higher courses may be appropriate.
|