Mathematics for Spring 2016
Placement into the math courses is based on a combination of the student’s college and the student's highest score on the ALEKS PPL Math Placement Exam. Cutoff scores and course placement decisions are derived in collaboration with the Mathematics Department and are reviewed annually. the ALEKS PPL placement policies (below) apply to all students entering Illinois in Spring 2016.
ALEKS Placement, Preparation, and Learning (ALEKS PPL) uses adaptive, open-response questioning to rapidly and accurately assess each student in 30 questions or less. Students are correctly placed and given the opportunity to improve their placement with targeted learning with up to 6 months of access to the Prep and Learning Module.
All new freshmen are required to take the ALEKS PPL 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 PPL 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.
Within four months of taking ALEKS PPL, students must enroll in the course that they place into. If you do not enroll in and complete the recommended course in the semester after taking your math placement exam, you will have to take it again at your own expense in order to obtain an updated course placement. Click here to learn more about ALEKS PPL and about the Math Department's expectations.
The ALEKS PPL 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
Note to students who earned Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit:
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 PPL 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 PPL Math Score
| Admission College
| Placement Message
|
| 0-19
| All colleges
| Remediation is recommended before Math 112, which is a prerequisite for all other Math courses.
|
| 20-49
| AHS, DGS, EDU, FAA, LAS, MEDIA, SSW
| If calculus is needed, remediation is recommended before Math 112. If calculus is not needed, Math 181 is appropriate.
|
| ACES, BUS, ENG
| Remediation is recommended before Math 112, which is a prerequisite for all other Math courses.
|
| 50-64
| 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.
|
| 65-79
| 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.
|
| 80-100
| 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.
|