Placement Testing
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Placements measure your current skill level to help make sure you register for the right course — where you can be successful and progress. Try to be as accurate as possible when taking placements, if you don't know an answer it's okay! It's better to get an accurate placement than to place into a course that will hurt your chances of success.
PLACEMENT INFORMATION:
To register for a math or science course that requires a certain math placement, you
must first take the free
Don’t worry if your initial score doesn’t fall within the required range for the math
or science course you want to take - ALEKS can also help you improve! It uses your
scores to build personalized study modules. The study modules are designed to help
you work on the fundamental skills you need to be ready to retake the placement for
a higher score. .
In lieu of taking the ALEKS, you can alternatively submit proof of a passing grade
in a prior college math course or submit proof of a score of 4 or higher in AP Calculus
AB and/or BC. Documents demonstrating this proof should be sent to uaf-admissions@alaska.edu.
At the University of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Fairbanks, we believe you are the best judge of your own experience. To ensure you start your degree with momentum, we use Directed Self-Placement (DSP) to help you choose the writing course that matches your current skills and confidence level. This isn’t a written essay exam — it’s a guided reflection on your experience with reading and writing.
To complete your writing assessment, follow the steps below.
Your placement result is a recommendation designed to help you succeed — you ultimately have the power to choose your writing course. We strongly encourage you to discuss these results with your academic advisor to make the most informed decision for your degree pathway.
WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Instructions for the ALEKS math placement:
Login to ALEKS to take your math assessment. This can be done from any computer with an internet connection.
You’ll need your ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ username and password. Learn more about activating your ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ account or resseting your password.
If you are being asked for a class code, enter X4EXC-CHTPR when prompted.
For more assistance, contact the Nanook Tech Support Center at 800-478-8226, 907-450-8300 or helpdesk@alaska.edu.
- Log in to using your ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ username and password. This can be done from any computer with an internet connection.
- Students can always contact a local campus or testing center for assistance with ALEKS.
If you didn’t get the results needed for a class you want to take (reference the ), you can do the study modules and take the ALEKS again. You can retest up to four times but you must spend at least three hours in the study prep modules between the first and second attempt and five hours between subsequent attempts.
Instructions for Writing placement:
You’ll need your ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ username and password. Learn more about activating your ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ account or resetting your password.
For more assistance, contact the Nanook Tech Support Center at 800-478-8226, 907-450-8300 or helpdesk@alaska.edu.
Log in to the to complete the assessment.
You'll be given your score and study path once you are finished.
Based on your responses, a recommendation will be provided for whether you should take WRTG 110 or WRTG 111 at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. When you meet with your advisor, share your results and discuss which writing course will best suit you.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions about placement exams at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.
Most new college students will need to take the ALEKS math placement and the writing assessment, but you should work closely with your advisor to determine which placements you may need. Students with transfer, Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate credit may not need to take a placement for math and/or writing.
High school students taking classes should work with the dual enrollment coordinator (uaf-dualenrollment@alaska.edu).
No, ALEKS math placement, writing placement and ACCUPLACER are unique to each school.
Yes, but they may not accept the results since each school develops their own scoring system for placement. There is no official system for submitting scores.
Make sure you’re logging in to the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ instance of ALEKS at and select ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ as your campus. You must start the study modules within six weeks of completing the test or you will need to take the test again to access the modules.
There are many pathways depending on your goals, and you may find you are eligible for multiple classes. You can view the suggested courses based on your results on the . Please contact your advisor to figure out the best class for you based on your placement!
Dual Enrollment students should contact uaf-dualenrollment@alaska.edu.
No, the ALEKS math placements and the writing assessment are not proctored. Both can be taken from any computer with an internet connection and are also mobile friendly.
There is no charge for the ALEKS math placement or the writing assessment.
If you are not part of the current academic year cohort, you can add yourself by selecting the "ADD Class Code" icon after logging into ALEKS. When prompted, enter Class Code: EG3DC-VVLPL.
Rural students can coordinate placement testing (as well as advising and enrollment) with their local rural campus staff.
The system may take up to 24 hours to receive and process your score. Your ALEKS score is good for 12 months, after which point ALEKS must be taken again.
You may also be trying to register for a course you did not place into, or have a registration hold on your account.
Ensure your results correspond to the course(s) you have placed on the or contact your advisor for assistance.
Dual Enrollment students should contact uaf-dualenrollment@alaska.edu,
You must spend at least three hours using the study prep modules between the first and second attempts and five hours between subsequent attempts.
Make sure you’re logging in at (do not search online for ALEKS and log in there).
You must have a UA username and password to log in to ALEKS. If you logged in as a guest, you were at the wrong ALEKS location. Learn more about activating your ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ account or resseting your password.
Go to . Do not search online for ALEKS.
You will need to start a new ALEKS exam by logging in at . ALEKS exams must be completed within 72 hours after starting it, or you will need to restart the exam. Access to the study modules expires six weeks from your date of initial testing. ALEKS scores also expire after 12 months.
Your results will be available to you immediately after you finish the assessment. Your results will also be available to your advisor.
The modules in ALEKS are designed to help you master the concepts needed to both increase your score and succeed in your math classes. Your advisor can also provide further information regarding the different levels of writing and math classes at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and what course aligns with your academic plans and goals.
Neither of the placements require a proctor, but is here to help if you need assistance. Contact us Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at uaf-testing@alaska.edu or 907-455-2060.