Quantitative Literacy General Education and the Mathematics Placement Exam - ALEKS

All UNO students must fulfill their Quantitative Literacy General Education requirement. This page describes your multiple options for doing so! The Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) placement exam is an adaptive, computer based test designed to determine the best math class for your current skill level. It is free for students!

»Fulfilling your Quantitative Literacy General Education Requirement

There are five classes which satisfy the Quantitative Literacy General Education Requirement:

MATH 1120 Introduction to Mathematical and Computational Thinking
MATH 1130 Quantitative Literacy
MATH 1220 College Algebra
STAT 1100 Data Literacy and Visualization
STAT 1530 Elementary Statistics

Any MATH class higher than MATH 1220 will also complete the requirement. MATH 1210 Intermediate Algebra will not complete the requirement. Please see our guide to Quantitative Literacy General Education courses for help selecting a course. Always confirm your courses with your Academic Advisor before you enroll!

Any student can enroll in MATH 1120, MATH 1130, or STAT 1100 without Math Placement. Enrollment in MATH 1220 and STAT 1530 will require Math Placement.

Students are considered proficient in meeting their University Quantitative Literacy requirement if they have an ACT Math score of 23 or higher or an SAT Math score of 570 or higher. An ALEKS score will not exempt you from the Quantitative Literacy Gen Ed. Some majors may require additional math classes. Always check with your Academic Advisor!

»Options for Math Placement

There are three ways to achieve Math Placement:

1. Math ACT Sub-Scores
2. Math SAT Sub-Scores
3. ALEKS Placement Exam

Placement scores are valid for two years. You can always challenge your ACT or SAT Sub-Score by taking the ALEKS Placement Exam. You can take the ALEKS exam at any time!

Students who took the Accuplacer at UNO prior to 2021 can use those scores for placement for up to two years. Click here to see Accuplacer placement information.

»How to sign up for the free ALEKS exam

[Print Instructions]

[View System and Accessibility Requirements]

Once registered, you may take the ALEKS exam up to 5 times. Three hours of work within ALEKS Prep and Learning Modules are required between retakes. The exam is free for students!

• To register and take your exam:

1. Click here to visit the ALEKS website.
2. Sign in with your NUID and password.
3. Review the Terms of Use, then click the box to accept.
4. Click "Continue" at the bottom of the screen. Your ALEKS and UNO account are now paired!
5. The welcome screen will appear. Click to continue to the ALEKS dashboard.
6. Click on the “Math Placement Exam, [Year]/Higher Education Math Placement” tile under “My Classes” to continue.
7. Click "Get Started" to proceed to the tutorial. Follow the on-screen instructions.
8. Click “Get Started” to proceed to the assessment. Follow the on-screen instructions.
9. Enter the Proctor Password GoMavs#1.
10. Click the "X" indicating you understand the honor code, then click "Continue."
11. Click "Start Now" located at the bottom of the screen. Your exam has begun.
    1. You will have 2 ½ hours to complete the exam. The timer does not pause if you log out.
    2. You will be asked to answer up to 30 questions.

• After you have completed your exam:

1. Your raw ALEKS score will appear on-screen.
2. You may now logout, or you may continue to the Prep and Learning Module to improve your knowledge.
3. You will receive an email from ALEKS stating your next steps.
4. You will receive an email from UNO within approximately one hour with your translated score indicating what class(es) your results qualify you to take.

• Prep and Learning Module Information

Upon completing the exam, students will gain access to adaptive Prep and Learning modules for reviewing old subjects and learning new ones! Students who wish to receive a new Math Placement result may do so after working in their Prep and Learning modules.

Once you have completed the ALEKS assessment, you can log back in to the ALEKS website. You will be directed to your personalized ALEKS dashboard. Click on the “Math Placement Exam, [Year]/Higher Education Math Placement” tile. Follow the instructions to set up and complete your Prep and Learning Module. You must spend at least 3 hours in your learning module before you can retake the assessment.

• Students who have disabilities or needs that require accommodations should contact the Accessibility Services Center at 402.554.2872.

• Students who do not have access to a device capable of administering the ALEKS assessment can contact the UNO Testing Center at 402.554.4800 to take the exam on-campus.

»Getting your placement results

You will receive your placement results via email to your UNO email address approximately 1 hour after completion of the exam. You can also view your results after they have been transferred to MavLINK via the Testing Center Registration Management System or by requesting an Unofficial Transcript from the Academics tab in MavLINK.

It can take up to 24 hours for your scores to be transferred to MavLINK so you can enroll in classes.

If you need to enroll in a class immediately but your score has not been transferred to MavLINK yet, please contact your Academic Advisor!

View our guide to Quantitative Literacy General Education courses for help selecting a course. Always confirm your courses with your Academic Advisor before you enroll!

»Frequently Asked Questions

Am I required to take the ALEKS exam?

No. You may use your Math ACT or SAT Sub-Scores or transfer courses if they are less than 2 years old, or enroll in MATH 1120, MATH 1130, or STAT 1100 without any prerequisites. You may choose to take the ALEKS exam for one of the following reasons:

1. You want/need to take a MATH or STAT course higher than MATH 1120, MATH 1130, or STAT 1100 but you do not have ACT or SAT scores from within the last two years.
2. You want to challenge your ACT or SAT scores to take a higher MATH or STAT class.
3. You want to enroll in a non-math class that accepts ALEKS scores as a prerequisite (such as CHEM 1140).

Students are considered proficient in meeting their University Quantitative Literacy requirement if they have an ACT Math score of 23 or higher or an SAT Math score of 570 or higher. Some majors may require additional math classes. Always check with your Academic Advisor!

Can I test out of the Math/Quantitative Literacy Gen Ed with the ALEKS?

No. ALEKS scores will not exempt students from the Quantitative Literacy General Education requirement. Only an ACT Math score of 23 or higher or an SAT Math score of 570 or higher can be ued to waive the requirement.

Is there a practice exam available for the ALEKS?

No. ALEKS recommends that students do not take a practice test prior to taking the placement test. The most effective way for a student to prepare and address learning loss and improve their math skills is to take the initial assessment that determines with a high degree of accuracy what they know, what they don’t know, and what they are ready to learn.

If a student does not achieve their desired score at first, they can retake the test after 3 hours of work in the adapting Prep & Learning Modules. Students who have already taken the ALEKS see rapid learning in the Prep & Learning Module because they are working on topics they are ready to learn on their own with 94% certainty they can learn it in the ALEKS system. Then they are “prepped” for the next assessment in ALEKS.

I have AP credit for Calculus. Do I still need to take a Quantitative Literacy General Education class?

Not necessarily. Calculus I fulfills the University Quantitative Literacy General Education requirement. However, some majors may require specific Quantitative Literacy General Education courses or may require additional math classes. Always check with your Academic Advisor!

I took a Math Placement Exam at UNL, Metropolitan Community College, or another instutition. Can I use that score?

No. UNO cannot accept Math Placement from any other instution.

I took the Accuplacer Math Placement Exam at UNO. Can I use those scores for placement?

Yes. Accuplacer scores are valid for two years from the exam date and will continue to be accepted for placement at UNO. Click here to see Accuplacer placement information.

Is there a cost associated with the ALEKS exam?

No. The ALEKS exam is free for students!

MATH 1950 Calculus 1 lists MATH 1320 and MATH 1330 as prerequisites. If I score a 5 on the ALEKS exam, can I skip MATH 1320 and just take MATH 1330?

No. You must have credit in either MATH 1340 OR in both MATH 1320 and MATH 1330 in order to take MATH 1950. Students who score a 5 on the ALEKS exam but have never taken MATH 1320 are advised to enroll in MATH 1340 Algebra and Trigonometry for Calculus.

What is the difference between MATH 1120, MATH 1130, MATH 1220, STAT 1100, and STAT 1530? Should I take a specific one for my Major?

Please see our guide to Quantitative Literacy General Education courses for descriptions of each course and a guide on the best Quantitative Literacy General Education course for various majors. As always, your Academic Advisor is the best resource for help with these decisions!

What is the difference between the "Raw ALEKS score" and the "Translated score?"

The "Raw ALEKS score" is the score that will be displayed when you complete the ALEKS exam. This score will be converted into a single-digit score for MavLINK and added to your UNO Student Account. This "Translated score" is the required score you will see in the UNO catalog.

• System Requirements for the ALEKS: [View on ALEKS webpage]

* Color contrast/blindness accessibility settings are available in these browsers.
1. Windows based Microsoft Surface tablets require the use of an external keyboard and mouse (e.g., touch cover keyboard, Bluetooth keyboard/mouse or USB keyboard/mouse).
2. At this time only Samsung Galaxy tablets have been tested.

Students who do not have access to a computer capable of administering the ALEKS assessment can contact the UNO Testing Center at 402.554.4800 to take the exam on-campus.

• Accessibility System Requirements: [View on ALEKS webpage]