Precalculus Proficiency Assessment

The precalculus proficiency assessment (PPA) is taken online and remotely. After completing the intent to enroll process, you’ll receive a MySJSU message and an email with instructions on how to access the assessment.

SJSU's PPA is conducted through ALEKS and determines readiness for college math. The ALEKS math placement evaluation is designed to ensure students enroll in the math course(s) appropriate for their current ability level.

We strongly encourage you to complete the PPA at least one week before your scheduled orientation session. This will ensure that you’re placed in the appropriate math course and won’t experience any delays in course registration.

If you don’t take the PPA at least a week before your orientation, it may affect your ability to enroll in fall courses, so please plan ahead. The process involves a practice assessment, 5 hours of preparation modules, and then two official graded attempts. 

Who Needs the PPA

Depending on your major course of study (more info here),  some students must take the PPA if there are no other qualifying scores or coursework in your record. The PPA is offered to students who want to enroll in Math 30, 70, 71, or 42 without meeting the prerequisites in an alternative way. Here are the required scores for registration into Calculus and Discrete Mathematics.

You could be eligible to enroll in Calculus without taking the PPA if you have any of the following:

• A score of 3 or higher on the AP Precalculus, Calculus AB, or Calculus BC exam
• A score of 50 or higher on the CLEP Precalculus exam
• A grade of C- or better in a community college or university Precalculus class or higher

If you have not yet done so, send your official scores from the College Board or official transcripts to the SJSU Admissions Office at admissions@sjsu.edu to ensure that you can enroll in the appropriate math class. If you have taken an AP Precalculus or Calculus exam but still need to get a score on file, we recommend taking the PPA as a backup measure. Note: AP course grades are not used to meet calculus placement prerequisites; only AP test scores are used.

If you plan to take Pre-Calculus before Calculus, you do not need to take the PPA. Consult your admissions advisor for more information. 

• Accessing the PPA

  • - Go to one.sjsu.edu and sign into MySJSU
    - In the left column, click on the link for “Other Items” and click on the link for “ALEKS Authorization”
    - Make sure to read all directions
    - Click on the check box and then the PPA button to go to the ALEKS website
    - Once there, click on the link with the semester and year to begin
    - ALEKS will begin with a brief tutorial to ensure you are comfortable with the math palette tools before your placement assessment begins. The tutorial shows you how to enter different types of answers, how to use the -
    - ALEKS calculator, and how to graph. If you aren’t sure how to input an answer or need help while taking the
    - ALEKS placement assessment, select the “Help” button below the answer pallet tools. Going to the tutorial during your placement assessment will NOT impact your placement assessment results.
    

• Instructions

  • The math placement assessment is available online. ALEKS consists of three parts: an initial placement assessment, the prep and learning module (5 hours), an individualized, self-paced online review, and access to two additional placement assessments.

    In advance of the initial placement assessment:

    - Prepare an area with reliable internet access
    - Download the lockdown browser

    No plug-ins or applets are required with your use of ALEKS PPL. As long as you have access to the internet and are using an updated browser, you should not experience difficulties in taking your placement assessment. For a list of preferred browsers, please review the ALEKS system requirements on their support site: aleks.com/support/system_requirements

    The initial assessment is designed to give you a sense of your strengths and weaknesses so you can prepare for the officially scored exam. You will then get two more opportunities to test. There is a required 48-hour waiting period between each exam attempt. You will have two officially scored attempts. Those scores will be posted in MySJSU the day after your test.

    To locate your score report:

    - Login to MySJSU
    - Click on My academics
    - Click the CSU FacGrad Campus page

FAQ

• What topics are covered on the PPA exam?

  • - Real numbers (including fractions, integers, and percentages)
    - Equations and inequalities (including linear equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic equations),
    - Linear and quadratic functions (including graphs and functions, linear functions, and parabolas), exponents and polynomials (including integer exponents, polynomial arithmetic, factoring, and polynomial equations), rational expressions (including rational equations and rational functions
    - Radical expressions (including higher roots and rational exponents)
    - Exponentials and logarithms (including function compositions and inverse functions, properties of logarithms, and logarithmic equations)
    - Geometry and trigonometry (including perimeter, area, volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).

• What is the format of the questions on ALEKS?
  • They are open-response questions that require you to work out solutions with paper and pencil and then enter them into ALEKS. Be sure to bring scratch paper with you.
• May I use a calculator while using ALEKS?
  • ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator if you need one to complete a particular problem. Otherwise, you may not use a calculator.
• Can I review a question after I’ve answered it?
  • Because ALEKS is adaptive, you cannot change an answer once you submit it. Be sure to carefully check your answer before submitting your response.
• What if I see questions I don’t know?
  • You will likely be asked questions on material you have yet to learn. It is appropriate to answer such questions, “I don’t know.” However, it is important to do your best on any question you are familiar with. “I don’t know” is interpreted by ALEKS to mean that you do not know how to solve the topic, which will be reflected in the placement assessment results. There is no penalty for incorrectly answering a question on the placement assessment; it only helps ALEKS understand what you know and don’t know.
• Are placement assessments timed?
  • No, you can complete the placement assessment at your own pace. The system will allow you to access your placement assessment for 2 hours. If you need to exit the placement assessment, you can log back in and pick up where you left off.
• Where and when can I see my score?

  • Where can I see my score?

    - You will receive your score immediately upon completion of your placement assessment.
    - You can view your ALEKS score by re-entering ALEKS using the same access link for which you took the placement assessment.
    - Your score will automatically be uploaded to your MySJSU record the next day. It will then be used to recommend the highest possible Math course for your major.

• I did not place into the class I wanted. Can I take it anyway?
  • No, you must achieve the minimum placement result to take each corresponding class.
• Where can I get help with ALEKS technical support?

  • What do I do if my web browser gets stuck or my computer crashes during the placement assessment? Simply close the browser or log out and log back in. ALEKS will resume the placement assessment exactly where you left off without losing your previous answers.

    Check your setup: https://www.aleks.com/support/troubleshooting

    Submit a Help Ticket: https://support.aleks.com/assess_placement

• Can I retake the PPA?

  • One retake is allowed. The higher of the two scores will be used to determine placement.

• What if I started the PPA last semester but did not complete it?

  • Incomplete work does not carry over between test cycles. If you did not complete the PPA previously, you will need to start over again with the current test cohort. Email testing-office@sjsu.edu for more information.

• What if I completed the PPA last semester but did not enroll in a math class?

  • As long as an official, proctored PPA score is entered into the system, it will remain in your record.