My DUS incoming LEAP freshman son is not a math whiz and likely will only take the minimum requirements for graduation. My guess is he’ll be political science/communications when time to choose – not likely at all for him to be in a math or science major. He’s thoroughly into Senioritis and getting him to focus on this test is going to be a chore. It doesn’t appear I should pressure him too much – just let him take it, do his best and carry on. Thoughts?
It appears it’s possible to take ALEKS starting today…
Do not stress about it Bruce. There is really no way to prepare for it. My daughter had to take this already because she is a dual enroll. It is a placement test, so you can’t fail it. It is strictly to put them in a math class. I think my D only needed a 38% or something like that on the ALEKS to get into Math 021…which she is in right now at a PSU branch campus.
What’s really strange is that they are making her take this test AGAIN in order to register for fall. It makes no sense to me since they obviously won’t place her below Math 021 since she is in that class now (and has an A). We are going to an accepted students day tomorrow and I plan to ask them about this as it doesn’t make sense.
Good luck, but don’t have him stress over it. If he has to take a ‘beginner’ math class then he will still get credit for that under general education.
Yes don’t stress @brucemag my daughter learned the hard way that taking some beginner level classes especially freshman year is great for the GPA. Better he be in a beginner class and doing well than struggling or just getting by in the more advanced class. Let him take it and wherever he falls he gets placed in. it’s a broad range scale anyway.
If I took the test today how long should it take for them to send me the postcard with my NSO date? I live in the midwest
Also, is there a way to check the date online before the mail gets here?
My daughter does not have a math-heavy transcript (Algebra 2, Geometry, Finite Math, and no math at all this year- completely homeschooled) and did okay on the assessment. She earned a 40% which places her squarely in Math 021. I can only surmise that students who have had more math (and particularly those who are not the Liberal Artsy type of student like my gal and are taking some kind of math senior year) will place just fine and exactly where they need to be. 
My D took the assessment last Thursday and received the postcard in the mail on Saturday for NSO. We live fairly close to PSU (2 hours) so I’m sure that helped. @Columbiangirl