Should I take the ALEKS test?

<p>For the calculus readiness page for Cockrell, it states that I must either score "An ALEKS score of 80 or above (This is the preferred method for meeting the calculus readiness requirement.) or An AB or BC Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus Test score of 3 or higher..."</p>

<p>I took AP Calculus AB junior year and got a 5, so i just sent that in to UT so i wouldn't have to take that aleks test. now, however, friends of mine that took the aleks test have already been accepted to cockrell while i have heard nothing! i got into the university automatically because of the top 8% rule, but getting into engineering already would be nice :/ should i just take the aleks test too, or will it just not matter?</p>

<p>sorry I'm asking you guys, I can't call their office because I'm in school or doing after school activities the entire time their office is open and both of my parents work so they can't call. and ut never seems to respond to my emails...</p>

<p>According to the policy, you’ve completed the readiness requirement by scoring a 5 on your AP Calc AB exam. I don’t think taking the ALEKS makes a difference as far as admissions is concerned. My daughter is an auto-admit into the university and has taken the ALEKS and is still waiting to hear from Cockerell.</p>

<p>ok, thanks texaco mom! i was worried that the aleks test was one of those “you technically don’t have to take it, but not taking it will seriously hinder your application” type things. since your daughter hasn’t heard back either, i guess i can wait! good luck to her!</p>

<p>Thanks for the question and answer Tex and abc. I was wondering about this too. My son has a pretty strong application (also auto-admit) and scored 36 on the ACT Math and 800 on Math 2 SAT subject. So he thought he would just wait to find out if he was admitted to Cockrell before sitting for the ALEKS. (He was just tired of taking tests.) We were starting to get worried perhaps this wasn’t such a good strategy. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Good luck to all.</p>

<p>ALEKS isn’t used for admission into the school. It’s only used for placement into the correct calculus class. Anyone taking a stats or calculus class at UT (includes math, natural sciences, engineering, business, and some liberal arts majors) have to take it. Engineers take M408C and D but with your AP score, I believe you’ll be able to test out of one of those semesters. </p>

<p>If it’ll make you feel better about your chances, go ahead and do the ALEKS test. It doesn’t take that long. I took AB calc in high school as well but thought that the ALEKS was really pretty easy. It didn’t involve any calc. I think it had a little bit of pre-cal and trig but for the most part, you should be fine, especially if you were able to make it to calculus in high school. I feel like it was basic math that most everyone should know after graduating hs anyway.</p>