BYU-Idaho uses an ALEKS placement assessment to determine readiness for math courses or to meet the mathematics prerequisites for Chemistry 105, Chemistry 106, or Physics 105.
Most introductory math courses have a minimum ACT/SAT prerequisite. Taking the ALEKS placement assessment is an alternative way to meet the prerequisite, shown in the table below.
| Course | ACT Score | New SAT (2016 & Later) | SAT Score | ALEKS * |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDMAT 108/MATH 101 | 18 or higher | 470 or higher | 430 or higher | 38 or higher |
| MATH 221 A/B/C | 23 or higher | 570 or higher | 540 or higher | 53 or higher |
| MATH 110X | 23 or higher | 570 or higher | 540 or higher | 53 or higher |
| MATH 109/111 | 23 or higher | 570 or higher | 540 or higher | 55 or higher |
| FDMAT 112 | 27 or higher | 640 or higher | 620 or higher | 85 or higher |
| MATH 119 | 23 or higher | 570 or higher | 540 or higher | 55 or higher |
| CHEM 101 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 55 or higher (or Math 108X, 109, 110X, 112X, 113 or 119) |
| CHEM 105/106 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 70 or higher (or Math 109, 110X, 112X, 113 or 119) |
| PH 105 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 85 or higher (or Math 109, 110X-after Fall 2019 or 112X) |
* You can take the ALEKS placement assessment several times to improve your score. After you take the exam, ALEKS creates a personalized study plan to help you improve. More details are below.
The ALEKS Placement Assessment
The ALEKS Placement assessment covers material from basic math through precalculus. The exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. If you are unhappy with your initial score, the software includes a learning Module which helps you review and practice things you missed, so you can improve your placement. All scores over 38 are automatically reported to the university within 24 business hours. Before starting the exam for the first time, please watch this video overview of the ALEKS program (about 2 minutes). Then read through the frequently asked questions below.