Mathematics

Mathematics Placement Exam (MPE), Course Placement, and Quantitative Experience (QE) introductory notes

• Beginning in April 2020, the Mathematics Placement Exam (MPE) system is being administered through the ALEKS PPL; see below for description. 
• Students whose program requires math (see this chart) and who took the ACT or SAT before August 2021 should register to take the Mathematics Placement Exam. 
• For clarification about your requirement, contact Academic Advising. 
• Additional information is available from the Math Department.

Quantitative Experience General Education Requirement (QE) 

Students who need to meet the Quantitative Experience (QE) general education requirement should discuss which course to take with their major advisor. However, general information regarding meeting the requirement is provided below. 

1. If MAT 1050 or above is needed to meet your specific degree requirements, you can meet QE through obtaining a C or above in at least one of your area's required math course sequences or by obtaining a course placement at the level of MAT 1800 or above. ACT, SAT or the MPE may be used to indicate your placement. 

2. If you are not required to take any of the sequence outlined above, QE can be met in the following ways. 

• Taking a QE course at WSU and obtaining at least a C. 
• Transferring in a QE course or one that meets another institution's MTA requirements. 
• Placing into level 3 on the MPE. 
• Obtaining a score of 25 or better on the ACT math, a 580 or higher on the SAT math before March 2016, or a 600 or higher on the SAT math March 2016 or later. An official score report is required. 
• Achieving an acceptable score on one of the following tests: AP, IB, or CLEP. Go to wayne.edu/transfercredit/tests/ for details. 

Mathematics course placement

All students who plan to take MAT 1050, 1070, 1110, 1120, 1800, 2010 or STA 2210 as their first mathematics course at Wayne State University (WSU) must place into the course according to the policies of the WSU Department of Mathematics. To determine the best or proper course to take, you should consult with an academic advisor. 

A student can have multiple valid placements using ACT, SAT, or MPE, depending on how often they have taken the tests. If they are different, the most recent placement will be used. If there is a discrepancy between a valid MPE score and the most recent valid ACT or SAT math score, the higher placement will be used. 

Course placement using an American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

What makes an ACT or SAT score valid?

If you have taken the ACT and/or SAT more than once, only the most recent score will be considered, regardless of whether it is the ACT or the SAT. However, if the most recent ACT and/or SAT scores were taken during the same month and year, the highest score will be used. For MAT 1050, 1070, 1110, 1120, 1800 or 2010; using an ACT or SAT Math score will be valid for two years from the date the exam was taken. Placement for STA 2210 does not expire. 

Scores and placement

• An SAT math score of 650 or higher from an exam taken prior to March 2016 will allow entrance into STA 2210 without expiration. 

• An SAT math score of 580 or higher from an exam taken prior to March 2016 will meet the Quantitative Experience general education requirement, without expiration.

Course placement using the WSU Mathematics Placement Exam (MPE)

Students without MAT or STA course placement using an ACT or SAT Math score may take the MPE to determine MAT or STA course placement or take the lowest level math course. Students may also take the exam if they have taken the ACT and/or SAT, if they would like to attempt to place into a higher math course. 

You should take the MPE prior to the semester the class is to be taken. Placements are valid for three semesters. For the purposes of counting, the University observes three semesters: Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer. STA 2210 placement does not expire In order to be successful, students should complete the course they were placed into. Subsequent math or statistics courses should be taken without pause until the required sequence is completed. 

MPE description, details and FAQs

Beginning in April 2020 the MPE has been conducted through the ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics courses. ALEKS is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map a student's strengths and weaknesses. A registration for the Math Placement Exam selects your test date and begins a one-year subscription to ALEKS. Each test within ALEKS is referred to as an Assessment.

ALEKS consists of multiple parts: 

1. Assessment 1: An initial test of up to 30 questions with a 2-hour time limit. Your assessment results will display immediately upon completion and will be posted to your student record to establish an official placement. If you are satisfied that your result from Assessment 1 is appropriate, you are not required to take any further action and may register for your chosen course. If you are not satisfied, you may continue with the following steps.
2. The Prep and Learning Module: an individualized, self-paced online review for students to refresh their knowledge on forgotten topics. You will choose your prep and learning module from recommendations based on your Assessment 1. At least three hours are required to move on to the next step.
3. Assessment 2: A practice test to identify need for further review or readiness to retest. The practice test is taken individually, that is on your own, and unproctored. The practice test does not establish an official placement. See below about ALEKS Completion Feature.
4. After completing Assessment 2 you should determine if you need more prep and learning work or are ready for the next test. When you feel you are ready, contact the Testing Office to proceed.
5. Assessment 3; Your final attempt to improve your official placement, so do not take until you feel you are ready. Assessment 3, like Assessment 1 is a proctored test taken through the Testing Office. To register for this test, send an email to testing@wayne.edu. Do not use the registration program ASTRO.

ALEKS time limit and the completion feature for the practice test

• For the proctored tests, Assessment 1 and 3, if you do not finish within the 2-hour time limit the questions you answered will be submitted and a result generated.
• For the practice test, Assessment 2 all questions must be completed and submitted before the two-hour time limit expires.
  • Practice assessments not submitted in time are considered incomplete and not scored.
  • Incomplete practice assessments are not considered one of the three assessment attempts.
  • You must retest and may do so immediately if you wish.

Additional information including the FAQ can be found here: https://clas.wayne.edu/math/programs/placement

Mathematics course placement using the MPE

Assessment Results and Validity

Results are displayed within ALEKS PPL and will be posted to your university record within one week of your test date. A notification will be sent to your WSU email address once this has been done and your posted results can be viewed in ASTRO, under the View Exam Results tab. Upon receipt of the email you may register for the course. 

As described above, assessment results are valid for specific semesters and will be identified in your email notification. An assessment taken after a semester has begun IS NOT valid for that semester. Assessments are not offered within the first two weeks of the semester, until the drop/add period has ended, unless a special request is made by the Math Department.

How to register for your FIRST assessment

1. Review the schedule of test dates below.
   • Determine two or three choices in case your first is not available.
   • Note that some dates are on campus and some online. Online dates are offered for convenience but note that they will carry specific technical requirements and offer less direct individual assistance during the administration than on campus administrations. See below for details.
2. Go to the online registration program, ASTRO, to choose your dates. You will either be required to pay the $50.00 fee with a credit or debit card or will be identified as being under the new student fee waiver program. Note; the $50 fee covers the full year subscription to ALEKS and both proctored tests.
3. Go to Exam Registration 
   • Select an exam - Mathematics Placement Exam
   • You will see the available test dates.
     • Dates from the list below that are filled or closed for registration will not be listed.
     • Some dates will be identified as Standby. This means that you may register but will NOT have a guaranteed space. Standbys will be admitted if a sufficient number of registered students cancel or do not report. Standbys for online dates will receive a notification prior to the test date as to status. Standbys for on campus dates should not expect to be notified of their status and are expected to report to the exam.
     • Select the date you want to schedule
   • If you are required to pay you will be taken to the E-Market Payment system. Follow the directions to make your payment.
4. After the system processes your payment, you will receive two email confirmations: one for your payment and the other for registration. 
   • You should receive your payment confirmation immediately. There may be a delay of up to one hour to receive your registration confirmation.
   • If you do not receive your payment confirmation immediately, wait at least one hour before attempting to submit your payment again.
   • The registration confirmation will be sent to your WSU email address. If it does not appear in your inbox, check your junk or spam folders.
     • The registration confirmation will come from testeval@wayne.edu
     • DO NOT reply to this email.
   • If you have not received this confirmation more than one hour after receiving the payment confirmation, or have any questions, send an email to testing@wayne.edu.

How to register for Assessment 3. Do not follow the steps above.

As part of your Assessment 1 administration, you should have received a document called the ALEKS Completion Document that contains all your directions for using ALEKS after completing Assessment 1.

Once you have completed sufficient prep and learning and taken Assessment 2, the practice test, send an email to testing@wayne.edu. Simply say that you have completed Assessment 2 and wish to take Assessment 3. Include 3 or 4 test dates from the list below in order of preference. Note that some dates may have multiple times, so include that as well. The Testing Office will schedule you for your highest available test date and send your confirmation.

Accommodations

If you have a documented disability that requires testing accommodations, you will need to register with Student Disability Services for coordination of these accommodations. The Student Disability Services (SDS) office is located at 1600 David Adamany Undergraduate Library in the Student Academic Success Services Department. To schedule an appointment, call 313-577-1851. Information about SDS can be found at http://studentdisability.wayne.edu/. 

Rescheduling

1. Once scheduled a registration for both Assessment 1 or Assessment 3 can be rescheduled a maximum of three times.
2. To reschedule go to ASTRO and click on View Registered Exams or My Exams.
3. Active registrations will be displayed and will indicate the number of times they have already been rescheduled. Click the reschedule button and the list of available dates will display, select your date.
4. Reschedules can be made up to the test date, and after the test date for up to one year. Reschedules can not be made on the test date, until after the exam has ended and paperwork processed.
5. DO NOT use the Postpone option. If you cannot test on your date, but do not know when you can, leave it as is. You can reschedule after the missed date, for up to one year.

Refunds

1.  A refund is available only if there has been no initial log in into ALEKS PPL.
2. To request a refund, send an email to testing@wayne.edu. Include your scheduled test date and reason for the refund request.
3. Fees not used or refunded are subject to forfeiture after three months. 

Schedule of test dates

On-campus administrations

1. On campus administrations will be held at the location identified in your registration confirmation email.
2. More than one exam can be taken at on-campus administrations, see schedule for notes.
3. Students should not expect any other notifications, but should check their WSU Access ID email the day before their test for possible announcements.

Online administrations

1. Online administrations are offered as a convenience for students who cannot come to campus. Students who can come to campus are encouraged to take on-campus administrations.
2. Online administrations are proctored via Zoom.
3. Students registered for online administrations will be sent instructions and the Zoom link to their WSU Access ID email address by 6:00 p.m. the day before the exam. Monday administrations will be sent the directions on Friday.
4. If directions are not received by this time, send an email to testing@wayne.edu that evening so that the office can deal with it first thing in the morning.
5. Students taking the test online are responsible for their own equipment and internet connections. An incomplete test due to failure of equipment or connection will still be considered an actual attempt and in most cases cannot be accommodated for with a retest or other considerations. Click here for further online testing information.

Important Scheduling Notes

1. The dates listed below are the offered exams this testing period and, except where noted are open to all students.
2. Within the test registration program, ASTRO, dates will not appear if they have been filled or registration has closed. It is recommended that you identify multiple desired dates from this list before going to ASTRO. 
3. At 10:00 on campus administrations, you can take multiple exams, possibly up to all three placements; Math, Biology and Chemistry. At 2:00 administrations a second test may be possible, depending on the amount of time used for Math.
   DO NOT register for more than one exam on the same date/time. Register for as many exams as you need on separate dates. On your test date you can then request the other exams and your scheduled dates will be adjusted.
4. Within the test registration program, ASTRO, you may see several online 4:00 p.m. administrations that do not appear in the list below. These administrations are restricted for new first-year students starting in the fall of 2024. Please do not register for any of those dates if that identification does not apply to you. Improper registrations for those dates are subject to cancellation.