Math Proficiency Testing for Freshmen

Our objective is to place you as accurately as possible, based on your current knowledge of math. It’s possible that you’ve had a successful experience at a particular level in math in middle school, but that you haven’t yet had enough experience to warrant advancing you to the next level. This does not mean you aren’t a strong math student. It just means you need additional time to sufficiently master the current level. We know what’s required of students at the next level and we want to make sure you are prepared. An appropriate placement will put you on the pathway to success. An inappropriately advanced placement can lead to struggle and have negative ripple effects on your math learning and course options down the road. The majority of our freshmen start in Algebra 1 or Geometry Honors

... and the winners are not the students who move through the levels the fastest. Rather, the winners are those who learn the math well at each level. If you are ready to take Algebra 1 in your freshman year then you are not behind. If you start in Algebra 1 and you’d like to reach Calculus by senior year then we have a pathway for that.

By far, the number one success factor for advanced high school math is a rock-solid foundation in Algebra and Geometry. Rushing through these levels can lead to significant struggle. We have an engaging core curriculum that will help students build and solidify their foundation. It offers an excellent balance of mathematical procedure, sense-making, and problem-solving. The skills students develop in our Algebra 1, Geometry Honors, and Algebra 2 courses prepare them very well for college and career.

The math placement process begins when incoming students request their freshman year courses in the Enrollment system. Each student will enter the name of the 8th grade math class he is currently taking in the Enrollment system. He will also enter the course he desires to take during his freshman year. The math placement team will then pre-register each student in ALEKS based upon this information, and an email will be sent with login and password information.

Typically, the desired course will be the next course according to the following sequence:

Pre-algebra → Algebra 1 → Geometry Honors → Algebra 2 → Precalculus → Calculus

So, for example, a student taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade would typically list Algebra 1 as his current course and Geometry Honors as his desired course. If you're not sure which course to request, then don't worry about this input. We'll assign an ALEKS exam based on your 8th grade class and, by default, we'll advance any student who passes to the next course level. We will contact you if your course request is out of sequence.

ALEKS exams will be assigned to students according to the following table:

Most students request Algebra 1 or Geometry Honors and are only required to take one exam. However, if a student requests placement into Algebra 2 or above, he will be required to show proficiency in multiple ALEKS exams, as outlined in the table above. He will still get three attempts at each exam but all testing must be completed by April 19.

A student taking multiple exams must email deptmath@bcp.org as soon as he has either passed his first exam or completed his three attempts, so that we can move him to his next exam.

A Note About Self-Study 

If your son has studied a second math course alongside the course he studied in school during the 8th grade, and he wishes to challenge both courses, then he will be allowed to do so. In addition to entering his information into the Enrollment system, a student wishing to challenge a self-studied math subject must notify the math placement team of his intent at deptmath@bcp.org.

Our model is similar to that of many major universities across the country which use ALEKS (www.aleks.com) to assess incoming students and place them into math courses. Specifically, we are replacing the traditional, on-campus, multiple-choice single exam with an assessment model that allows each student to take an ALEKS exam up to three times, at home, during the course of a the assessment period (4/1-4/19). The objective is to avoid the stress of a single, high-stakes testing event and to offer each student ample opportunity to demonstrate his knowledge level of math, in order to achieve the most accurate placement.

The assessment period begins on Monday April 1st and ends at 10:00pm on Friday, April 19th There are no extensions. Within this period, the student may take his ALEKS assessment up to three times and we will count the highest of his attempts when placing him for his freshman year. He may practice using ALEKS in between assessments as much as he likes. Please note that ALEKS may generate a progress assessment in the course of practice. These progress assessments are for practice only. Only the three assessment attempts mentioned above will be used for math placement. Specifically, these three attempts are labeled:

• Initial Knowledge Check (must be taken upon first login into ALEKS)
• 2nd Attempt Knowledge Check
• 3rd Attempt Knowledge Check

When the assessment period begins, we will email the ALEKS login ID and password, using the email address that was provided to us. Upon initial login, the student will be required to take the assessment for the first time. He will see the results immediately upon completion. His score is measured in terms of the overall number of topics mastered. A minimum score is required to advance to the next-level math course during his freshman year. (See the "ALEKS Scores and Bellarmine's Advancement Policy" section below.) If the student is content with his score on his first attempt, then there is no need to take it again. If he wants to use his second and third attempts, then the timing of those is up to him, as long as they are completed before the end of the assessment period.

A student taking multiple exams must email deptmath@bcp.org as soon as he has either passed his first exam or completed his three attempts, so that we can move him to his next exam.

Because all ALEKS assessments are adaptive, no two are alike. All assessments are taken at home and can be accessed using a Mac or PC at www.aleks.com. The assessments are not timed but typically take about 90 minutes.

Instructions for Taking the ALEKS Assessments at Home

• No external aids or assistance are allowed, meaning the student may not receive any external help in answering the exam questions. Brushing up on topics is allowed, but the student must generate answers to the exam questions on his own, without help. PLEASE NOTE: The use of external aids or assistance is likely to result in a math placement for which the student is not qualified. This, in turn, increases the risk of lower math grades which may disqualify him for honors and AP math courses in the future. Use of external aids also constitutes a violation of the Bellarmine Honor Code and could lead to expulsion.
• In order to obtain the most accurate assessment possible, we recommend the student find a quiet place where he can focus on the exam without distraction.    
• There are roughly 30 questions in the assessment - sometimes more, sometimes fewer.
• The exams are not timed and need not be completed in one sitting. They typically take around 90 minutes. The student may log out and return later to pick up where he left off.
• Students will not be allowed to go backward in the assessment and revisit questions.
• In order to get the most accurate proficiency measurement, the student should only press the “Have Not Yet Learned This” button if he has truly not seen the material in the question before. Otherwise, the student should attempt every question to the best of his ability. For example, if you have not studied circle properties and the question is asking you to use circle properties to solve for some length or angle, then click “Have Not Learned This.” If you try and answer it then the program might give you more circle related questions to figure out what you do know and that could be frustrating as you haven’t studied circles yet.
• All tools needed for each assessment (e.g. calculator, ruler, protractor, etc.) are provided as virtual tools within the assessment. Upon first logging in, ALEKS will guide the student through a brief tutorial to show him how to use the tools and enter answers. The tools are available to the student on most but not all questions - this is intentional. No outside tools are allowed.

All students requesting Algebra 1 will be placed into Algebra 1 for their freshman year. The exam score is still important because we use it for diagnostic purposes.

Students requesting Geometry Honors in their freshman year are required to take the ALEKS Algebra 1 exam.

* A score of at least 282 on the ALEKS Algebra 1 assessment indicates proficiency in Algebra 1. However, we have found that incoming freshmen who barely meet this requirement sometimes struggle when they take Algebra 2 in their sophomore year. If your son barely qualifies for Geometry Honors, then we will advance him with the strong recommendation that he study additional algebra during the summer prior to his enrollment in Algebra 2, to make sure he is ready. Please also note that it is not essential to start in geometry freshman year in order to reach calculus by senior year. A student can start in Algebra 1 and reach Calculus by senior year through a junior-year acceleration option available at Bellarmine.

Students requesting Algebra 2 their freshman year are required to take both the ALEKS Algebra 1 exam and the ALEKS Geometry Honors exam. The advancement policy for these exams is shown in the table below. All testing must be completed by the close of the testing window in April. Students will have up to three attempts at each exam. Please notify us via email at deptmath@bcp.org when you have finished your three attempts at Algebra 1 (or when you have achieved your desired score) so we can move you to the Geometry Honors exam.

* If a student scores less than 282 on Algebra 1 and greater than 300 on Geometry Honors, we will place him in Algebra 1 or the ALEKS May Extension. If he takes and successfully completes Algebra 1 in his freshman year, then he will be allowed to advance to Algebra 2 in his sophomore year.

** Freshmen who qualify for Algebra 2 are placed in honors sections under the assumption that they want to prepare for future honors and AP math courses.

Students requesting Precalculus in their freshman year are required to take both the ALEKS Geometry Honors exam and the ALEKS Algebra 2 exam. The advancement policy for these exams is shown in the table below. All testing must be complete by the close of the testing window in April. Students will have up to three attempts at each exam. Please notify us via email at deptmath@bcp.org when you have finished your three attempts at Geometry Honors (or when you have achieved your desired score) so we can move you to the Algebra 2 exam.

* If a student scores less than 300 on Geometry Honors and greater than 386 on Algebra 2, we will place him in Geomerty Honors. After successfully completing Geometry Honors student will be allowed to advance to Precalculus in their sophomore year.

** Freshmen who qualify for Algebra 2 or Precalculus are placed in honors sections under the assumption that they want to prepare for future honors and AP math courses.

The Bellarmine math program consists of our core requirements and extends to advanced math electives including multiple levels of Precalculus, Calculus and Statistics. The Math Curriculum Course Map below illustrates the sequencing of course offerings. The math core consists of Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 in that order. Completion of the core, or its equivalent, is required before a student is allowed to enroll in advanced electives. There are college prep and honors sections of almost every course (There are college prep, honors or advanced placement (AP) at each level beginning with Algebra 2). Beyond freshman year, a student is allowed to move between college prep and advanced sections each year, under the advisement of his counselor and math teacher. (Enrollment in honors sections requires a minimum grade in the prerequisite course and teacher recommendation.) Three full years of math are required for graduation but in practice almost all students take four years of math.

Does Bellarmine allow students to advance in math during the summer prior to freshman year?

No. Credit will not be given for any courses taken in the summer prior to freshman year. The process of scheduling course sections and the staffing of teachers requires incoming freshman placement be finalized in May.

What are the opportunities for accelerated advancement through the math curriculum, after freshman year?

Bellarmine does NOT allow advancement based on work done outside of the Bellarmine curriculum. However, we recognize the practical need of some students who start in Algebra 1 as freshmen, to reach Calculus by senior year. This need is driven by the fact that some colleges and majors require exposure to Calculus in high school (although many don’t). Therefore, to support a pathway from Algebra 1 to Calculus, we offer an Accelerated Algebra 2 course within the junior academic year, for qualified students. While not as comprehensive as a full pre-calculus course, the Accelerated Algebra 2 course will provide sufficient preparation for students to take Calculus as seniors. The course is open to qualified juniors only.

More information regarding Bellarmine’s perspective and policy regarding math acceleration can be found here.

If my son is placed in a college prep level math course during freshman year, will he have the option to take an honors-level course during sophomore year? Is there mobility between honors and college prep courses?

Yes. Students are not locked into any particular honors or non-honors track. For sophomore through senior year, students are free to choose between the honors and college prep beginning in Algebra 2. For example, after completing Geometry Honors, a student may choose to take Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 Honors. There are no placement exams beyond freshman year, but for placement into honors and AP courses there are minimum prerequisite grade requirements. Please see the Math Department web page for more information about courses and prerequisites.

Where can I find more information about ALEKS?

More information regarding ALEKS can be found on the ALEKS website at www.aleks.com.

If my son just wants to take Algebra 1 freshman year, why is he required to take an ALEKS math assessment?

We would like to assess the current math knowledge state of all incoming freshmen. Although the algebra readiness exam is not used for placement, it will be used to advise and assist students who may need additional preparation over the summer in order to be ready for the Algebra 1 course in the fall. 

My son has taken Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 but not Geometry Honors.  Where will you place him?

The sequence of core courses at Bellarmine is Algebra 1, Geometry Honors, Algebra 2 (sometimes called Algebra for College). If an incoming freshman has taken Algebra 1 and Algebra 2, but not Geometry Honors, then he should take the Algebra 2 proficiency test. If he shows proficiency in Algebra 2, then he will be placed in Geometry in his freshman year, and he will advance to Precalculus in his sophomore year.  

My son has studied a second math course alongside the course he studied in school during the 8th grade. Can he show proficiency in both levels?

Yes. If your son has studied a second math course alongside the course he studied in school during the 8th grade, and he wishes to show proficiency in both courses, then he will be allowed to do so. In addition to entering his information into the Enrollment system, a student wishing to show proficiency in a self-studied math subject must notify the math placement team of his intent at deptmath@bcp.org.

Math isn't my son's strongest subject. What would you recommend to prepare him for freshman year Algebra 1? Is there tutoring available?

The best way to prepare for freshmen year Algebra 1 is to continue to practice Pre-Algebra topics using ALEKS. We lock the program on April 18th but open it back up to students to use over the summer as a study tool. The Math Placement Team will send an email in early June with more details.

In addition, there are tutoring options available to Bellarmine students once the school year begins. Students should contact the Academic Resource Center (ARC), or their freshman year math teacher, for more information.    

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Once the school year begins, the student should make the most of his math teacher’s office hours. By meeting with his teacher during office hours, he’ll receive extra math help as well as course-specific advice and strategies for preparing for quizzes and exams. Teachers will announce office hours on the first day of class and they strongly encourage all students to take advantage of them.

Do the proficiency exams take into account the fact that my son hasn't finished his 8th grade math course by the beginning of April, when the exam is taken?

Yes, both the content of exam and the cut-off levels account for the fact that students have not covered a full school year's worth of material.  

How many opportunities does my son have to take the ALEKS assessment?

There are three opportunities for the student to take the ALEKS assessment (with opportunity to practice with ALEKS in between.) The student’s highest score will count toward his placement. The initial assessment is available when the student first logs on to ALEKS and must be completed in order for the student to be eligible to practice with ALEKS. We encourage to start the ALEKS exam process as soon as possible so that they can take advantage of all three attempts during the three week testing period.

If a student is testing at multiple levels then he will have up to three attempts at each level. He should email deptmath@bcp.org when he is finished with his three attempts or when he has met a minimum score for advancement. Please note that all testing must be complete by the close of the testing period in April.

Is the ALEKS exam timed?

No, the ALEKS exam is not timed. Students may stop the exam in the middle, log off, and return later to complete the exam. When the student logs on again, ALEKS will resume the assessment where the student left off. 

Are external aids allowed during the ALEKS assessment?

No external aids are allowed. The student is expected to answer the assessment questions without external aid or help from anyone else. The ALEKS software includes a calculator and virtual graphing tools for student use during the exam. Please note that the use of external aid or assistance could result in an ALEKS score that overestimates the student’s knowledge level. As a result, the student could be placed in a course for which he is not adequately prepared. This could cause excessive struggle in freshman year math, which in turn could have negative ripple effects later on (e.g., he may not qualify for the honors course at the next level). Please also be aware that the use of external aids or assistance constitutes a violation of the Bellarmine Honor Code and could lead to expulsion.

Can my son go back to previous questions while taking an exam?

No, ALEKS does not allow a student to go back to revisit a previous question on an exam. 

When should my son press the "Haven't learned that yet" button in the ALEKS assessment?

The button should be pressed only if the student has no idea how to start the problem. Whenever possible, it’s better to attempt the problem in order to provide ALEKS with more information on which to assess you son's math knowledge.

My son has mastered several topics while practicing with ALEKS. Will these count toward his proficiency score?

No, only mastery demonstrated on one of the three assessment attempts will count toward proficiency measurement and placement. However, because of the similarity between practice questions and exam questions, mastering a topic in practice is likely to improve the student’s subsequent exam score. 

My son's ALEKS results show that he hasn't mastered a topic that wasn't even included in his assessment. Is this an error?

No this is not an error. The ALEKS algorithm is based on the principle that some math concepts are prerequisite to others. Mastering topic B may be dependent upon first mastering topic A. So if a student gives an incorrect answer to a question related to topic A, then ALEKS may infer that a student has not mastered A and therefore has not mastered B, even if a specific question related to B was not asked. Note that ALEKS is likely to confirm this inference in the course of asking questions in a subsequent exam. 

My son barely made the cutoff for advancement into Geometry Honors. Is there anything I should consider doing to ensure his success?

Our historical data show that most students who have barely made the cutoff are able to handle Geometry Honors and, subsequently, Algebra 2. However, in some cases the student has struggled, particularly when taking Algebra 2 in his sophomore year. Some students who barely qualified for Geometry Honors may want to consider brushing up on their Algebra skills in the summer prior to their sophomore year, in preparation for the Algebra 2 course.

My son barely missed the cutoff exam score for placement into Geometry Honors (or Algebra 2). How are the cutoff levels on the ALEKS proficiency exams determined?

To help calibrate the ALEKS exams and establish cutoff levels, we had over 100 current Bellarmine students take the exams. We then compared their scores to their math grade history. We also took the exams ourselves, multiple times, to help us associate levels of proficiency with various ALEKS scores. Based on these comparisons and based on our experience with the exams, we established cutoff scores the represent what we consider to be the minimum proficiency required to succeed at the next level of math.

The cutoff levels were set with several objectives in mind:

• Students should have a solid foundation at each level of math so as to be well-prepared for the next level. The most important success factor for advanced high school math and beyond is a solid foundation in algebra and geometry honors.

• Students should be sufficiently challenged in the course in which they are placed. In some cases, a student may find a course easy at first because the subject matter is familiar. But most math courses become more challenging as the year progresses, stretching students with new and more advanced material.

• Students should be given ample opportunity to succeed academically and find balance as they transition to a new school and explore all that Bellarmine has to offer during their freshman year.