1. The New OSU Math Placement Exam Jeremy Penn, Ph. D
The New OSU Math Placement Exam Jeremy Penn, Ph.D. Director, University Assessment and Testing

2. Improve student success by placing students in the math course that is the best match for their abilities

3. As students take more and more diverse paths into our courses, correct placement becomes even more important
Correct placement is only one aspect of student success

4. Why are we moving away from the ACT Math for Placement?
Scenario: A student has an ACT Math score of 24. Will he or she be successful in MATH 1513 (college algebra)?

5. Data from 4 recent semesters: 287 students with ACT Math scores of 24 took MATH % of these students earned an ‘A’ 33% of these students earned a ‘D,’ ‘F,’ or ‘W’

6. 70% of the students who earned a ‘D,’ ‘F’, or ‘W’ in MATH 1513… …had an ACT Math score of 19 or higher
In fact, only 41% of the students with an ACT Math score of 19 earned an A, B, or C. The other 59% earned a D, F, or W (31% were W!).

7. ● 69% of the students who earned A, B, or C had ACT Math of 22 or higher (would leave out 506 students)
● 42% who earned D, F, or withdraw had ACT Math of 22 or higher (would let in 440 students)
The biggest problem with using the ACT Math for placement is that, no matter what placement score you select, you leave out a portion of those who could be successful and let in a substantial portion of those who are not. Every placement mechanism will have false positives and false negatives, but certainly we could do better than this!
A score of 22 would “leave out” 506 students who were successful, while a 22 would let in 440 students who are not successful. Note that these are estimates since we weren’t able to remove all of the students who had taken remedial courses or had attempted 1513 multiple times.

8. Other Concerns with ACT Math
Does not provide detailed diagnostic information
ACT Math may not represent the content and methods used in your math courses
May be a better fit for some classes than others
Many students may not take math as seniors
ACT does not offer opportunities to refresh math skills
Limited on-demand availability

9. Committee to Explore Enhancements to Math Education Curriculum
Formed by the Provost in fall, 2010
Included faculty members from multiple colleges plus representatives from UAS (now LASSO), UAT, and public schools
Provided multiple recommendations
One recommendation was to improve math placement and provide opportunities for students to refresh their math skills

10. OSU Math Placement Exam
ALEKS (Assessment of LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) vendor selected to provide math placement exam
Online, computer-adaptive test
Includes diagnostic information in 8 areas
Student access to learning modules and multiple retakes
Free response format like that used in math classes
Used by many other institutions nationally

13. Topics Covered Real numbers Equations and inequalities
Linear and quadratic functions
Exponents and polynomials
Rational expressions
Radical expressions
Exponentials and logarithms
Geometry and trigonometry

14. Who should take OSU Math Placement Exam?
All incoming freshmen and all new transfer students
Incoming students with CLEP / AP / Concurrent enrollment credit should still take the placement exam
Continuing students who desire enrollment in the impacted courses who are NOT currently enrolled in one of the impacted courses or its prerequisite

15. Do I need the exam proctored?
Students with ACT Math scores 19 or greater (SAT Math 460 or greater) do NOT need the exam proctored
Students with ACT Math scores 18 or lower (SAT Math below 460) MUST take a proctored version of the exam
May take an un-proctored practice exam but this WILL NOT COUNT FOR PLACEMENT and will count against the 5 total attempts allowed in an 11-month period

16. How do I find a proctor?
Proctoring for OSU Math Placement (ALEKS) is available for free at the OSU-Stillwater Testing Center
Online (distance) proctoring is available for a fee (about $35) from ProctorU (
Other options are available
Visit
Call

17. Where can I take this exam?
Proctoring not required:
Home
IT Labs (MSCS 108 (24 hours), CLB 407/408, Kerr-Drummond and Bennett)
Check-out laptop (must download ALEKS plug-in)
Proctoring required
Contact OSU-Stillwater Testing Center
Plan for at least 2 hours for the exam

18. Technical problems
Biggest issue from the pilot was using address instead of username (shortname)
Instructions on
Students must have JAVA enabled and download and install ALEKS plug-in
Try a different computer or one of the IT labs

19. How much does it cost? Free!
(Cost covered by Assessment Fee)
Non-OSU-Stillwater proctoring may require a fee
More than 6 weeks of access to learning modules requires an additional fee

20. New Model for Placement: Vertical Integration
Alignment between 0-level courses (e.g., 0123), placement mechanism, and 1000-level courses
Use the placement exam as a final exam in the 0-level course
Alignment of content, response format, and approaches

21. New Model for Placement: Horizontal Integration
Connection to non-math courses that use math knowledge
Communication with students from multiple sources (advisors, instructors, assessment office, etc.)
Availability and access to scores and diagnostic information

22. Supporting Student Success
Designing other supports around the new placement exam
Bridge programs
Targeted tutoring
Self-study
Math Learning Success Center
Others

23. Additional Information