PSSP ALEKS Information 2026

PSSP 2026 ALEKS Placement Assessment Information — The faculty teaching in the Pre-Collegiate Summer Scholars Program (PSSP) this summer are looking forward to working with you! Before you join us, we want to make sure that you are placed into courses that are appropriately challenging. We are using ALEKS, a placement, prep, and learning platform, in addition to SAT and high school math courses and grades, to help determine course placements for the summer.

It is critical that you do not use any help at all on this placement assessment – no calculator, no assistance from a family member or friend, no GAI, etc. We want to place you in the appropriate Cornell-level math class this summer, we can only do that if we know your honest answers from your work alone on this placement assessment.  If you do get help and as a result are placed incorrectly, this will be detrimental to your learning and enjoyment during the summer and future semesters at Cornell. This unauthorized assistance also constitutes a violation of Cornell’s Code of Academic Integrity.

You will have until May 18th, 2026 to complete the placement!

What’s on this page?

How to access the placement assessment

  • Step 1: Visit www.aleks.com and select SIGN UP NOW! in the upper right corner.
Screenshot of sign up for ALEKS
  • You will need to use your Cornell email address (which is your netID) when you set up your ALEKS account – eg. abc123@cornell.edu. This means you will need to be looking at your Cornell email account for messages!
  • Step 2: Enter your 10-character ALEKS code into the Course Code box. Then select Continue.

    **For PSSP 2026, the course code will be: 3HCNU-CEPWY

    Screen shot of entering a class code into ALEKS
  • Step 3. Verify Your Class. You should be using ALEKS with the class “PSSP 2026 Cohort, Summer 2026”. If you enter  incorrect information, select (Cancel) to re-enter the ALEKS Code. If the information is correct, select Confirm. If you do not see this cohort when you log in, please go back and make sure you used your Cornell NetID.Please note that the site will give you a login name after you create your account — make sure you write that down! The login name is what you will use to log into ALEKS. 

Need help accessing the platform? For any technical issues (log-in, access, etc) with the placement assessment, you should contact ALEKS support, which has options for phone, live chat, or a support form. You can access these at  https://www.mheducation.com/highered/support/support-at-every-step/student/aleks.html

Information about taking the placement assessment

Do I go immediately to the assessment after I log in?
No, you will be given a survey so that we can learn a bit more about you and your math background. Then you will be able to take the placement assessment.

What is the format of the questions on ALEKS?
ALEKS is not a multiple-choice placement assessment. It is open-response and requires you to work out solutions with a paper and pen or pencil, then enter them into ALEKS. Be sure to have scratch paper with you.

May I use any other resources during a placement assessment?
You may only use a pen or pencil, paper, and the resources provided within ALEKS. You should not receive assistance from friends, family, other websites, textbooks, GAI, or any other resource not provided by ALEKS. Using outside resources will lead to improper placement and potentially to unsuccessful course completion. It is also a violation of Cornell’s Code of Academic Integrity.

Can I review a question after I’ve answered it?
Because ALEKS is adaptive, once you submit an answer, you cannot change it. Be sure to carefully check your answer before submitting your response.

What if I see questions I don’t know?
It is likely that you will be asked questions on material you have not learned. On such questions it is appropriate to answer, “I don’t know.” On any question you have ANY familiarity with, however, it is important to do your best. Although many standardized tests penalize you for an incorrect answer, ALEKS does not; it only helps ALEKS understand what you know and don’t know. “I don’t know” is interpreted by ALEKS to mean that you do not know how to solve the topic, and this will be reflected in the placement assessment results, possibly causing a lower score than answering the problem incorrectly.

How many attempts can I make? You have 2 attempts to take the assessment. You must answer all 25 questions to count as an attempt (so for example, if you finish 24 of the questions and then your internet stops working, this will not count as an attempt).

After taking your first attempt, you will have the opportunity to work through modules that ALEKS recommends for you based on your performance, which will likely help you raise your score. You are not required to work through the modules. There is a required 48 hour cool-down period before you can take the second attempt.

If you are happy with your initial score, you are not required to take the assessment twice.

How long will the assessment take? The placement assessment has 25 questions. You will have 3 hours to complete the assessment, though it typically takes students between 1 and 2 hours. You must complete all 25 questions for the attempt to count. If you are close to the end of the 3 hours, have not finished the assessment, but would like this attempt to count, you may click “I don’t know” on the remaining questions. You will not be able to pause the assessment once you have started.

May I use a calculator while using ALEKS?
ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator (on the far right hand side of the screen) if you need one to complete a particular problem. Otherwise, you may not use a calculator. See the screenshot below for where the calculator icon will appear if it is needed.

Screenshot showing the calculator placement in ALEKS

Helpful video tutorials

ALEKS has created video tutorials on accessing and using the platform:

Information about PSSP and how the placement assessment is used

What is the purpose of the placement assessment? The purpose is to make sure each student ends up in a course that is appropriately challenging. None of the courses in PSSP are acceleration courses. This means that PSSP courses will NOT allow you to place out of classes in the fall semester; rather, the course you are placed in will equip you with skills that you need for the fall semester.

Please do not get any extra help at all on this placement assessment–no calculator, no older cousin, no Chat or other GAI, etc. We want to place you in the appropriate Cornell-level math class this summer, and we can only do that if we know your honest answers from this placement assessment.

What other information is being considered for placement? We will also be looking at SAT Math scores and high school math courses to paint a more complete picture.

What are some of the courses that I might be enrolled in? Based on your results, you will be enrolled in MATH 1001, MATH 1004, or a discipline-based content course (Chem1001, Econ1011, Art1003). The discipline-based content course is determined by your college based on your intended major.

When do I have to complete my assessment? The assessment will close on May 18, 2026. 

What if I don’t do as well as I want on my assessment? Don’t worry! The purpose of the assessment is to place you in the course that is going to be a good fit for you in the summer. 

Where to go for help

Who should I contact if I have questions or issues with the ALEKS placement assessment? For any technical issues with the placement assessment, you should contact ALEKS support, which has options for phone, live chat, or a support form. You can access these at  https://www.mheducation.com/highered/support/support-at-every-step/student/aleks.html

If you are expecting an email from ALEKS, be sure to double check your spam mail. ALEKS support is the place to go with log-in questions or other questions related to accessing and using the platform.

What if I have questions about the math courses? If you have questions specifically regarding math in PSSP, send an email to BOTH Dr. Melanie Fraser mcf83@cornell.edu and Dr. Doug Knowles ddk62@cornell.edu. Please note that it may take up to 2 business days for one of them to respond.

We hope we have answered all of your questions about ALEKS and we look forward to seeing you this summer!