Video Guide and FAQ
The following video can answer many questions regarding mathematics placement at CSU Long Beach.
Resource Links from Video
- General Education Area 2 Foundation Requirement
- Math Placement - ALEKS Instructions
- Math Course Recommendation Guide (College-Specific Information)
- : This is where you can access Math ALEKS
- Standardized Test Scores and How They Articulate to É«ÖÐÉ« Courses
- Steps for Newly Admitted First-Time, First-Year Students (includes transcript information)
- Undergraduate Academic Advising (by College)
FAQ
É«ÖÐÉ« uses your prior academic preparation and the ALEKS placement test to determine your math placement.
Your prior academic preparation includes standardized tests, such as APs, IBs, SATs, and CLEP exams. Your high school overall GPA, your high school math GPA, and your high school and college-level coursework are also considered prior academic preparation.
Students with a stronger mathematics background may place higher in their major-specific math pathway.
All students are required to complete a General Education lower division Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning course in their first year. In addition, some majors have specific math requirements that play a role in advanced coursework.
It is important that all students begin in the correct math course so they can be both challenged and successful.
Your first math class at É«ÖÐÉ« depends on your pre-major.
Pre-Majors with No Specific Math Requirement
If you are in a pre-major with no specific math requirement you will take a course in GE Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning. There are many Area 2 courses that do not require math placement.
Pre-Majors that Require Calculus I (MATH 122)
| É«ÖÐÉ« Multiple Measures | 1st Sem. | 2nd Sem. | 3rd Sem. | 4th Sem. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AP BC, score of 3 or greater | MATH 224 (if required for your major) | (additional courses if required by major) | (additional courses if required by major) | (additional courses if required by major) |
| Calculus AP AB, score of 3 or greater | MATH 123 (if required for your major) | MATH 224* (for some majors) | (additional courses if required by major) | (additional courses if required by major) |
One of the following:
Note: year-long high school precalculus course required, high school calculus course highly recommended. | MATH 122 | MATH 123 | MATH 224 (if required for your major) | (additional courses if required by major) |
One of the following:
Note: if high school GPA 3.5 or lesser, must also enroll in MATH 93, high school year-long pre-calculus course highly recommended. | MATH 113 and MATH 111 | MATH 122 | MATH 123 | MATH 224 (if required for your major) |
| Ready for General Education Mathematics with Additional Support (See: ) | MATH 112A | MATH 112B and MATH 111 | MATH 122 | MATH 123 |
Pre-Majors that Require Survey of Calculus I (MATH 119A)
| É«ÖÐÉ« Multiple Measures | 1st Sem. | 2nd Sem. | 3rd Sem. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AP BC, score of 3 or greater | calculus requirement complete (additional courses if required by major) | (additional courses if required by major) | (additional courses if required by major) |
| Calculus AP AB, score of 3 or greater | calculus requirement complete (additional courses if required by major) | (additional courses if required by major) | (additional courses if required by major) |
One of the following:
Note: year-long high school precalculus course required, high school calculus course highly recommended. | MATH 119A | (additional courses if required by major) | (additional courses if required by major) |
One of the following:
Note: if high school GPA 3.5 or lesser, must also enroll in MATH 93, high school year-long pre-calculus course highly recommended. | MATH 113 | MATH 119A | (additional courses if required by major) |
| Ready for General Education Mathematics with Additional Support (See: ) | MATH 112A with MATH 92A | MATH 112B | MATH 119A |
To place into MATH 122 Calculus I, MATH 119A Survey of Calculus, or MATH 170 Calculus for Data Science, use the Math ALEKS placement system.
The Math ALEKS placement system assesses your individual mathematics skills and helps identify the most appropriate college mathematics course for your success.
The tool first measures your math foundation and creates a personalized learning module (tutorials) to help you review and refresh knowledge that may have grown stale. Then the system allows you to reassess, so that you can get an accurate placement.
For more information, please see ALEKS Mathematics Placement.
To access Math ALEK, log into and locate the ALEKS tile.
Tip: search for "ALEKS" to find the tile faster.
Once you click on ALEKS, you will be guided on next steps to take the assessment.
Yes! Students can attempt Math ALEKS up to 4 times. Your best score will be used for math placement.
Please note that you must wait at least 48 hours between attempts and during that time, must work in the Prep and Learning Module (tutorials) for at least 5 hours. The tutorials are very effective at helping students improve their score.
You will be placed in the highest math course that your records (including standardized tests, ALEKS and transfer credit) support. If your highest placement comes from a standardized test score, then that score will determine your placement.
Take Math ALEKS as soon as possible!
The process can take some time. You can take the test up to 4 times total provided that you wait at least 48 hours between attempts and during that time, you work in the Prep and Learning Module (tutorials) for at least 5 hours.
If you are in the College of Engineering or the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the deadline to take ALEKS is July 10, 2026.
For majors in other colleges, Math ALEKS must be completed at least 2 weeks prior to your SOAR date.
In most cases, yes.
If you already know you have standardized test scores or college-level courses that will place you into or beyond calculus 1, then you don’t need to take Math ALEKS.
The math course you take depends on your major. Some majors do not require a specific math course, so these majors may take any course that satisfies GE Area 2 Foundation.
If you do not have standardized tests or college transfer credit, the GE Area 2 Foundation courses that you would choose from have a one-unit a support course open to all students and required for some populations. If you take ALEKS and score 60 or higher, you are guaranteed to be eligible for these courses without being included in the population required to also enroll in the associated support course.
You can find information on this course recommendation guide, which is sorted by colleges.
You can also ask the advisors in your college's academic advising center.
Ask the advisors in your college's academic advising center.
