Starting ALEKS, have a few questions

[dcan]

So now I'm ready to forge ahead on my math requirements. I need Precal for a TESC BSBA. I know ALEKS trig will qualify, and I intend to stop there officially, though I may proceed through precal on my own anyway.

I just signed up for the 3 hour free trial and I'm going to check it out. But I have a few questions before I pay and sign up for a course.

1. If I pay $20 a month and sign up for a course, can I change my mind and switch to another course without completing the first one?

2. I ask #1 because I want to thoroughly ground myself in the fundamentals. I just did the College Math CLEP and had to teach myself some of the stuff that I learned 20+ years ago and forgot. Unfortunately, I don't feel entirely comfortable with my level of knowledge. My instinct is to start with Beginning Algebra and fly through it as quick as I can (I know it isn't creditable at TESC) to make sure I have the fundamentals really down and then proceed. But if it is too easy, I don't want to waste time and would rather switch to another course than continue something that isn't going to give me any credit.

3. Given #2, which is better: taking a full course like Beginning (or Intermediate) Algebra, or taking the "Prep" courses which are shorter? Anyone have experience with the "prep" courses vs the full courses? (I know the answer here is probably "it depends on your abilities" but I'm curious if anyone has tried/compared the two)

4. Geometry. I figure I should make sure and do this one, even for no credit, given it is often a basis for higher math. Sound right? (I remember all the logic and proofs from HS, that's what I'm getting at)

5. Given all the above, it looks like my progression would be this:

• Beginning Algebra
  
• Geometry
  
• Intermediate Algebra
  
• College Algebra
  
• Trig
  

I think that does it for now. Any and all help/advice appreciated.

Thanks!

[OE800_85]

What you said is more or less spot on. Just remember that once you get over 70 on the assessment you gotta submit it and WAIT for ace to review it, if you change courses it'll delete all progress. But the program is unlimited, in that you can switch as many times as you'd like. Also, I'm quite sure you can't get credit for the trial version, you should upgrade first, and progress might be lost when you do that. I think your progression is good. Just remember the assessments have some TOUGH questions, the college math Clep is a joke by comparison. So, the courses will take a good chunk of your time. I think it's totally worth it, you're getting credit and TRULY learning math, not just remembering stuff to do an exam.

[OE800_85]

Also, with any course, you do the assessment first. After you finish, log into your master account to check your score...if you already have a 70 not much point in going on in my opinion. So you can do the assessments with those prep classes if you like

[dcan]

Thanks for the feedback. Using the free demo I picked Geometry and got 64/211 on the pie from the assessment. 30%, not bad, and it looks pretty elementary, much less hairy than I remembered from way back. I spent all my time reading Wikipedia higher math and lost sight of "elementary" geometry...

Yes, I'll lose the progress, I'm buying tomorrow, just trying out the system. It's kind of neat, actually, and yeah I'm actually already learning things.

Thanks!