Failed Aleks Int. Alg, now what?

[chasm636]

I got a 66 on my initial assessment, asked for another assessment, and got a 67. I'm worn out. Do I ask for another assessment, or do I just start working through problems? Do I get credit for that? I took this because I have already had college algebra and I thought it would be easy, but it's wearin' me down. I'm discouraged because I'm reading about people breezing through it in a matter of hours. What do I do now?

[cookderosa]

I got a 66 on my initial assessment, asked for another assessment, and got a 67. I'm worn out. Do I ask for another assessment, or do I just start working through problems? Do I get credit for that? I took this because I have already had college algebra and I thought it would be easy, but it's wearin' me down. I'm discouraged because I'm reading about people breezing through it in a matter of hours. What do I do now?

Yes, work through some problems. You have 30 days, and there is probably only 1-2 problem types you are missing. Or, try again tomorrow.

[ncpenn]

I got a 66 on my initial assessment, asked for another assessment, and got a 67. I'm worn out. Do I ask for another assessment, or do I just start working through problems? Do I get credit for that? I took this because I have already had college algebra and I thought it would be easy, but it's wearin' me down. I'm discouraged because I'm reading about people breezing through it in a matter of hours. What do I do now?

To get credit, you have to assess at 70 or higher.

I believe you are wasting your time doing assessment after assessment. Start doing problems. Grind it out. When you are at an estimated 72 or 73 percent, request an assessment (if one hasn't started automatically).

Keep in mind that Algebra is some of the toughest stuff in math. It's tougher than even Calculus (I've done up through Calculus 2 at Straighterline). Never mind how fast some others might or might not have been.

Here's why: ALEKS costs $20 per month. A CLEP test is about $105 right now, and that doesn't count buying any study guide. You'd have to use ALEKS for over 5 months before it's more expensive than a CLEP. I guaranty it won't take you anywhere that long. As such, it's a huge bargain.

Best of luck! cheersmate

[namwen]

My son just finished intermediate algebra and college algebra. It took him 89 hours total to finish both.

What we found was that he progressed 6-7% after a serious 1 day problem working day. Like, 8 hours of working. It sounds like if you hit it hard you will pass after a couple of days. Hey, getting 3 credit hours for a few days of work seems like a pretty sweet deal.

[JohnnyHeck]

Please work all your problem solutions on a scratch pad step by step first before trying to enter the answer on the screen. I know it's tedious, but it saves a lot of time in the end because it is the only way to seperate a conceptual knowledge hole from just plain ole dumb mistakes that you didn't realize at the time. It took me 3 years in professional engineering to admit to the truth of this fact. I can still hear my professors - all PHDs - trying to drill this simple truth into my dumb head, but I couldn't accept it until everything was on the line as to whether my answer to a problem was right or wrong. and I had to be the one to check my own work.

[LaterBloomer]

You didn't fail Aleks. You learned that, while you know quite a bit, you still have things still to learn. Guess what? Even if you'd scored 100%, there are still things you'll have to learn in this world. If you're the type who can take a day away from something without leaving it all together, do that. Also, after following JohnnyHeck's great advice, you get a problem wrong, print up the instructions. You'll get this, and you're so close. Let us know how things are going after a week, okay?

[chasm636]

Well, it's been a while, but here I am again. I finished last night with a 75%. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement.

[LaterBloomer]

I don't want to sound like a know-it-all, but I KNEW you'd get it. Congratulations, and thanks for letting us know how it went for you. Often we hear from the folks who study for 5 seconds and pass and exam. It's a little disheartening for those of us not as intellectually advanced, so it's nice to hear from fellow worker bees.

[chasm636]

Thanks again! I just submitted the transcript request last night when I finished it, and it's already been approved by ACE! That's been the most painless part of this experience! Well, CLEP A&I Lit and DSST Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union are next.