Using ALEKS to prep for CLEPs

[namwen]

My 17 year old son has taken high school Algebra I & II, Geometry and Math for Business.

I'm thinking about signing him up for ALEKS to prep for College Algebra. He has been doing really well just parked in front of the computer for hours but not so much a good test taker yet. I'm thinking that ALEKS would be good test prep for him.

Opinions?

[Lady Grace of Pemberley]

Although you can use ALEKS to prepare for a CLEP, ALEKS is ACE accredited, so you can just have your son work to 70% completion on the ALEKS assessment and then apply it as credit on its own. I took the College Alegebra CLEP after I finished Algebra 2, and I only had to study for a week for the CLEP using the REA guide and flashcards comparable to InstantCert's. Khan Academy might also have some videos that would help your son ---> Algebra | Khan Academy

Good luck!

[cookderosa]

My 17 year old son has taken high school Algebra I & II, Geometry and Math for Business.

I'm thinking about signing him up for ALEKS to prep for College Algebra. He has been doing really well just parked in front of the computer for hours but not so much a good test taker yet. I'm thinking that ALEKS would be good test prep for him.

Opinions?

Yes, BUT, there are some potential problems I've found. It all boils down to the assessments. I'm sure 99% of the people I've known to use ALEKS print out the explanations, use calculators, etc. In other words they take the assessments "open book." There are some sites, I won't name, that even let you input your question to get an answer. These "tools" help pass an assessment at 70% or greater, but don't necessarily promise enough understanding to take the CLEP.

So, the point is, that getting through an assessment and through ALEKS will work for ACE credit- but in order for it to be good preparation for CLEP, it needs to be stored in the child's brain too. So, just keep an eye on how their assessments go, and you should be able to use it for college algebra.

[namwen]

Yes, BUT, there are some potential problems I've found. It all boils down to the assessments. I'm sure 99% of the people I've known to use ALEKS print out the explanations, use calculators, etc. In other words they take the assessments "open book." There are some sites, I won't name, that even let you input your question to get an answer. These "tools" help pass an assessment at 70% or greater, but don't necessarily promise enough understanding to take the CLEP.

So, the point is, that getting through an assessment and through ALEKS will work for ACE credit- but in order for it to be good preparation for CLEP, it needs to be stored in the child's brain too. So, just keep an eye on how their assessments go, and you should be able to use it for college algebra.

Thanks you for your help!

[Carnation]

I would look first at the free resources others have mentioned.
If that's not enough to get him passing, I can recommend CLEP Professor.
CLEP Professor - Products
You take an assessment and then it teaches you the areas you didn't score well.