Crippling self doubt! (aka starting college at 40!)

[rvm]

My only concern with doing a single test for my math requirement is that I clearly need to study more and I'm not "getting it" when it comes to learning algebra again. I went through the entire khanacademy.com college math sections from Pre-algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2. I thought I did pretty well too. I felt like I "got it" as far as most of it was concerned. I even took the practice tests and I was doing just fine. 

Now I know these aren't the same tests and it's hard to compare them since it's apples to oranges but when I took the ACCUPLACER for Montgomery County College, I felt like I didn't know a single answer or how to do anything. I ended up getting a 54 out of 62 (but that's not how the scoring works, I was at the top of the algebra section but didn't get into college math). I've always considered myself pretty good at math so that was the weirdest part. I just don't remember the kind of math I simply don't use in real life. 

I thought with Aleks, you take a course and then once you're at 70%+, you take a test and if you score above 70%, you're done. Is that how it works or no? I'd also like something that I can do from my computer and don't need to visit a testing center. I'm leaving tomorrow morning for a week to do a site visit and then when I get back, it may just be for a couple days and I'll be deployed. 

I'm not as concerned about what the cheapest is, I'm more concerned about my time and keeping my head in the game. I don't want this to end up being a stumbling block that causes my "self destruct" tendencies to over react.

I was the poster who suggested I would share Aleks tips.  If you are concerned about learning math - college algebra, statistics and possibly college trigonometry - Aleks may not be your best route.  I'll try to explain.  Here's a little info about how Aleks works.  

Aleks is most effective when you already know the material.  When you are at that stage, you can take the Aleks pre-assessment and if you score at least 70%, you will get credit for the entire course - without taking the course.  That one pre-assessment can be taken without time restraints.  Take as long as you want or go as rapidly as you want because there is no proctor and you either understand it or you don't.  I took a few weeks to do one of Aleks pre-assessments because I was answering 1-3 questions per day.  I worked through each question at least 3 times to make sure I had it correct before I answered because once you submit, your answer is set in stone and you cannot go back.   My understanding is you can reset the assessments and re-test at any time, though.

The kicker is: Aleks does not really teach well.  It's an AI tool which keeps track of your progress in each topic and presents you with more difficult math problems as you master the less difficult problems.  If you don't understand the individual problems, Aleks gives you basic hints but it is severely deficient as a learning tool.  In other words, it doesn't really really teach you.  You learn yourself - mostly from other sources - then prove to Aleks you have mastered the topic.  Then you are allowed to progress.  

Each Aleks course has pie chart that shows your progress within each in section.  My understanding is if you don't score at least 70% on the pre-assessment, Aleks shows you the chart with your weaknesses in each section and you work on those weaknesses until you reach 70% within that section.  Then you can move to the next topic and wash-rinse-repeat and repeat and repeat...  Not understanding the math will put you in a repeating loop where it seems like you are doing the same types of problems over and over and not getting anywhere and you will probably be very frustrated.  You can always reset the tool and do another assessment.  But none of this really has a positive impact on learning math, IMO, because Aleks tool does not teach math.

There are other ways to get your math credits.  I'm unfamiliar with the math requirement for Homeland Security + EM degree but I would think it will require a minimum of college algebra.  

Perhaps Straighterline (commonly referred to on this forum as SL), Study.com (may see it referred to as SDC here), Shmoop, Sophia or Onlinedegree.com could be better choices.  They are more expensive (except OnlineDegree.com which is $9 for the final exam) but perhaps they are better platforms for learning.   Check out the section on this forum devoted to those online sources and see what others are saying.

If you are dead-set on using Aleks, try Texas A&M Math Lab to improve your math skills before attempting the Aleks pre-assessment.  This site seems to be a good, free source with helpful tutorials that teach college-level math.  http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/  

Once you get a better understanding of college algebra, that's the time to try Aleks.  You want to get that credit by scoring at least 70% on the pre-assessment so you don't have to get into Aleks hell (aka the Ai loop).