1.7. PPL and Placement Info for Main Campus Incoming Transfer Students

Math Placement, PPL, & Transfer Credit / Math Courses & Registration → General Information → PPL and Placement Info for Main Campus Incoming Transfer Students

PPL Assessment for Incoming Transfer Students:

Students who have not taken math in several years and do not have  recent and appropriate math transfer credit should consider enrolling in Math 100 for review. Students do not need a test score or placement to enroll in Math 100. 

If you have any math transfer credit, make sure you have reviewed that information in your Next Steps Center before testing.  

Testing is part of the incoming student process.  Students have a limited testing window (up to one year) and should enroll in and complete the appropriate MATH course or courses as soon as  possible.  Scores expire usually after 2 years for most courses. Read about the rules and process below.  If you are not sure whether you need to take the PPL Assessment or not, you can Contact us to check. 

• Remote testing testing on your own computer is available through August 16, 2026 at 10pm MST.  After that, testing is in-person only.  Contact us to make an appointment August 17-28, 2026.
• There is a $26 fee for each attempt at the PPL Assessment. 
• After you test, it generally takes about an hour for your PPL score to process into the U of A system and appear in your Next Steps Center. 
• All testing sessions are recorded and reviewed to make sure students follow the rules. You must agree to the rules to proceed to the test through the link in your Next Steps Center or Qualtrics Form.  
• About the PPL Assessment:
  • It is a 25 question one hour test, but students have up to 3 hours to complete it.  It must be completed all at once. You can't login and then come back later.
  • It is an adaptive test that covers material from basic math through Precalculus.  It progresses to higher level questions based on correct responses.
  • Problems must be done in order. Once you answer a question, you cannot go back and change it.
  • Students can test up to 3 times. There is a 7 day waiting period between each attempt. 
  • Students must use the review module for at least 5 hours prior to their third attempt.  This is linked in your Next Steps Center. 
  • You must download Respondus Monitor Lockdown Brower to access the PPL.   You can access come across any issues downloading Respondus Monitor, first check our troubleshooting guidelines.  
  • Once you complete your test, your score is final. 
  • You can read more on our Website and in our FAQs. 
  • PPL scores are invaliadated when students do not follow the rules and use the correct set-up. Any suspicious behaviors or violation of testing rules may be reported to the Dean of Students as a violation of the Code of Conduct. . 
• You can review before testing.  

Ready to Take the PPL Assessment? 

• To test remotely, you need to follow very specific rules and procedures.
  • Your test is proctored so you need to use a computer with a web camera and a microphone. You cannot use a tablet, IPAD, or phone. Both your computer screen and your web camera video feed are recorded and reviewed.  
  • You can use a calculator, blank scratch paper, and a writing utensil, but no other items. You must be sitting at a desk or table in a quiet but will lit area. 
    • View the approved calculator list here
  • You will need a photo ID.  
  • If you are logged out or your screen freezes, you must immediately return to the testing form to regain access.  The time clock is still running. 
  • No one can be in the room with you while you are testing.
  • Watch this video to review the required setup for testing. If your head, hands, and workspace are not all in full view for the duration of the testing session, it will be considered "unproctored" and may be invalidated (removed from the system). 
  • Failure to follow the rules or any suspicious behavior may result in an invalidated test score (removed from the system).  Some are reported to the Dean of Students.  
  • The Math Department reserves the right to invalidate any test for any reason and to require in-person testing only for any reason.
  • Find out more through our FAQs 
  • Your video feed needs to look like the picture below.