Who should study?

All students who plan to retest should study before retesting.  The amount of review that students do is up to them.  Some students will get enough review by using their notes from the high school math courses that they took.  Other students will need to work with a tutor or take a course to feel prepared to retest. Still others will want the structure of a formal course.  RWU has arranged for some non-credit on-line review courses to help students prepare to retest. See the bottom of this page for more information.

What study materials should a student use?

Students can either use their own notes and textbooks from high school or they can purchase textbooks that cover the topics included in the tests.  In either case, it might help if students work with a friend, tutor or former teacher when reviewing.

How should a student study?

We recommend that students take the time to do the problems related to topics that they are studying.  Reading about the topics will not prepare them for what they have to do on the retest.  The questions on the ALEKS retest are not multiple-choice.  They require testers to solve, simplify or graph.  Thus, studying should include solving, simplifying and graphing.

Are there any textbooks that RWU recommends to use as review?

We recommend that students try to acquire the algebra and precalculus textbooks that they used in high school. These are good resources because students are familiar with their approach and style.  High schools are usually willing to lend their former students these books for a few weeks during the summer.

Are there any on-line courses that RWU recommends to use as review?

RWU has arranged on-line placement review courses for students wishing a more structured review.  These courses are only for the purpose of review and do not carry course credit at RWU. 
 
The placement test review courses are offered through the ALEKS Learning System.  This is another part of the organization that offers the RWU placement tests.  Online registration can be accessed at http://www.mhhe.com/aleks. Your registration entitles you to use the service for a fixed period of time.  18 weeks cost approximately $70, 11 weeks cost approximately $40 and 6 weeks cost approximately $20. 
 
Students must enter one of the codes in the table below to enter the RWU Placement Test Review Courses.  The placement test review courses have been set up to reflect the courses offered to new students at RWU.
 

Students wishing to retest out of College Algebra should take the College Algebra course.  Students wishing to retest out of Precal A with Algebra should take the College Algebra course and, if they have time, the Precal A course.  Students wishing to retest out of Precal A should take the Precal A course. Students wishing to retest out of Applied Precal should take the Precal A course. Students wishing to retest out of Precal B should take the Precal B course.

What topics should I study?

For students who are not using the ALEKS on-line placement review courses to prepare to retest, study problems and a list of topics are available on this site at the Samples link.