ALEKS Chemistry Prep Course

Students will be required to complete the ALEKS Chemistry Preparatory Course prior to registration for each semester. Students wanting to register for CHEM 1111 (General Chemistry I) or CHEM 1113 (General Chemistry for Engineers) in the Spring of 2025 are required to take an online chemistry knowledge check and complete the subsequent online Chemistry Preparatory Course (CPC) between October 15 and December 18, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. The CPC uses ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces), a web-based, artificial intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course.

Key Points to Remember in order to register for CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113

1) You must complete ALEKS CPC if you plan on registering for CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113.  The only exception is if you have taken and passed Chem 1110 or are currently taking Chem 1110.

2) You must repeat ALEKS CPC if you plan on repeating CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113.  The only exception is if you have taken and passed CHEM 1110 or are currently taking CHEM 1110.

3) Take the ALEXS CPC the semester prior to the one that you plan on taking CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113.  For example, if you plan on taking CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 in the fall, the ALEXS CPC will be labeled as the summer ALEKS CPC.

4) In order to register for CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 you must achieve a score of 95% or above on your Learned/Mastery Pie Chart.

5) You cannot register immediately after achieving a score of 95% or above.  BANNER updates overnight and so you will need to wait until the next morning to register.

6) The CPC is available online on the ALEKS website. You will have to login using your GW UserID and password. There is no special code required.

7) CHEM 1111 only: If you qualify for recitation, keep your Friday schedule open.  You cannot register for recitation.  You will be assigned a recitation class by the ChemALEKS team prior to the beginning of the semester.

Who Needs to Take Chem 1111?

If you are going to take CHEM 1111, you need to complete the ALEKS Chemistry Preparatory Course. CHEM 1111 is a requirement for students who intend to pursue any of the following academic fields:

CHEM 1111 can also fulfill a science or G-PAC requirement for a number of other majors.

Who Can Take Chem 1113?

This is a one-semester general chemistry course for students majoring in engineering. Students in applied science and technology, environmental engineering, or pre-med track should take CHEM 1111 and CHEM 1112 in lieu of this course.

Why Must I Take the CPC?

We want you to succeed in CHEM 1111 and CHEM 1113! CHEM 1111/13 faculty assume that if you enroll, you have a strong background in mathematics and some fundamentals of chemistry so that you can keep pace with the course. College chemistry is taught at a faster pace than high school science classes. Having a solid foundation prior to enrolling in CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 will ease the transition from high school to college. The CPC topics are chosen by our faculty to help you evaluate your current understanding and to help you learn at your own pace so that you are prepared for the course.

We understand that you want to enroll in CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 to fulfill graduation requirements and/or pre-health requirements. CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 might be the first course in a series of college chemistry courses many of you will likely take, and we want you to be academically prepared to excel in those courses. The first step is to complete the CPC in a manner that accurately reflects your growing knowledge and deepening understandings. Therefore, our recommendation is to take as much time as you need to complete the CPC without any resources other than those provided in the CPC. The CPC is not something to rush through so you can register for CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113. We have found that students who are able to do the problems without notes and without following worked examples are much more successful in the course and they retain their knowledge and understandings longer than students who take shortcuts to complete the work quickly. Invest in yourself by investing the time required for you to learn the topics in the CPC.

CHEM Course Eligibility

The CPC will help students check their background knowledge and learn the math and chemistry necessary to succeed in CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113. Therefore, it is required that all students achieve 100% mastery + learned on the CPC after completing the Class Completion Knowledge Check. 

Students who do not demonstrate mastery + learned of 95% or higher in the CPC will not be allowed in CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 for that semester and instead will  be required to register for CHEM 1110 (Fundamentals of Chemistry) or attempt it a different semester. Students who successfully complete CHEM 1110 will then be allowed to register for CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 in a later semester. 

CHEM 1111 students who do not demonstrate mastery + learned of 95-99% will be required to register for an additional weekly recitation section.

You may continue working on the ALEKS Chemistry Prep Course and register if space permits until the 6th of the month in which classes begin at 11:59 PM ET, at which time you will need a minimum score of 100 to be eligible to register for an open seat providing you follow all add/drop deadlines and restrictions. For fall classes you have until August 6th.  For spring classes you have until December 18.

FAQ

Why do I have to take the CPC?

We want you to succeed in CHEM 1111 and CHEM 1113! The instructors assume that all students have a good background in mathematics and some fundamentals of chemistry, so the course is taught at a relatively fast pace. The CPC will assess your background knowledge and tutor you in those areas needed for success in CHEM 1111 and CHEM 1113.

What does the CPC cover?

• Math and Algebra: algebra, equations, exponentials and logarithms, graphs, vectors
• Measurement: SI Units, unit conversions, dimensional analysis
• Matter: mass, volume, density, atomic theory, the elements
• Atoms and molecules: atomic structure, molecular and ionic compounds, nomenclature, redox
• Stoichiometry: moles, molar mass, chemical equations, reaction and solution stoichiometry
• Nomenclature

Where can I find the CPC?

The CPC is available online on the ALEKS website. You will have to login using your GW UserID and password. There is no special code required. If you do not get in using your GW User ID and password, then check the dates. The CPC may have not yet opened for the period in which you would like to take it.

When should I take the CPC?

Students will be required to complete the ALEKS Chemistry Preparatory Course prior to registration for each semester. Students must also have the required ALEKS CPC test score in the system prior to registering for the listed courses. It is REQUIRED that, if you do not have a score recent, you use the ALEKS tutorial to prepare for the course and retake the test

How much does the CPC cost?

The CPC is FREE for GW students.

What is the difference between Knowledge Check scores, Pie scores and the Mastery score required for registration?

Your final Mastery score is the percentage of topics mastered or learned (out of 130) at the time of the deadline. Taking the Initial Knowledge Check gives you the first slices in your ALEKS pie. Learning more topics fills the pie. At intervals determined by ALEKS, a Knowledge Check is triggered. If some of your answers on the Knowledge Check are incorrect, you will lose some pie slices, but will get a new chance to learn the missing topics. Reaching a full pie triggers the Class Completion Knowledge Check, which is the final Knowledge Check (you have to take it!). Once your pie is 100% filled again, you have reached 100% mastery + learned. If you do not reach 100% mastery + learned by December 18 for the spring semester and August 6 for the Fall semester at 11:59 PM ET, your pie percentage at that time (number of topics mastered or learned out of a total of 130) will be used as mastery score.

What happens if I do not achieve 100% mastery + learned on the CPC?

If you do not achieve 100% in the CPC with a completed Class Completion Knowledge Check, but score between 95–99%, you will be registered for an additional weekly recitation section in addition to your regular CHEM 1111 section and lab (this only applies to students taking CHEM 1111). The recitation registration will be done by the CHEM ALEKS team prior to the beginning of the semester.  Keep your Friday schedule open an flexible for the recitation assignment if you score between 95-99%. If you don’t achieve at least 95%, you will not be allowed to take CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 and you will be required to register for CHEM 1110 instead.

I took the CPC previously, do I have to take it again?

If you took the ALEKS Chemistry Prep Course last year or last semester or prior and achieved the minimum score of 95, it is still required that you retake the Chemistry Prep Course to make sure the material is fresh in your mind. The CPC covers the background in mathematics and some fundamentals of chemistry which are absolutely essential needed to keep pace in CHEM 1111 and CHEM 1113.

Incoming First Year Students

If you are an incoming first year student (unless you are a SEAS student, see below), you will need to complete the CPC and achieve at least 95% mastery before you can register for CHEM 1111. CHEM 1111 scores are collated once a day, so there might be a slight delay until you can register. After December 18 (for the Spring semester) and August 6 (for the Fall semester), students registered for CHEM 1111 with a 95–99% mastery score will be enrolled in a required additional recitation section. Those who have not achieved 95% mastery must instead take CHEM 1110.

INCOMING FIRST YEAR SEAS STUDENTS

If you are an incoming SEAS student, you may be registered for CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 by your academic advisor before completing the CPC. If you do not achieve 100% mastery by December 18 (for the Spring semester) or August 6 (for the Fall semester), you will either be enrolled in a required additional recitation session as part of CHEM 1111 (mastery score 95–99%) or you will be dropped from CHEM 1111 and required to switch to CHEM 1110 (mastery score below 95%). See your academic advisor for more information.

What happens if I do not take the CPC at all?

If you have not at least done the initial CPC knowledge check you will not be allowed to register for CHEM 1110.

When will registration for CHEM 1110 open?

Registration for CHEM 1110 opens at the same time as everything else.

I am required to register for an additional CHEM 1111 recitation section because I achieved between 95–99% mastery, how will I be assigned to that section?

You will be registered by the Chemistry Department for ONE recitation section. These MANDATORY recitation sessions meet for 50 minutes on Friday. Times vary depending on the semester. You will be assigned to a section, please keep your Friday schedule open. 

What if I am going to use my AP/IB credit for CHEM 1111/13, or am planning to take CHEM 1111/13 next year?

The CPC is only for students taking CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113. If you will be using your AP credit for CHEM 1111/13 or are planning on taking CHEM 1111/13 in a later semester you do not need to complete the CPC at this time; however, you will need to complete the CPC prior to taking CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113 whenever you plan on taking it if for the first time or if it is a retake.

Is ALEKS ADA compliant?

ALEKS is accessible to many segments of the disabled population. Because there is no audio associated with the ALEKS content, ALEKS is fully accessible to those who are partially or profoundly deaf. ALEKS does not rely exclusively on color to convey critical information so it is fully accessible to those that are colorblind. Many students who have low vision or are otherwise visually impaired can use products such as Microsoft Magnifier to fully access ALEKS.

Students who are incapable of using both a keyboard and a mouse simultaneously due to physical disabilities similarly have no limitations while using ALEKS.

Profoundly blind students can access certain areas of ALEKS through the use of screen reader technology. Students who need to access an ADA compliant version of ALEKS should contact Disability Support Services for assistance.

What do I do if I need technical assistance?

Answers to frequently asked technical questions can be found on the ALEKS Technical Support webpage.

Students who need assistance with taking ALEKS may contact ALEKS support:
Phone: (714) 619-7090
Fax: (714) 245-7190
Email: Submit an ALEKS support form

Hours (Eastern Time):

• Sunday, 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
• Monday - Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
• Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Tips for Succeeding with CPC

• The initial CPC knowledge check should take between 45 and 90 minutes. Working through the CPC to fill in any gaps will take 15 to 40 additional hours, depending on your background knowledge. Students must have the required ALEKS placement test score in the system prior to registering for the listed courses.
• ALEKS will only teach you information that you don't know and that you are ready to learn based on what you already know. Do not guess the answers so that ALEKS will present you with the material you need.
• Do not click the "I don't know" button unless you truly have no idea how to approach a problem. Otherwise, ALEKS might make you review information that you don't need.

Other Resources

The GW Chemistry Department uses a FREE General Chemistry textbook. 
 

Office Hours 

Any question about the prep course material is welcome, or how to best prepare for CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1113.  Come chat with one of the General Chemistry instructors!

Direct questions to [email protected].

Questions?

Answers to frequently asked technical questions can be found on the ALEKS Technical Support webpage.

Students who need assistance with taking ALEKS should contact ALEKS support:

Phone: (714) 619-7090

Fax: (714) 245-7190

Email: Submit an ALEKS support form

Hours (Eastern Time):

• Sunday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For non-technical related questions you can email us at [email protected].