Instruction through ALEKS is guided by precise understanding of your knowledge of the subject. This information is obtained by assessments in which the system asks you to solve a series of problems. (The system's estimate of your knowledge is also updated when you make progress in the Learning Mode.) Your first assessment occurs immediately after the Registration and Tutorial.

In Financial Accounting, your first assessment may be optional. If you choose to skip this assessment, you will begin working in ALEKS with the most basic topics of the curriculum. If you take the assessment, you may be able to skip ahead to somewhat more advanced topics, depending on the knowledge you show in your responses. If you have any previous experience with Accounting, you may wish to take this assessment in order to move directly into material that is appropriate for you.

NOTE. Your instructor may require that the first assessment be taken under supervision. Don't try to begin your initial assessment at home until you find out where your instructor wants you to take it. Additional assessments may be scheduled for you by the instructor. These may or may not need to be supervised, depending on the instructor's preference. The ALEKS system may also prompt "automatic" assessments when you have spent a certain amount of time on the system or have made a certain amount of progress.