ALEKs vs SL

[johnami]

A post on another thread brings up this question - how do you compare ALEKs with Straighterline, knowing of course that ALEKs has only math classes? I don't mean that either is bad, I am just looking for input on which is easier, shorter, etc.

[Publius]

Cost:
ALEKs — 1 month $19.95, 6 months $99.95, a year $179.95.
SL — Monthly subscription $99 + each course one time fee of $39, individual courses (unlimited time) $400, a year $99.
**There are discounts for each. When you sign up for a SL monthly subscription, you can get one course free ($39 value).

Courses:
ALEKs — Mathematics and Stats
SL — Mathematics, Business, Humanities, Sciences, English

Obtaining Credit:
ALEKs you take a placement/assessment test and when you hit 70% on it you can receive credit for it. You work on the areas that you're weak on and then take another crack at the assessment.
With SL you take all the tests (usually at least 6) and the cumulative grade for all those tests combined must be above 70%.

As for specifics on which is easier and shorter, it's going to vary. I mean, you could compare ALEKs' Trig to SL's Precalc, but you wouldn't be able to compare ALEKs' Trig with say SL's Accounting 1. That make sense?


Other things to note:
With SL you get 10 hours of free tutoring.
SL recommends you get the textbook (a used an earlier version is sufficient).
Both are ACE approved.


You can get a free trial for each of these products so the best way to answer you question is to test them out yourself for free and see what you like better.


Hope this helped, and if I made a mistake on any of the above info, please, someone point it out.

[mymelody]

I finished my beginner's algebra(by the way, doesn't count for credit even thought Ace approved) in 5 days using Aleks. Right now, I'm 3 days into Intermediate Algebra at 42% assessment. I really like their method because it actually taught me more than my high school teacher ever did. I highly recommend using Aleks over SL because you will learn much more from their website than from textbook and quizzes alone. And you will be using math in other courses such as accounting and statistic.

I'm the type that have to juggle, that mean I like to go from courses to courses otherwise I'll be bored easily. So I'm doing both SL and Aleks at the same time. If you just started, and you like to focus on one subject only. I would say go for Aleks first because math is essential in every field.

[AlbaTiVo]

What are you working towards mymelody? I see you just started recently.