The Chemistry Placement Exam is required for all students prior to placement into CHEM 121 (General Chemistry I) without CHEM 103 (Preparatory Chemistry). This is a multiple-choice exam consisting of 22 questions to assess a student's level of preparation in chemistry and math. In order to be placed into CHEM 121, the student must correctly answer 16 or more questions (72.7%). A lower score places the student into CHEM 103. A passing grade of C in CHEM 103 is required for a student to matriculate into CHEM 121. The 性视界传媒 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry does not permit alternative examinations to the placement exam.
Please see the for pre- and corequisite requirements for CHEM 103, CHEM 121A and CHEM 121L.
Starting June 1, 2024, the Chemistry Placement Exam will only be offered in-person through the 性视界传媒 Testing Center.
The 性视界传媒 Testing Center offers in-person proctoring for the Chemistry Placement exam Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. In order to schedule, submit an a minimum of three (3) business days prior to the desired exam date. Same day appointments and walk-ins are not available. An online option for the exam is not available. All testing is performed in-person at the Campus Resource Center on the 性视界传媒 Maryland Campus.
Exam Details
The time allotted for the exam is 45 minutes. There is no fee. Passing scores are valid for two-years from the date of the exam.
A student may not repeat the Chemistry Placement Exam within three months of their first attempt. Only one repeat attempt is allowed. Students who do not achieve a score of at least 16 on their first or second attempt are required to take CHEM 103.
Students who achieve a passing score will receive permission to enroll in My性视界传媒 within a week of the exam date.
Chemistry Placement Exam Preparation Course
To prepare for the Chemistry Placement Exam, students should complete the Khan Academy Prep Course. The course can be accessed through . Please use your 性视界传媒 email when creating an account.
Students should expect to spend about 4.5 hours to complete the following lessons. Time varies depending on both effort and expertise. Lessons should be completed in the order listed below.
| Significant Figures & Unit Conversions | Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|
| Intro to Significant Figures (video) | 5:00 |
| Rules of Significant Figures (video) | 5:40 |
| Multiplying and Dividing With Significant Figures (video) | 9:30 |
| Addition and Subtraction With Significant Figures (video) | 9:00 |
| Significant Figures (exercise) | 10 min |
| Convert units word problems (metrics) (exercise) | 10 min |
| Unit Conversion (article #1) | 10 min |
| Unit Conversion: medium (exercise) | 10 min |
| Unit Conversion (article #2) | 10 min |
| Units- Harder Example (video) | 5 min |
| Est. total time 84 min |
| Atomic Symbols | Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|
| Apply: Isotopes (exercise) | 10:00 |
| Chemical Formulas | Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|
| Find the formula for ionic compounds | 10 min |
| Apply: naming main group ionic compounds | 10 min |
| Naming ionic compound with polyvalent ion (video) | 4:00 |
| Polyatomic ions (article) | 10 min |
|
|
Est. total time 34 min |
| Mixtures/Pure Substances | Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|
| Molecules, salts, compounds, and chemicals: What's the difference? (article) | 10 min |
| Chemical Reactions | Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|
| Representations of Reactions | 10 min |
| Balancing chemical equations (video) | 5:00 |
| Visually understanding balancing chemical equations (video) | 4:36 |
| Apply: Balancing Equations | 10 min |
| Est. total time 40 min |
| Math With Chemical Reactions | Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|
| Find the formula for ionic compounds | 10 min |
| Predicting the formula of a given compound | 10 min |
| Apply: mole calculations with elements | 10 min |
| Apply: calculating the molar mass of compounds | 10 min |
| Apply: mole calculations with compounds | 10 min |
| Apply: mole-to-mole stoichiometry | 10 min |
| Apply: mass-to-mass stoichiometry | 10 min |
| Apply: limiting reactants | 10 min |
|
Est. total time 80 min |
| Total Practice Course Time | 258 min ~ 4.3 hours |
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