Chemistry 115 Placement ExamIf you are pursuing a major that requires CHEM 115 in your program, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry would like to be sure that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful in the course. Placement at the appropriate level is of great benefit to students, leading to more rewarding and successful experiences in their chemistry courses. Therefore, the department requires that all students exhibit a satisfactory performance on a 45-minute placement exam to enroll in CHEM 115. You do not need to take this exam to enroll in CHEM 100 or CHEM 101. Registration info Sample exam Frequently asked questions (FAQs) |
Exam Dates and Location |
| Semester of enrollment | Early Priority Registration (EPR) Exam Dates | Final Priority Registration (FPR) Exam Dates |
| Fall Semester | April or May | August |
| Spring Semester | November or December | January |
Sample ExamPlease
note that the sample exam is designed to illustrate the type and degree
of difficulty of the
exam; it does not include questions from
all of the topics that will be on the actual placement exam. Simply
studying the sample exam questions will not prepare you for the
placement exam. (link to sample exam is here) |
What are the prerequisites for CHEM-115?There are two prerequisites for CHEM 115, a math prerequisite and a chemistry prerequisite. The Math prerequsite is a score of 50 or higher on the ELM or an approved exemption, or a C or better in Math 70 or higher math class. The chemistry prerequisite is a satisfactory score on the CHEM 115 placement exam. Back to FAQ list |
What is the purpose of the Chemistry Placement Test?The purpose of this exam is to assess your level of preparation for general chemistry at SFSU. The exam tests high school chemistry knowledge, and basic algebra skills. Your placement score will not be used in any way as part of your grade in CHEM 115. Back to FAQ list |
Who must take the chemistry placement exam?The chemistry placement exam is mandatory for all students, including graduate/postbaccalaureate students, regardless of prior preparation or experience (including completion of CHEM 100) who plan to take CHEM 115. There are no exceptions! Student who are planning to take CHEM 100 or CHEM 101 do not have to take the CHEM 115 placement exam. Back to FAQ list |
Are there any exemptions to taking the placement exam?NO, there are no exemptions to taking the placement exam. It is mandatory for all students, including graduate/postbaccalaureate students, regardless of prior preparation or experience (including completion of CHEM 100) who plan to take CHEM 115. Back to FAQ list |
I have passed a college level chemistry course before; do I still need to take the placement exam?Yes. Everyone who is interested in taking CHEM 115 must take and pass the placement exam, even if you have taken and passed a college chemistry course elsewhere. There are no exemptions. Back to FAQ list |
How many times can I take the exam?You can take the exam one time each exam period, so once in April/May, once in August, once in November/December, once in January. If you do not pass the placement exam you can not take CHEM 115 that semester. You can enroll in a college chemistry prep course to prepare you for CHEM 115 and the placement exam. Back to FAQ list |
What if I require testing accommodations for a disability?Students registered with the Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC; 415 338 2472) who require special test accommodations must contact the testing center (415 338 2271) at least one week prior to the exam date. Special accommodations cannot be provided to students who are not registered with DPRC. For general information about SFSU's commitment to provide full and equal access for individuals with disabilities, please see the Disability Programs and Resource Center website. Back to FAQ list |
Should I wait to register for the class until after I take the placement exam?Chem 115 will fill during the early priority registration period. Depending on the timing of the placement exam dates and your registration window, you may or may not know your placement exam score when you register for the class. If you do not know your placement score by the time your early priority registration window opens, you should probably register for the class just in case. If you do not register for the course, there may be an opportunity to add Chem 115 during the final priority registration period. Back to FAQ list |
What material is on the exam?The chemistry placement exam includes material that we expect all students who have had one year of a good high school chemistry course to know. The exam is a multiple-choice format. A periodic table is provided with the exam. The topics we expect you to have learned include: Atomic structure Stoichiometry Periodic properties Chemical formulas and simple nomenclature of compounds and ions Mass and mole relationships Acid-base chemistry Solutions and solubility States of matter and phase changes Oxidation-reduction reactions Enthalpy Gas laws Qualitative kinetics, equilibrium, and thermodynamics Laboratory skills Lewis Dot Structures Molecular Geometry Chemical bonding Back to FAQ list |
How can I prepare for the exam?You should review the topics listed above using any good high school or college-level, introductory or general chemistry text as a guide and resource. You can also use a study guide for the SAT II Chemistry test or the AP Chemistry test. We suggest that you only review the material that you covered in a high-school or other preparatory chemistry course. Attempting to learn this material for the first time just to take the placement exam is not recommended. This may get you through the placement exam and into CHEM 115, but you'll most likely struggle in the course. Back to FAQ list |
Is there a sample exam?Yes, we've prepared a sample exam . Please note that the sample exam is designed to illustrate the type and degree of difficulty of the exam questions; it does not include questions from all of the topics that will be on the actual placement exam. Simply studying the sample exam questions will not prepare you for the placement exam. (The link to the sample exam is here) Back to FAQ list |
What is the format of the test and what will I need to bring with me to the test?The exam consists of 44 multiple choice questions. You have 45 minutes to complete the exam. You must bring a #2 pencil and your SFSU ID card to the examination. Only non-programmable calculators are allowed. A periodic table is provided with the exam. Back to FAQ list |
What is a passing score for the placement exam?The passing score is 17 correct answers out of 44 questions. Your score will be equal to the number of correct answers you have on the exam, with no penalty for incorrect answers. Back to FAQ list |
| Exam Date | Semesters eligible to take Chem-115 |
|---|---|
| April/May | Summer and Fall semester of same year; Spring semester of following year. |
| August | Fall semester of same year, Spring and Summer semester of following year |
| November / December | Spring, Summer and Fall semester of following year |
| January | Spring, Summer and Fall semester of same year. |
| Example:
A student takes and passes the placement exam in August 2012, but can
not get into the class in Fall 12. The student’s score will
be
valid for enrollment in Chem 115 in Spring 13 and Summer 13.
However, the student would have to retake the placement exam for Fall
13 enrollment. |
How do I find out if I passed the exam?Your placement exam result will be available online through your mySFSU account (test score area) if you correctly bubble in your SFSU ID on the score sheet. If you do not provide your SFSU ID correctly, your exam score will not post and you may be dropped from the class. Back to FAQ list |
I took the placement exam but my score isn’t posted. What do I do?If you take the placement exam and your score does not post to your mySFSU account, you should contact the Chem 115 Lab coordinator (415-338-1288) with your name, sfsu id and date of the exam. Please note that you may be dropped from the course if your score does not post, and it is not possible to add you back into the course. Back to FAQ list |
I passed the placement exam and I am registered for the class. What happens now?If you are registered on the class list, you are in the course. Attendance in the laboratory is mandatory for the first two weeks of class. Any student who is absent from the lab, even if they passed the placement exam, will be dropped and the next qualified student in attendance added in their place. Back to FAQ list |
I passed the placement exam and I am on the wait list for the class. Will I be added to the class?If you are on the wait list for a section and passed the placement exam, there is no guarantee that you will be able to add the class. Enrollment is limited to 24 spaces in the laboratory sections Thus, it is possible that you might pass the placement exam, but not be able to enroll in the section of CHEM 115 that you want. Attendance in the laboratory is mandatory for the first two weeks of class. Any student who is absent from the lab, even if they passed the placement exam, will be dropped and the next qualified student in attendance added in their place. Whether or not you get an add permit for the class depends on the number of students who do not show up for class, and on the number of students who did not pass the placement exam. Students may be added out of order of the waitlist, depending on class level and major. Attend the section you are waitlisted for and do not attend multiple lab sections hoping to get a seat. The lab coordinator monitors enrollment in all sections of Chem 115 and will make the final determination in who gets to add. Lab instructors have no authority to promise seats to any students. Back to FAQ list |
I passed the placement exam but I am not registered for the class or on a waitlist. What should I do?Attend the section of the lab you wish to add. Do not attend multiple lab sections hoping to get a seat. The lab coordinator monitors enrollment in all sections of Chem 115 and will make the final determination in who gets to add. Lab instructors have no authority to promise seats to any students. Attendance in the laboratory is mandatory for the first two weeks of class. Any student who is absent from the lab, even if they passed the placement exam, will be dropped and the next qualified student in attendance added in their place. Whether or not you get an add permit for the class depends on the number of students ahead of you on the waitlist, on the number of students who do not show up for class, and on the number of students who did not pass the placement exam. Back to FAQ list |
What if I fail the placement test?You can't fail the placement exam, because it is simply a measurement of your readiness to take CHEM 115. If your performance indicates that you are not prepared for CHEM 115, then you need to improve your chemistry knowledge before enrolling in CHEM 115. We recommend that you enroll in a Preparation for Chemistry course. SFSU offers CHEM 100, Preparation for Chemistry; City College of San Francisco offers CHEM 40, Introduction to Chemical Principles; most community colleges offer a similar course. If you want to enroll in CHEM 100, use SFSU's search class schedule webpage for schedule and enrollment information. If you didn't pass the placement exam, you cannot enroll in CHEM 115 for one semester, and you must retake the placement exam prior to enrolling in CHEM 115 in another semester. Back to FAQ list |
How do I enroll in CHEM 100, the college chemistry preparation course?If you do not earn a satisfactory score on the placement exam, you should enroll in a Preparation for College Chemistry course. Depending on the budget, SFSU offers CHEM 100, Preparation for Chemistry; City College of San Francisco offers CHEM 40, Introduction to Chemical Principles; most community colleges offer a similar course. If you want to enroll in CHEM 100, Preparation for Chemistry, use SFSU's Search Class Schedule Webpage for schedule and enrollment information. Even if you successfully complete one of these courses, you must still take and pass the placement exam to be allowed to take CHEM 115. Back to FAQ list |
I want to take CHEM 101. Do I need to take the placement exam?"No." The chemistry placement exam is required only for enrollment in CHEM 115. Back to FAQ list |
If I think I need CHEM 100, the preparatory course for CHEM 115, do I need to take the chemistry placement exam?"No," you don't need to take the placement exam before you enroll in CHEM 100. If you think that you're not prepared to take CHEM 115, then enrollment in CHEM 100 is probably a good choice. Even if you discover that you did have an adequate knowledge of the topics, you will gain experience and self-confidence by taking CHEM 100. If you want to enroll in CHEM 100, Preparation for Chemistry, use SFSU's search class schedule webpage for schedule and enrollment information. Back to FAQ list |