Chemistry @ IU :: Chemistry Placement Exam

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Programs

Exemption Exams

The Department of Chemistry offers exemption exams for CHEM-C101/C121 (non-science major chemistry courses) and CHEM-C117. These are normally offered only once during both the fall and spring terms.

The next date that the C117 and C101/C121 Exemption Exams will be offered is Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 at 7:00 PM, in Chemistry 122. Please contact the Undergraduate Office if you have any further questions.

C117 Exemption Exam

WARNING: CHEM-C117 is the general chemistry "science major" course. While earning credit for C117 by exemption exam will meet the requirement for CHEM-C117, it does NOT provide the same background as C117. Therefore, students with special credit, either by AP or by exemption exam, should consider taking C117 or honors S117 or C106/C126 at another IU campus before taking CHEM-C341 Organic Chemistry I.

The C117 exemption exam is given once during the first week of classes in the fall and spring terms. This exam can be taken only once. It is a two hour exam and students may use a calculator. The exam covers most of the topics found in a first semester general chemistry course, including states of matter, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, atomic structure and periodicity, molecular structure, intermolecular forces, solutions, descriptive chemistry, and laboratory work.

To be eligible to take this exam, students must have completed two years of high school chemistry and have earned one of the following scores: 650 on the Chemistry ATP Achievement Test, 600 on the math SAT, or 27 on the math ACT.

For full-time students, a score of 64 - 72 out of 81 on this exam will earn 5 cr. of grade " S".

For full-time students, a score of 73 or higher out of 81 on this exam will earn 5 cr. of grade of "A".

Note: These eligibility criteria for taking the exam and score cutoffs for earning credit are subject to change. Contact the Undergraduate Office for the most up-to-date information.

C101/C121 Exemption Exam

C101/C121 is an Elementary Chemistry course for "non-science" majors. This exam can be taken only once. It is a one hour exam and students may use a calculator. The exam will include questions on the following subjects: nomenclature, structure of matter, gas laws, atomic structure, bonding, chemical calculations, solutions, and the properties of acids, bases, and salts.

To be eligible to take this exam, students must have completed one year of chemistry and at least one year of algebra in high school.

For full-time students, a score of 42-60 on this exam will earn 5 cr. of grade "S".

Note: These eligibility criteria for taking the exam and score cutoffs for earning credit are subject to change. Contact the Undergraduate Office for the most up-to-date information.

Earning Credit by AP Exam

For students who start at IU in Fall 2007, a score of 5 on the Chemistry AP exam, will earn students 5 hours of credit for CHEM-C117. Students who earn credit by this exam are encouraged to take either CHEM-S117 (the honors version of C117) or our Organic Prep course before taking C341 Organic Chemistry.

Note: This score cutoff for earning credit is subject to change. Contact the Undergraduate Office for the most up-to-date information.

International Baccalaureate Higher Level Chemistry Exam

It is possible to earn credit for S117 by this exam with a score of 5 or higher.

Note: Earning credit via this exam is subject to change. Contact the Undergraduate Office for the most up-to-date information.