<p>Are we supposed to prepare for the placement tests (the ones that arrive in the summer) before taking them? My conflicting opinions on this are</p>
<p>(1) Of course, who doesn't prepare for a test? (And higher classes may mean you end up studying with smarter people (?), which could help your grades, so maybe this is a reason to prepare as much as possible.)</p>
<p>(2) No, because it might be better to have the placement test show what you know offhand rather than what you'd learn through short-term cramming (otherwise you might get placed into too hard of a class and have less of a "real" grasp on the material than others).</p>
<p>Of course, I'd probably be pushed more towards one approach than the other if I knew whether they were designed to be prepared for or not.</p>
<p>Another thing: Is there any sort of class rank (based on GPA, class difficulty, etc.) at Caltech? If so, is class rank a major concern for grad school?</p>
<p>I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of relevant formulas, so I studied from the relevant caltech websites before I took the placement exams (almost 3 years ago now).
I don't think I would have placed out if I didn't-on a 3 hour test theres not enough time to rederive everything from ZFC.</p>
<p>There's no class rank listed anywhere on your Caltech transcript- but your GPA certainly matters in grad school admissions, and where you stand compared to others is typically evident from the recommendations professors write you.</p>
<p>Some (a minority, in my experience) grad school apps or fellowship apps will ask for your overall class rank, and you can get it from the registrar if you need it. Of course your class rank "within your department" is probably more important... but there were 5 Aero majors my year and I doubt I was in the top half for GPA, and still was very fortunate with grad school results. Of course most Aero majors are pretty much MechE in terms of coursework, and that's a bigger group.</p>
<p>(Note also that "this student was about Xth of N students in my class/department" is a fairly common question on grad school rec forms.)</p>
<p>I wouldn't really worry about it, though. I think in the end research experience is a lot more important in differentiating yourself if you have a decent GPA.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry too much about studying for placement tests. Maybe review some formulas, etc for 30min tops before you take it if it has been a while- but it's not worth any more time.</p>
<p>The part about "maybe being with smarter people and get better grades" really doesn't apply. If you test out of parts of core, you'll just take classes with sophomores instead of freshmen- they aren't necessarily intrinsically smarter than most frosh, they've just had another year of work.</p>
<p>"If you test out of parts of core, you'll just take classes with sophomores instead of freshmen- they aren't necessarily intrinsically smarter than most frosh, they've just had another year of work."
And are morelikely to be depressed, intoxicated and coming off a year of no sleep.</p>
<p>what are the placement tests like? Do you get a few placement tests (one of each subject, like one math, one physics, one chem, one english, one bio,....etc. ) or do you only get certain subjects tested, or do you only get one big, combined test?</p>
<p>I'm trying to decide whether or not I should get out of the AP exams...today is the last day that I can do so without any penalty. this isn't really related to what I asked above... but can you guys give me some suggestions? I'm pretty sure but not definitely sure I'm going to Caltech.</p>
<p>Do most of the accepted students cancel their AP tests in the May before matriculation?</p>
<p>Platero, I don't know what other students have done, but as respects AP tests, now that you've been accepted they're kind of meaningless if you decide on Caltech since there is no AP credit at Caltech. But if you're still in the process of deciding and the AP tests will be useful at another school you're considering then its probably worthwhile to take them. If they won't be useful at the other schools you're considering, personally I wouldn't bother unless you really want that AP scholar distinction for yourself. </p>
<p>Placement tests: Separate placement test for Math, Chem, Physics & a writing test. Plus tests for the classes beyond Math 1A (1B, 1C, 2a & 2b if I remember correctly) which are optional.</p>
<p>I cancelled all my AP tests and got my money back.</p>
<p>For Math there's a general placement test as well as one each term of Math core. For Physics there's one general one, one for Ph 1a (first week of class or something) and one for Ph 1bc (end of first term). I don't know of anyone that's tried to get out of 2. There's a general one for Chem and one that let's you place out but you have to take Ch 41 (or 21?) instead. And there's a writing one that's not too big of a deal.</p>
<p>Some of the tests are mailed to you and some are available online starting early in the summer (you'll be notified by email). For physics, they only mail you a basic competency test to determine placement in the extra-help sections. If you want to test out of Ph1a you can pick up the test at frosh camp once you arrive.</p>
<p>Time limits vary by test- if I remember correctly the basic math placement test is 2.5 hours, and the Ma1abc/2ab advanced placement tests are 3 hours each, and the test to place out of Ph1a is 90 minutes.</p>
<p>You are bound by the Caltech Honor Code to follow the instructions when taking the tests-most of the exams in classes at Caltech are also take home. In addition to this (not that there needs to be another reason), I'm sure you realize how stupid it is to cheat on a placement test designed to gauge your preparation.</p>
<p>The CS1 and CS2 placement tests are only ever useful if you plan to be a CS major (or some other thing requiring CS1). You don't get credit for them, and prerequisites don't really matter at Caltech.</p>
<p>
[quote]
how can they make sure you don't cheat...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I asked the same question when I was a new graduate student long long long long time ago. My officemate responded "Why would anyone want to cheat?"</p>
<p>You see, this guy was the head of design team designed the nose section of Concord before he enrolled at Caltech. Why would a person like this want to cheat? Caltech is for people feel comfortable with self. There is no need to worry about cheating. In this regard, Caltech is rather special.</p>
<p>You are quite right. I still remember in my Ae 102 final, there was a problem I never saw before. It turn out the professor just solve it for an aircraft company as a consultant and he turn it around to test us.</p>