<p>Hey does anyone know who is required to take the chem placement exam at orientation??</p>
<p>No one is required to take it, but almost everyone does. It's a good idea to take it. You're going to be in the room (for the math and language tests) anyway.</p>
<p>Umm... We take the math test online at home before we even come to orientation.</p>
<p>Oh, sorry. That's new. Last year we took the math, lang, and chem tests all in a row in the same room.</p>
<p>Anyway, I still suggest you take the chemistry test. Even if you don't think you're going to want to take any form of chemistry, you might change your mind (I did), or you might need it to take biology or some other science class. It's a lot easier to just study and/or take the test than take Chem 125 126 and 130 later.</p>
<p>No problem.</p>
<p>Eck. The chem exam is the only one that I'm really not looking forward to at orientation. If we do horribly on it, they won't revoke our admission, right (I'm kidding... sort of... ;))?</p>
<p>thanks for the info =] yeah im with reeses...i really dont want to take the chem exam. so i guess the lang exam is also optional?</p>
<p>Yes the language exam is optional too, but I can't stress enough that you should take it and try your best on it! The first four semesters of language classes at UM are notorious for being HARD and insane amounts of work...French and Spanish especially. Try to place out of as much of a language as you can.</p>
<p>I decided not to take the language exam, because I wanted to start over with a new language in college. That ended up being my biggest regret of my freshman year. I really wish I had placed out of all four semesters of my language (which I could have, had I taken the test seriously), and then I would have been free to explore other new languages. Now I am stuck having to either take three more semesters of a language I ended up not liking, or taking four semesters of something else. I'm going to be so behind. So do as well as you can on the language exam!</p>
<p>How hard is it to pass through 4 semesters with the exam? Is it AP level?</p>
<p>I'm not sure if it's AP level; I didn't take any AP languages. I took four years of Spanish in high school and could have easily passed out of Spanish 232. My roommate took four years of Spanish and only passed out of two semesters. My friend took French for four years and taught herself Spanish over a summer (never took it in high school) and passed out of four semesters of both French and Spanish. It depends on how well you take tests. Almost everyone I know who had 3+ years of a language in high school or an AP language class was able to pass out of all four semesters without studying.</p>
<p>The test has a lot of listening comprehension questions (at least, the Spanish one did) so I suggest you work on that if you're weak in that area.</p>
<p>wait...taking 4 years of another lang is a requirement?? even if im an engineer? can i pick something other than spanish or french?</p>
<p>Engineers don't have to take language. Unfortunately physicists do.</p>
<p>awesome =] thanks for the info</p>
<p>I don't want to take chem in Michigan (which is why I took the AP exam), so I won't be taking the chem placement test.</p>
<p>About language, I want to stop taking spanish and learn a new one. Do I have to take the placement test anyway? I was looking into the Less Commonly Taught Languages, like Thai.</p>
<p>How does placing out work? Let's say I get credit for 2 semesters of Spanish. Do I have to take 2 more of Spanish, or can I learn something new? If I place out completely (4 semesters), am I done with language for my entire Michigan career?</p>
<p>Sorry about all these questions but thanks a lot to those who could help.</p>
<p>
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I was looking into the Less Commonly Taught Languages, like Thai.
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<p>Sounds like famous last words to me ;)</p>
<p>For the most part, you have to have 4th semester proficiency in one language to graduate from LSA. That means you need to be damn near fluent, and not just in reading/writing. Tests include listening portions and much of your overall grades come from "oral exams" where you are basically graded on your ability to carry on a conversation.</p>
<p>My advice to you: take the third semester pass/fail. You'll thank me later.</p>
<p>You should take the Chem placement test even if you have AP credit if you plan to take any other chem classes, just to make sure you're ready for Orgo.</p>
<p>Like I said, I STRONGLY advise you to take the Spanish test and do your best on it. Place out of as many semesters of Spanish as you can. Once you finish four semesters of Spanish, try starting some new, interesting languages. Again, like I said, I blew off Spanish thinking I'd like to try something new and ended up hating it. Finish four semesters of something you know you can do. I also strongly agree that's it's a good idea to take third semester of a language pass/fail...maybe even first and second semesters.</p>
<p>So all I have to do is take them during orientation right? No registration required?</p>
<p>Even for engineers, go ahead and take the language exam. You won't need a foreign language, but you could at least get some extra credits (which you lose if you transfer to LS&A later) if you do well on the test. It's only an extra 90 minutes of your life, and that's the most you'd have to lose if you bomb the test.</p>
<p>Yes, to take the tests you just have to go to registration. I think the tests aer on the second day.</p>
<p>about the language exam. If i take a less common language, I.E Urdu (language of Pakistan), LOL cause im already almost fluent in it!!, do i have to schedule the exam with the department personally or what?</p>
<p>umardarr,
You will probably have to contact them yourself, yes. Check your orientation registration materials. Last year they sent us a list of which languages required personally scheduled exams and the numbers to call for them with all the other info they sent about orientation.</p>