Does anyone know which topics are tested on the chem placement exam? I haven’t taken chemistry since sophomore year of high school, so I’ve forgotten almost everything. What would be the best way to study?
You are not supposed to study for placement tests. It tests general chemistry concepts.
My son recently took one. We actually found info for studying for it, and practice exams on the school’s website under the chem department. I don’t know if they’d be remotely the same, but the page we used was found by googling Saddleback College Chemistry Challenge Exam. There were some links at the bottom of the page.
Don’t study for the placement test. If you take it and pull off getting into anything beyond Chem 130 after not having taken chemistry since your sophomore year of high school, you will absolutely be in over your head with Orgo. I was the same as you, I wanted so badly to place into orgo and thought since I did so well in high school chemistry, I’d be fine. I was really disappointed I didn’t place into Orgo, but we covered things in Chem 130 I’d never heard of in high school. A high school basis (and quite honestly, unless your AP class was incredibly well taught) for chemistry isn’t enough for Orgo at Michigan, and you’ll only be yourself up for failure if you try and place higher than you should. You’ll be doing yourself a favor signing up for Chem 130, I promise. I know it’s probably not what you wanted to hear (I didn’t either!) but orgo is HARD and to try and learn it without a really cemented foundation of general chemistry is even worse.