<p>I heard that you need to take a Chemistry placement exam at the beginning of the school year...is that true? My major is biochemistry by the way.</p>
<p>theres currently no chemistry placement test</p>
<p>yeah i heard about a chemistry placement test too…</p>
<p>read about it in a pamphlet for the peers program</p>
<p>so since theres no placement test then we can just automatically go into chem 14A?</p>
<p>My friend took the PEERS chem placement test during first quarter if I remember correctly.
I believe it’s just a preview for you to see if you can handle the material that would be taught in the course. If you do well you would obviously take the course. If you don’t Im assuming you would just be recommended to take it at a later time after you’ve prepared on your own with some ancillary materials. </p>
<p>If you took AP chemistry or something in high school it’s nothing to fret over. By all means just take the test, pass it and move on with your life.</p>
<p>If you are a biochemistry major, and you got a 4 or 5 on your AP test, DO NOT advance to Chemistry 14B or 20B!</p>
<p>I am also a biochemistry major, and my Orientation Counselor suggested that I do the same thing (not advance). The chemistry that they teach you here is much different than what you learn in high school, first-quarter chemistry involves a lot of atomic structure and mechanics that you’ll need to be an expert on for later chemistry classes. If you move on, you’ll more than likely regret it since later instructors assume you’ve taken 14A and 20A (which can be a killer–even for the High School chem geniuses).</p>
<p>I am in PEERs, and the test does basically nothing to your academic record. It was a joke…I think I got like all questions right except for one ore two…Even then I thought 20A was pretty intense. (14A is much easier, but I still would not risk the future classes)</p>
<p>so does the chemistry placement test actually have chemistry stuff on it or is it like the math placement test where it has no calculus?</p>
<p>@ Lasko Oh… I got a 4 in my AP Chem test and I’m in PEERS. Maybe I should take the test and pass it ;D. by the way, are you an upcoming freshman? did you just attend the orientation? What is the difference between 14A and 20A? They are the same except they are called differently right? Thanks</p>
<p>PEERS placement test is really a misnomer. Even if you do exceptionally well, it doesn’t really allow you to have the ability to pass out of 14A/20A. It’s more of just an evaluation of High School Chemistry. I am a second year who has already taken 20A 20B and 30A, and I am GLAD that I took 20A or else I would have probably performed horribly.</p>
<p>14A and 20A are actually different. Although both begin with basic chemistry, 20A goes much more in depth with the actual “chemistry” that occurs. 14A, as described by professors, is a “watered-down” version of 20A. (The amount of chemstry needed to know for those who plan on persuing a medical career). Although I am biochemistry, I want to focus more on the physical aspect more than the life applications of biochemistry.</p>
<p>You’ll be hearing the differences from life science majors and physical science majors…</p>
<p>Life Science majors typically take the 3 series of math and 14 series of chemistry, whereas Physical Science majors (including engineers etc…) enroll in 30 series of math and 20 series of chemistry.</p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>