Placement Exams

<p>This is a question for incoming students as well as current ones. What are/did you guys do to study for placement exams? Not so much study a just trynot to forget what you allready know. One summmer of doing nothing is enough to forget a good bit of information.</p>

<p>which ones were you planning on taking? i don't think anybody i know really studied for the placement exams. maybe i'm just friends with lazy people? but i wouldn't worry too much</p>

<p>I can assure you that my son is not studying for his Spanish placement exam. I don't think he'll be taking any others. </p>

<p>He's probably already forgotten what he already knew.</p>

<p>The only test that I think truly matters is the one for placement into accelerated chemistry (Chem51). If you really want to take only one semester instead of two, especially if you've already taken AP Chem and scored well, then I'd review a bit before taking the test. I believe there is a webpage about it on the chemistry website and from what I remember, if you study how to do everything on that test, then you should be fine. The reason this test matters is that if you don't pass it, then you're not allowed to take this course. The language placement tests are more of a recommendation.</p>

<p>Anyone know anything about the physics placement exam, as in the pros and cons of placing into the advanced intro course?</p>

<p>Is it only recommended for kids who have taken AP physics and scored well on the test? Or is it de regueur for physics majors? My kid (I'm writing for him because he is away)took honors physics (his school did not offer AP physics), did well on the SAT II physics, and then took the subsequent advanced physics course which I understand was very small, independent, discussion-oriented, and theoretical. Also, what math course is a physics major ideally expected to take the freshman fall semester, and is a placement test required? Thanks for any info whatsoever.</p>

<p>yep, there's a math placement exam, but it's not too stressful, you basically just score it yourself and decide on your own which math class to take. i don't think there's an 'ideal' math course for physics majors....the freshmen i knew took everything ranging from calc 2, calc 3, linear algebra, etc.</p>

<p>Much obliged! -Any takers on the physics placement exam question?</p>

<p>you should talk to your son, it is my impression that the physics placement exam is recommended if you've taken a physics course that also requires the use of calculus (like AP Phys C Mechanics+E/M), so if his physics seminar covered the calculus behind the physics, he may as well take it. There's nothing to lose</p>

<p>Thanks. Will do!</p>