Placement Exams

Colleges & Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Are there any placement exams I can take during Orientation for advanced standing?</p>

2

<p>Yes. The only ones I know of are foreign language and chemistry; in other subjects you're responsible for placing yourself. Foreign language is the only one where the placement test is really binding, and even then you might be able to argue your way into a different class. The chem test gives you a "recommendation" about whether to start in 31A or 31X, but you're not required to follow it. In other subjects, prerequisites aren't strictly enforced; you're just assumed to know certain material in higher-level courses.</p>

3

<p>Just want to make clear: the notion that one has to take Chem 31A/B/X before taking Chem 33 is a complete myth.</p>

4

<p>Can I just completely blow off Chemistry if I don't want to take it? (I think I may have asked this before but anyway)</p>

5

<p>what's their policy on ap calc tests? i got a 5 in bc last year, but i forgot everything this year (including the multivariable calc that i took last summer)</p>

<p>do they have a review class or do i just have to go through normal calc again</p>

6

<p>If you really have forgotten everything, you'll have to retake. There's no review class.</p>

7

<p>You could just study calculus for a week or two in September once all your friends have left for college and you have nothing better to do. If you want to take math, I'd think that Math 51 would be a better use of your time than retaking calculus.</p>

8

<p>i see, at stanford is there a strong emphasis on proofs?</p>

9

<p>Depends on the class. In the 50 series, not really, though marlgirl can tell you more accurately. In the 50H series, yes yes yes--that's what the H series is for. In upper-division classes, yes, but not necessarily quite as strong as in 50H; it depends on the class. In general, once you get beyond linear algebra/multi calc/diffeq, every math class uses proofs.</p>

<p>fuzzylogic: No one is required to take chemistry. A lot of people don't. But a lot of people come in thinking they'll be premed, and they take it for those requirements.</p>