Placement Test Fears

Colleges and Universities A-Z Penn State
1

<p>Hello, everybody! I got accepted to PSU (University Park) back in January, and I'll be attending in the upcoming Fall 2012 semester. Currently, I'm still a senior in high school, and about a month ago, I took my placement tests for Math and Chemistry. </p>

<p>Well, recently, these placement tests have been on my mind; nagging fears have been plaguing me, and I'm hoping there's somebody on this thread (a PSU student) who can answer my questions and alleviate some of my fears.</p>

<p>Here's the gist, basically: I have a bad gut feeling that I failed them, and I mean <em>really</em> failed them. The Math placement test started out easy for me, but towards the end, it became very difficult for me because of the Trig and Calc questions. I've taken neither of these courses in high school, so it was pretty much the equivalent of reading a foreign language, and I guessed on those last few questions. Then, I took the Chem. placement test, and I just froze and forgot everything I learned last year in Honors Chem. So of course, I guessed on almost all of the questions, and when all was said and done, I felt extremely hollow inside. I know for sure that I definitely missed the Trig and Calc. questions on my Math placement, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I only got five questions right on my Chem. placement. >.> </p>

<p>If I did, indeed, fail these placement tests as I think I did, what does it mean for me? These are my main fears:</p>

<p>1) That PSU will rescind (take back/change their mind) their acceptance of me</p>

<p>2) That I'll have to start at a lower branch campus instead</p>

<p>3) That I may have to take classes this summer to start at all, as a result of failing the placement tests, which would be bad because I'll be away this summer</p>

<p>Or am I just worrying too much? What is, to your knowledge, the very worst that happens to one when they fail their placement tests? Any of the above? And just for further reference, I got accepted into the College of Agricultural Sciences and will be majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Science.</p>

2

<p>Well, I’m just a HS Junior, so take what I say lightly, but I’m surprised you haven’t taken a Pre-cal/Trig class yet before you enter college. Calculus isn’t necessarily surprising, but most people take a form of Trig. I wouldn’t think they would rescind you for not doing well on a placement test, it just means you’ll start at the lowest math they have at college - which may not necessarily be a bad thing. I REALLY don’t think they’ll throw you to the dogs and put you in a lower campus because of placement tests either, I don’t think they can do that anyway. If you are an engineer or something and failed the math placement test, I would suggest you look into another major, because college will be far from fun for you. But I don’t think fear 1 or 2 would come true. I don’t know about #3, but again, take what I say lightly.</p>

3

<p>From what I’ve heard, the tests are only used to make sure you take the appropriate classes in your freshman year. If your scores are low, they will advise you to take courses that will build up your math and chem knowledge. I’m not sure, but you could ask to take the math section again if you think you will do better.</p>

4

<p>They are not going to take back their acceptance, have you start at a different branch or make you go to summer session. You will just have to take lower level classes to start- I’m sure it happens to a lot of people - Don’t worry!</p>

5

<p>Granted I went to PSU a looooong time ago but I did badly on my math placement for the same reason you did. They suggested I take a remedial class, but I didn’t because I knew it was a matter of not taking trig or pre-calculus. I took Stat at PSU and got an A.</p>

<p>So even if they suggest a course, you can still take whatever you feel is right for you.</p>

6

<p>Ok calm down! The tests are designed to see what you know. For most people, particularly those who haven’t taken calculus or advanced math, they start out easy and get hard. The purpose of the tests is to see which math or chemistry class you should take. You can NOT fail these tests. Some people don’t take chemistry in high school. They will not do well on the chemistry test - not a problem. If they take chemistry at college, they need to start with the easy chem class. </p>

<p>Looking at your Recommended Academic Plan you will need to take both calculus and chemistry. You may not be ready to go into those courses. I know there is a companion class (Chem 108) that goes with Chem 110. Chem 106 is an introductory course for students not ready for Chem 110. Both are for people who are weak in chemistry. If they recommend one of these courses, take it. For math you may need to take a lower math before you are ready for calulus - Math 110 or 140. Think carefully about taking classes that your tests indicate you are not ready for. If you have not taken trig, you are not ready for college calculus. Many of the kids taking Math 110 and 140 will have had calculus in high school. If you are weak in a subject going to a more advanced class can really mess with your gpa. Your advisor during FTCAP will help you figure it out. It is better to take an easier class and do well then to fail a harder class!</p>

7

<p>SunriseWolf, please don’t worry. My daughter had the same experience, and beat herself up after taking the tests. While she was taking them, she actually pleaded with me (half jokingly) to stay there and help her because she is not a mathlete and didn’t want to be judged based on her performance. As properly stated by everyone on this thread, these tests are used to determine starting class placement only. They are not admissions tests, and have no ramifications insofar as your matriculation status is concerned. As I told my daughter, you want those tests to properly reflect your current knowledge so as to not get placed in a class that you can’t handle. Good luck at PSU!</p>

8

<p>I didn’t see if someone answered you, but no worries.</p>

<p>1) They will not take away your admission period. Not fot the fall, UP, anything. I promise.</p>

<p>2) They didn’t even take mine into consideration. I did poorly but I half assed them, and I’m taking honors classes.</p>

<p>Relax :slight_smile: see you in the fall!</p>

9

<p>What everyone’s said is pretty much true.</p>

<p>I totally bombed the chemistry one (like, really, bombed it), but explained to my adviser that I hadn’t seen the material in a year or two, and he understood and let me go in to Chem 110.</p>

<p>So yea don’t fret.</p>

10

<p>I scored in the 0-5 percentile for the chemistry portion, and while it stung a bit, it changed nothing for me. I don’t have a major that would require the classes, anyways.</p>