<p>Around when will the placement tests for math and languages (French for me) be given in the fall?</p>
<p>What are they like (length, difficulty), and how much should I be reviewing in the summer for these tests?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I think you should check out the harvard facebook group
I can't seem to get on facebook right now, but there's a link on the Wall Posts about the schedule for last year. If you scroll down, you can find when the placement tests were. This year's will probably be around the same time</p>
<p>Just got back on, here you go</p>
<p>Harvard</a> Freshman Dean's Office - 2007 Calendar of Opening Days</p>
<p>thanks for the links!</p>
<p>I found this link as well, for anyone else who might be interested: Harvard</a> University FAS Registrar's Office</p>
<p>How difficult are these tests? For instance, if I took calc as a junior, do you think I need to review it to make sure that I get into a higher-level math?</p>
<p>these tests are not meant to be studied for. They want to know what you know at the moment, so if you don't do too well on it, it's more beneficial for you to just take the class</p>
<p>If I cared what was beneficial for me, maybe I'd be getting more than 5 hours of sleep at night during my summer break :)</p>
<p>lol, maybe you should stop doing that until you get to harvard</p>
<p>These tests are given in the first week after moving in. This year, that's the week from September 8-12.</p>
<p>Everyone takes an Expos test- it's a straightforward in-class essay. From this they decide whether to place you in Expos 20 (80% of the class) or Expos 10 (20% of the class) followed by Expos 20 in the spring. It's not possible to study for this- just do your best and trust their decision.</p>
<p>Everyone also takes a math placement test. This placement test is NOT binding (unlike the Expos test), it just gives you a recommendation for what math level you're probably suited for. Each level can consist of a couple of classes (the levels are something like "Xa", "1a", "19a/20a", "21a/23a/25a/55a"). You don't have to listen to them, but it's probably a good idea to. And it's not necessary or recommendable to study or worry about them.</p>
<p>You can also take a foreign language test to place out of taking a language freshman year. I did not do this (I instead took the SAT Subject Test in Spanish to place out), so I'm not sure how hard this is or how it works. I'm guessing it's comparable to getting above a 600 in the Subject Test for that language, so study only if you feel really uncomfortable about your Spanish/French/other.</p>
<p>DISCLAIMER- This is based on my experience from two years ago. It is possible, though unlikely, they've changed some or all of this system.</p>
<p>when do you register for these classes? particularly the language one</p>
<p>You register for classes by printing out a "Study Card", which you can do from a tool on my.harvard.edu. For freshman that study card is due September 22, a Monday.</p>
<p>Did you mean placement tests rather than classes? I'm not positive when you register for them but you'll definitely find out on your first few days. You might just walk into the tests and take them. It's definitely not something you have to worry about until you get here.</p>
<p>So, if you are fluent in a language, you can technically just test out of taking a language altogether?</p>
<p>Not just "technically"- absolutely. I didn't take a language (and I wasn't anywhere close to fluent).</p>
<p>I don't like to discourage people from being well rounded, but I would recommend against taking a language your freshman year unless you're sure you're interested in it (or if you have no way to test out). The classes meet more often and earlier than classes in other subjects, and they take up course space during the year that you could use to try out different subjects and find out what you're interested in.</p>
<p>I've heard they're pretty well taught, so if you've always wanted to learn Chinese by all means take the classes. But if you're not interested in it, try to test out.</p>
<p>That's great. And thank you for telling me that the math placement test results are not binding; I didn't know that. It's a relief that no matter what, I won't have to go back to single varible calc.</p>
<p>A million jillion years ago the language placement test was exactly the same as the SAT subject tests. Don't know if it still is. If you can get a 600+ on the practice test for the language you are probably going to be fine.</p>