Chemistry
If you plan to take a Chemistry course, please read the information below to see if you must complete an online exam during the summer. All placement exams for Chemistry must be taken online between June 1 and August 1, 2013. There are several Chemistry courses available to freshmen during the fall quarter:
- General Chemistry (CHEM 101)
- Accelerated General Chemistry (CHEM 171)
- Organic Chemistry (CHEM 210 or 212)
There are two placement exams related to Chemistry courses:
ALEKS online assessment
Required for students planning to take either CHEM 101 or 171, regardless of their AP scores in math. (See additional ALEKS-related criteria under Subject Area: Math).
Exam link: Mathematics Department
Faculty contact: Professor Martina Bode, m-bode@northwestern.edu
Please note: If you score 75 or lower on ALEKS, you are strongly encouraged to use the ALEKS tutorial module (for a cost of $30) to practice skills that are essential for success in chemistry and calculus but which you may not have used since taking algebra or trigonometry.
Chemistry Placement Test
Required for students with strong backgrounds in chemistry who think they might be ready for either CHEM 171 or CHEM 210 or 212 but either did not take the AP Chemistry exam or received AP Chemistry scores below 5.
Exam link: Accessible after June 1 on the Northwestern Course Management System. Login with your NetID and password at https://courses.northwestern.edu
Faculty contact: Professor Fred Northrup, f-northrup@northwestern.edu
Please note:
- An AP Chemistry score of 5 automatically qualifies you for CHEM 210 or 212; you do not need to take the chemistry placement test.
- An AP Chemistry score of 3 or 4 automatically qualifies you for CHEM 171; you do not need to take the chemistry placement test unless you think you might be ready for CHEM 210 or 212.
- If your AP Chemistry score is a 1 or 2, but you think you might be ready for CHEEM 171, you should take the chemistry placement test.