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Chemistry Placement Testing

Chemistry Placement Testing Frequently Asked Questions

Who has to take the chemistry placement test?
All students in the following majors are required to take the chemistry placement test:

  • Chemistry
  • Forensic Science
  • All Engineering majors (excluding Information Technology)
  • Environmental Science
  • Biology (all concentrations)
  • Biotechnology
  • Marine Biology
  • Fire Protection Engineering

Transfer students in any of the above majors who received transfer credit for Chemistry 115 are exempt from taking the chemistry placement test.

What is a chemistry placement test?
A placement test is a test to help us place you in the chemistry course that best suits your background and needs. It will help measure how much you remember of the chemistry you learned in your high school chemistry courses.

Why are chemistry placement tests given?
Placement tests are given so that the University of New Haven can place you into a chemistry course that is appropriate for your major and for your current level of ability. The test is used to help us and you find the correct course at the correct level of difficulty for you to begin your college career.

UNH offers several possible courses that have different prerequisites and are required for different majors.

CH103 Introduction to General Chemistry (with lab- CH104)
This course is arranged for students with little or no preparation from high school chemistry classes. The course prepares students who will be required to take the CH115-CH116 (and labs CH117-CH118) series and focuses on quantitative skills.

CH105 Introduction to General Chemistry with Organic Chemistry (including lab)
This class is presented to students fulfilling the general science requirement. It covers a wide area of chemistry topics. In general, it is directed at students who will not be taking further chemistry classes. Many students who are Fire Science majors take this course.

CH115 General Chemistry (with lab CH117)
This is the standard first year college chemistry course. The prerequisites for this course are successful completion of a year of high school chemistry and demonstrated mathematics skills, minimally completion of M115 Pre-Calculus or its equivalent. This course focuses on quantitative problem solving. This course is required for many other chemistry courses taken by science and engineering students. 

What is the UNH chemistry placement test like?                                                                                                     

The test is a short answer questionnaire followed by multiple choice questions. Calculators are permitted and will be helpful. There is a 1 hour time limit on the test.

When is the chemistry placement test given?
The Chemistry Placement test will be administered on the first day of SOAR 2011.

If I have AP credit for Chemistry, do I have to take the chemistry placement test?
If you come to the registration program prior to having received your AP score, you should take the placement test. Once UNH has received your AP results, we may adjust your chemistry placement. If you receive a score of 3 or higher on the AP Chemistry exam, we will award you UNH credit for General Chemistry I (CH 115).

Should I study for the placement test?
Yes, a sample of the chemistry placement test is located here . The answers to the sample test can be found here.  If you have significant chemistry in high school and plan to major in a field of science or engineering, it will probably help you to take the sample test and to review those areas of high school chemistry in which you feel you can use the extra preparation. If you are majoring in a science or engineering field, you will want to complete the first level of chemistry courses as quickly as possible since often courses in your chosen field depend heavily on these chemistry courses.

What should I have ready for the Chemistry placement exam?
Use a pencil and a SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR.

Can I fail the chemistry placement test?
A placement test is not about passing or failing. The goal is to help us and you find the appropriate beginning level of college chemistry for you. If you start too low, you will not be challenged and you will be wasting valuable time; if you start too high, you will be frustrated and will probably not succeed. We hope this questionnaire and placement exam will help us determine the best chemistry course for you.

How soon will I know the results?
Because the UNH chemistry placement test is a short multiple choice test, you will learn your score and appropriate chemistry course you should take soon after you finish the test.


Sample Chemistry Placement Test and answers
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