Chemistry Placement Assessment
A chemistry placement assessment must be completed online before you come to orientation. Take these at a personal computer- from home, or school, or the public library. A Broadband/DSL connection is highly recommended for this site. Once you have made your reservation for orientation, you will receive a confirmation letter from your college. This letter will indicate if you should take the chemistry placement assessment based on your intended major. Open option students, students interested in careers in the health or veterinary sciences, and students who may major in a physical or life/biological science must take the placement assessment.
If you are student with a documented disability who needs accommodations to complete the chemistry placement assessment, please contact the Iowa State University Disability Resources Office at 515-294-7220 voice, 515-294-6635 TTY, or disabilityresources@iastate.edu.
Step 1: Get your ISUCard number.
Go to AccessPlus
- Log in
- Find your entire ISUCard number. Log on to AccessPlus to find your ISUCard number. See this PDF file for instructions.
- Write down the whole number- all 17 digits, for step 2.
Step 2: Get your NetID.
Go to ASW (Account Services on the Web):
- Click on Register to create your NetID.
- Fill in the required information including your ISUCard Number.
- Click the "Next" button.
- Write down your NetID and password - you'll need them for the next step.
Allow up to 24 hours for your NetID to be activated before going on to Step 3!
Step 3: Take your chemistry placement assessment online.
Go to WebCt:
- Log in using your NetID and your password.
- Complete placement assessment as directed.
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ
Q. What is the chemistry placement assessment?
A. The chemistry placement assessment consists of a series of questions covering material that is taught in high school science, math, and chemistry. The topics covered are selected to help determine how well prepared for college chemistry you are. You are allowed 2 hours to complete the assessment. Calculators MAY be used.
Q. Who takes the chemistry placement assessment?
A. Anyone can take them. Your orientation confirmation letter indicates whether you are required to take the chemistry placement assessment based on your intended major. MOST science related majors require their students to take the chemistry placement assessment, so if you are Open Option and considering a major in those areas, you are required to take the chemistry placement assessment. Students who are interested in careers in human or veterinary medicine are required to take the assessment.
Q. When and where do I take the chemistry placement assessment?
A. Take your placement assessments prior to June orientation online. Even if you can't come to June orientation, please complete the assessment so you can be placed into the appropriate classes.
Q. What happens once I have finished taking my chemistry placement assessment?
A. When you have finished taking your assessments, your results are downloaded automatically and will be available to you and your academic adviser when you come to campus for orientation.
Q. What does my Chemistry Placement Assessment score mean?
A. The chemistry placement assessment is designed to determine how well-prepared you are for entry into general chemistry classes. You should work with your academic adviser to determine the best course for you to take. Some general guidelines may be found below.
General Chemistry Courses
Chem 163: students should score 16 or above to register for Chem 163. Students who score less than 16 are encouraged to enroll in Chem 50.
Chem 177: students should score 18 or above to register for Chem 177. Students who score less than 18 are encouraged to enroll in Chem 50.
Chem 201: students should score 22 or above to register for Chem 201. Students who score between 18 and 22 are encouraged to enroll in Chem 177; students scoring less than 18 are encouraged to enroll in Chem 50.
General Chemistry for Engineering Students
Chem 167: students should score 16 or above to register for Chem 167. Students scoring less than 15 are encouraged to enroll in Chem 50.
Q. If I have Advanced Placement credits, do I have to take any placement assessment?
A. Because AP scores are not available until July or later, you are required to take the chemistry placement assessment. If you score 4 or 5 on the AP chemistry exam, you will likely receive credit for General Chemistry I and II (Chem 177 and 178).
Q. When will my Advanced Placement scores be received by Iowa State University, if I have requested them to be sent?
A. If you take an AP exam during your senior year and request that the results be sent to Iowa State University, we will receive your scores in July. Once you receive your copy of the scores, contact your academic advisor at Iowa State to discuss your options for courses to take.
Q. What Advanced Placement scores do you accept for chemistry?
A. A score of 4 or 5 is required for credit. Advanced Placement credit will supersede the results of the placement assessments. Students may receive up to 9 semester credits depending on the chemistry department's review of the essay portion of the AP exam, a review of the student's chemistry lab notebook, and the student's interview with the Freshman Chemistry Director.
Transfer Credits
Q. If I have college transfer credits for chemistry, do I have to take the chemistry placement assessment?
A. It depends on your intended major and what chemistry classes you have taken. Refer to you orientation confirmation letter for a more individual response.
More Details
Q. How do I prepare for my chemistry placement assessment?
A. The chemistry placement assessment is designed to test some basic math, chemistry, basic science, and reasoning skills and knowledge that are needed for success in chemistry. It is not necessary to study for the assessment as we really want to know your baseline knowledge and skill level. A short set of practice questions is available to get you comfortable with the style of the questions and the entry of answers.
Q. How much time is allowed for the assessment?
A. You will have 2 hours to complete the assessment. Students who have taken the assessment in the past on average take 50 minutes to complete the assessment.
Q. May I use a calculator to take my chemistry placement assessment?
A. Yes.
Q. If I don't do well on my placement assessments, may I retake them?
A. No. Placement assessments may be taken only one time.
Q. If I have to take a college chemistry course, do I have to take the class at Iowa State University?
A. No. You may take the equivalent course at another college and transfer the credits to Iowa State. Please first check with the Office of Admissions to ensure that the course will transfer in as the one required at Iowa State. Students often choose to take the transfer course in the summer prior to starting at Iowa State.
