NewYorkMets

Hi guys,

As I get ready for my new experience at Brown (as a PLME student), I have a question that I'd love to have answered by any of the current students at Brown. I don't have the AP credit necessary to automatically skip Chem 10 and move on directly to Chem 33 (but I did take an AP chemistry course during senior year in HS).

I know there's a Chem 10 online tutorial/placement test for pre-frosh like me who don't have the necessary AP credit, and I'm wondering: say you take the placement test and somehow fail (I know it's unlikely, but imagine this happens)...is this score binding? In other words, is your advisor at Brown (or somebody else along those lines) able to eventually see this score? And would that mean that you would not be allowed to enroll directly into Chem 33?

I don't know how assiduously I should study for this placement test, so if anyone has any insight as to how difficult it is or how closely it follows the online chem tutorial, I'd also appreciate that as well... By the way, this online test can be taken at home, correct?

Are the placement test procedures (or anything else chem-related for that matter) any different for me, since I am a PLME?

Edit: I'm currently reading stories online of students who bombed the placement exam, but decided to take Chem 33 anyway...if that's the case, what's the point of AP credit (i.e. reporting a 4 or 5 on the Chem AP)? How does this work?

bruno14

I believe this process has changed in the past two years, but I'll help you with how I understand it now. Basically, if you've taken AP Chem, you'll be able to easily pass the placement test to get into Chem 33. I essentially had no high school chemistry experience (only a very basic non-honors course) and almost got into Chem 33.

You might want to look over things a little, but don't worry too much about it. The majority of freshmen start in Chem 33. If you do fail the placement test, you won't be allowed to take Chem 33, as far as I know - the score is binding.

Nothing's different for a PLME in this regard.

cubfan34

I am currently concentrating in computer science at brown, and have been planning on cs and/or apma/econ since I got here. So I have no real need for chemistry but before my first year(im class 2015), I took the exam just in case. Chemistry for honors students was taught sophomore year at my high school, and we had no AP Chem. I took the test anyways, it's really really easy and they give you about 6x as much time as needed, you don't even need that high of a score to pass even though getting perfect was pretty simple. Also chem 10 is a waste of time! So take it if you remember any chem at all.

NewYorkMets

Thank you guys for the above responses. They were really helpful.

Just to get a more precise estimate of what I need to get to pass the placement exam...does anyone know what % of questions (roughly) you need answer correctly to "pass"? I believe that I need to get a score of at least 8, but I haven't seen what scale this follows...8 out of...?

If anyone else has any other information (particularly about how binding this placement exam's score is or about how closely the exam follows the online tutorial), some further help would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you!

bruno14

Sorry - I don't remember. It was 2 years ago.

Honestly, just take it. If you passed AP Chem, you'll do fine.

NewYorkMets

Thanks, Bruno14. One more thing: did you take the test at Brown (certain room) or at home?

Oh, and I just learned that the test is 12 questions long...and you're given an hour to answer them...

How does that even work? Is it safe to assume that the questions are multi-step problems that require more than just knowledge of the hard, cold facts (i.e. some critical thinking/calculations is required)?

Sorry for dragging this topic out. I just like to know what I'm going up against lol

bruno14

Our test was online during the summer. Has it changed? Totally possible.

I seem to remember they were multi-step, but not really complicated ones. More calculations than critical thinking, and necessary equations were given.