Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Placement Testing in Chemistry

Success in any course requires that you have sufficient background to understand the material and achieve your highest potential. To help make sure you have that background for chemistry courses we ask you to take a placement test.

For students intending to take GENERAL CHEMISTRY (CHEM 1230) you can find the General Chemistry Placement Test - HERE.
For students intending to take CHEMISTRY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES (CHEM 1120) you can find the Chemistry for Health Sciences Placement Test - HERE.

If you are not sure which test to take or want more information on how the placement test is used, keep reading.


General Chemistry I (CHEM 1230) is designed for students who are majoring in science, engineering, pharmacy or other fields that require general chemistry as a prerequisite course. Students taking this course have had at least one year of high school chemistry and two years of high school algebra.

You are qualified to register for CHEM 1230 if you:

  • Score at or above 50% on the General Chemistry Placement Test Initial Knowledge Check OR
  • Score below 50% on the General Chemistry Placement Test Initial Knowledge Check, but you use the Learning Mode and subsequent assessments to reach 50%.

NOTE: The second option is only recommended if you are originally close to the 50% mark. Furthermore, if you do not originally score 50%, you will also enroll in CHEM 1200: Problem-Solving in General Chemistry. This is a workshop-based class shown to increase student success in General Chemistry. During weekly meetings in this 1-credit hour course you will have the opportunity to work in small groups with an advanced student.

If you do not meet the criteria above, you should enroll in CHEM 1090 and earn a grade of C or better before taking CHEM 1230 in a subsequent semester.

Topics on the General Chemistry Placement test include but are not limited to: algebraic manipulation, using scientific notation, significant figures, interpretation of graphs, balancing chemical equations, states of matter, periodic table interpretation and significance, names and formulas for compounds, stoichiometric calculations, gas law, molecular geometry.

Further Information:  Send questions to Dr. Kristi Mock


Chemistry for Health Sciences (CHEM 1120) is designed for students who are majoring in nursing or a small number of other allied health fields. Students taking this course have had at least one year of high school chemistry and two years of high school algebra.

In general, you should take CHEM 1110 before 1120. However, you are qualified to register for CHEM 1120 if you:

  • Score at or above 39% on the Chemistry for Health Sciences Placement Test Initial Knowledge Check OR
  • Score below 39 % on the Chemistry for Health Sciences Placement Test Initial Knowledge Check, but you use the Learning Mode and subsequent assessments to reach 39% or above.

NOTE: The second option is only recommended if you are originally close to the 39% mark.

If you do not meet the criteria above, you should enroll in CHEM 1110 Elementary Chemistry for the Health Sciences and earn a grade of C or above in order to take CHEM 1120 in a subsequent semester.

Topics for the Chemistry for Health Science Placement test include but are not limited to: algebraic manipulation, using scientific notation, significant figures, conversions including but not limited to metric prefixes, structure of the atom including electronic structure, balancing chemical equations, states of matter, periodic table interpretation and significance, names and formulas for compounds, stoichiometric calculations, gas law, molecular geometry.

Further Information:  Send questions to Dr. Kristi Mock

Last Updated: 2/1/24