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Chemistry Placement Test 111A

Who Takes the Test? | When and Where? | What is Covered? | Why Take the Test?

Who Takes the Test?

Anyone who wishes to enroll in Chemistry 111A must take the test. You will not be allowed to register for Chemistry 111A until you have taken and passed the placement test, or until you have successfully completed Chemistry 101 at CSULB. If you want priority registration for Chemistry 101, it is also recommended that you take the Chemistry Placement Test.


When and Where:

Testing and Evaluation Services will administer the test on the dates indicated in the Registration Instructions (PDF) . Call Testing and Evaluation Services for the most up-to-date information at (562) 985-4007. It is to your advantage to take the test early when all of the lab sections are open. During the test, you will be asked to supply a priority list of the lab sections you want. Be prepared to list your first four choices of lab sections for both Chemistry 111A and Chemistry 101.

What is Covered?

The test is the California Chemistry Diagnostic Test. This test is designed to determine if you have the necessary background in science to succeed in Chemistry 111A. The test covers material from high school chemistry and high school college preparatory math courses.

The chemistry topics of greatest emphasis are:

  1. Chemical formulas and composition
  2. Balancing and stoichiometry of common chemical equations
  3. Ideal gas law and gas properties
  4. The nuclear atom and atomic structure – orbitals
  5. Periodic properties of elements
    6. Solutions: behavior, concentration and stoichiometry

The math topics of greatest emphasis are:

  1. Interpretation of algebraic equations and their graphs
  2. Measurement and the metric system using scientific notation

Why Take the Test?

Chemistry 111A assumes that students have mastered the material covered in prerequisite courses. Much of the material in the first four weeks of class was covered in earlier science classes, as well as in high school chemistry classes. If you do not have the prerequisite skills to work with this material, you will have difficulty in succeeding in Chemistry 111A. If you have forgotten the content of earlier courses, or if you are not confident of your skills, you should take Chemistry 101 before enrolling in Chemistry 111A. This test is designed to help with the decision about which course to take.

Enrollment:

Score Report Information and Course Placement:

Based on your test score, you will be notified of your appropriate placement. Notification of appropriate course placement will be e-mailed to you. Do not phone the Chemistry/Biochemistry Department for results. For information regarding registration or score reporting, please contact Testing and Evaluation Services at (562) 985-4007. Details will be announced on the day of the test. You must take responsibility for registering for the permitted lecture and lab on your assigned registration date(s).

If your score is below the cut off for entering Chemistry 111A, you will be notified to register for Chemistry 101 lecture-with-lab based on space availability.

What is a Preparatory Course?

Chemistry 101 is a 4-unit credit/no credit course designed to help students prepare for Chemistry 111A and subsequent chemistry courses. It stresses fundamentals of chemistry, use of math and problem-solving skills. An effective course typically improves students' grades in Chemistry 111A by at least one grade level.

Test Dates

Test Date Received by Deadline
August 20, 2008
August 11, 2008