Math Placement

Be sure to speak with your advisor as to what level math course you should start in. Refer to the chart below only as a reference for what courses you will be eligible to take upon admittance to the UI.

Credit is also awarded for AP Calculus and IB Mathematics exam scores. Refer to the AP & IB credit equivalency pages if you have taken an AP or IB mathematics exam.

If you are unsatisfied with your SAT or ACT score, you are encouraged to challenge your placement by scoring high enough on the computerized COMPASS math test. You can contact the UI Counseling and Testing Center, 306 Continuing Education Building, at 885-6716 for information about taking the test.

 English Placement

The University of Idaho requires that all undergraduate degree-seeking students must be enrolled in English 090, 101, or 102 in their first semester in residence and in subsequent semesters until they have passed English 102.

Students placed into English 102 will receive credit for English 101 once they have completed 102, and students who are exempt will receive credit for both English 101 and 102 after completion of their first semester. Transfer credit is awarded for CEEB AP exam scores and university credit is awarded for COMPASS, ACT, and SAT scores. Credit given for English 101 and 102 comes with a grade of Pass (P) and does not affect GPA.

For financial aid purposes, English 090 does not count toward the minimum twelve credit load to be considered a full-time student, and is not considered college credit. Therefore, for financial aid purposes the student must register for twelve credits in addition to English 090 to remain a full-time student.  Additionally, there is a $250 special fee associated with taking English 090.

Students are encouraged to challenge their placement if the feel they have not been placed in the correct class. The English Department website details how to challenge a placement.

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Challenging English 101:

You may challenge your placement in English 101 by either of two methods: 

By asking you to write this placement essay, we get a sample of your writing ability early in the semester.   We also get a chance to be sure be sure that you are properly placed in the course for which you are registered.

You receive the topic for the placement essay on the first day of your 101 class.   You are asked to think of the general approach you will take to the topic, formulate an outline or other organizational strategy, and write the first paragraph of the essay before coming to your second class. 

This first paragraph should demonstrate your ability to produce carefully edited writing--the sort that you would write for the final version of an essay.  You write the rest of this essay, which should be 600 to 700 words long, in a blue book during your second class (classes are 50 minutes long for Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes).

In order for your essay to be considered excellent, the opening paragraph should introduce the topic in an interesting way and lead up to a thesis statement that is not self evident.  Because the opening paragraph was written out of class when you had time to edit your work carefully, this paragraph should be typed and contain virtually no mechanical errors (spelling, punctuation).  The rest of the essay should consist of well-developed and coherent paragraphs that contain selected and sufficient examples, illustrations, and explanations to support your ideas.  The essay should advance an argument that is reasonable and consistent, one that considers your audience and probable objections a reader might make to your assertions.  Your sentences should be clear and well structured.  Although your editing does not need to be perfect, you should in general be following the conventions for edited American English and the spelling and punctuation should be reasonably correct.

Even if you do not succeed in passing out of the course, this placement essay gives your instructor a good idea of what your writing strengths and weaknesses are.

 Chemistry Placement

You can place into Chemistry 111 in one of two ways:

·         Receive an A or B in a high school chemistry class, and one of the following:

o    ACT math score of at least 25

o    SAT math score of at least 560

o    COMPASS College Algebra score of at least 49

o    A grade of at least a C in MATH 143, 160, or 170.

·         Or pass the Chemistry Fundamentals Exam (Testing Dates Below)

If you are unable to place into Chemistry 111 by either of the above two methods, you must first complete Chemistry 050.

For financial aid purposes, Chem 050 does not count towards the minimum twelve credit load to be considered a full-time student, and is not considered college credit. Therefore, for financial aid purposes a student must register for twelve credits in addition to Chem 050 to remain a full-time student.  Additionally, there is a $105 special fee associated with taking Chem 050.

Testing Dates

Chemistry Placement Exam Information

The chemistry placement exam is administered by the department of chemistry. The date and location of the next exam is given below.

1. You may take this exam more than one time under the following conditions:
    

1. In order to pass this exam you must get a score of 60% or better. (The "real" test will have 25 questions, so you must get a minimum 15 out of 25 questions correct.)
    
2. You are not allowed to remove the exam or any related materials from the test site.
    
3. The exam will be changed each time it is given.
    
4. In order to take the exam, you need to bring a photo ID, non-text entry scientific calculator, and a #2 pencil
    

The chemistry placement exam consists of 25 multiple choice questions that are designed to test your knowledge of basic chemistry. Topics covered on the exam are: significant figures, the metric system, dimensional analysis (unit conversion), density, nomenclature of simple inorganic compounds and common acids, percent mass calculations, scientific notation, balancing equations, molar mass (molecular weight), the mole, stoichiometry, molarity, dilutions, basic algebra, and graphing.  You should have had most of these topics in your high school chemistry course.

The placement exam is given four times a year.  Exams are usually given on the first Tuesday of the fall semester, the first Thursday of the spring semester, in November, and in April.

 Foreign Language Placement