Optional Placement and Exemption Exams

The College of Arts and Sciences oversees the administration of the Biology Exemption Exam and Calculus Proficiency Exam in cooperation with the Departments of Biology and Mathematics respectively. The College also partners with the Department of Chemistry to support the current Chemistry Placement Exam (CPE).

These exams serve different purposes. The Biology Exemption Exam and Calculus Proficiency Exam may allow students to earn credit or exemption based on demonstrated knowledge. The Chemistry Placement Exam is used for course placement only and does not award credit.

These undergraduate-level exams are optional and should be taken only if the student does not have prior academic credit or credit-by-testing for Biology-E 111/E 112, Biology-L 111/L 112, and/or Math-M 211, or if required for placement into Chemistry.

General testing information

• The Biology Exemption Exam and Calculus Proficiency Exam are one hour in length and computer-based.
• New students may take these exams during scheduled testing sessions at New Student Orientation and Welcome Week in August.
• The Biology Exemption Exam may also be offered by appointment prior to the spring semester; the Calculus Proficiency Exam is not available in the spring.
• Each exam has specific administration and proctoring requirements.

Currently enrolled students who need to take the Biology Exemption Exam should contact the Department of Biology Academic Advising Office to obtain permission to take the Biology Exemption Exam. Students who still need to take the Calculus Proficiency Exam should review the Department of Mathematics Calculus Proficiency and Exemption Exams webpage to identify testing opportunities and instructions for the semester. 

For currently enrolled students

• Current students seeking the Biology Exemption Exam must contact the Department of Biology Academic Advising Office for approval.
• Current students interested in the Calculus Proficiency Exam should refer to the Department of Mathematics website for current testing opportunities and instructions.
• Current students needing the Chemistry Placement Exam should review the Department of Chemistry website for requirements and testing details.

Each of these exams may be taken only once. Links to access optional exams during new student orientation can be found on the online Orientation Portal page.

Incoming freshmen and transfer students who already possess strong calculus skills but do not have credit for calculus may choose to take the Calculus Proficiency Exam. If you score between 20-24 on this exam, you can obtain credit for one semester of Calculus (MATH-M 211) for 4 credit hours and confidently continue studying mathematics at a more advanced level.

Eligible students may complete the Calculus Proficiency Exam online before the first week of classes in the fall of their freshman year. You may contact the Office of Orientation & Enrollment Programs to find out more information about when and how to take the exam. The proctored Calculus Proficiency Exam cannot be repeated.

The exam covers the topics normally taught in MATH-M 211.

Please see the MATH-M211 course description for more course-related information. 

Additional information about other math placement and exemption exams is available on the Department of Mathematics Calculus Proficiency and Exemption Exams webpage. A sample Calculus exam can also be found on this webpage.  

Incoming freshman and transfer students are eligible to take the Biology Exemption Exam. Currently matriculated students in their first semester at IU Bloomington OR who have NOT yet completed 51 credit hours on the IU Bloomington campus, and who have been approved by the Department of Biology academic advising staff, are also eligible.  

Academic credit may be awarded for BIOL-E 111 and BIOL-E 112. Credit earned through testing will appear as BIOL-E 111 and BIOL-E 112, and you will earn a grade of S (Satisfactory). This credit satisfies the BIOL-L 111 and BIOL-L 112 course requirements for Biology majors and other science majors, but it carries no lab credit. Credit through testing can also apply toward College of Arts and Sciences Natural & Mathematical Sciences (N&M) distribution requirements. The exam covers the topics normally taught in BIOL-L 111 and BIOL-L 112. 

Please see the BIOL-E 111/L 111 and BIOL-E 112/L 112 course descriptions for more course-related information.  

Additional information about Biology credit-by-testing is available on the Department of Biology Frequently Asked Questions webpage. A sample test is not available. 

Students who desire to enroll in Chemistry C117 are required to either pass the Chemistry Placement Exam (CPE) with a score of 15 or higher or complete an on-line tutorial review program called ALEKS with 95% overall mastery.

The CPE is not an exemption exam. This means you can’t earn credit for, or be exempt from, any course by taking the CPE. This exam can be taken only once. 

Although earning credit for C117 by exemption exam will meet the requirement for CHEM-C117, it does not necessarily provide the same background as taking an entire course. Learn more about the CPE on the Department of Chemistry website or by reviewing their CPE frequently asked questions. 

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