Placement Requirements

General Overview

All students who register in CHE 2A or 4A are required to satisfy the Chemistry Placement Requirement. Students who do not satisfy the placement requirement to remain enrolled in general chemistry will be administratively dropped from the course by the Department of Chemistry. There are no exemptions to the Chemistry Placement Requirements.

CHE 2A is General Chemistry.  CHE 4A is General Chemistry for Physical Sciences & Engineering- the following majors should consider enrolling in CHE 4A:

Chemistry B.S. - American Chemical Society Emphasis

Chemical Physics

Chemical Engineers

Pathways to CHE 2A or CHE 4A:

A score of 24 or more on the Chemistry Placement Exam is required to ensure enrollment in CHE 2A.

A score of 28 or more on the Chemistry Placement Exam is required to ensure enrollment in CHE 4A.

A grade of C- or higher in CHE 1V will also ensure enrollment in CHE 2A or CHE 4A (NEW as of Summer 2022)

New Student Orientation 2023 Placement Testing

Incoming first-year students who plan to take CHE 2A or CHE 4A in Fall 2022 should take the Chemistry Placement during their college exam window: College of Engineering (May 8-15), College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (May 8-15), College of Biological Sciences (May 15-22), College of Letters & Science (May 22-29). E-mail instructions will be sent prior to the exam window. The exam can be taken one time during the window. Students who do not score a 24/28 plus on the exam will be able to take the exam again in September.

Orientation Placement Exam FAQ

Summer & Fall 2023 Placement Testing

Are you planning to enroll in CHE 2A or CHE 4A in Summer or Fall Quarter 2023? The Summer testing window is June 19 - 27. For Fall Quarter, the first testing window is September 6-12; the second testing window is September 27 - October 3. Please refer to the following link for further information about our placement requirement, including tips on how to prepare for the online exam, and other timely information to ensure enrollment in general chemistry:

Chemistry Placement Requirement