Students in a classroom at desks with the periodic table of elements on the wall

Chemistry Placement Test

Nursing, PUBLIC HEALTH, and AYA-LIFE SCIENCE EDUCATION MAJORS

Chemistry Placement Test for entrance to CHM/CHL 140 General, Organic and Biological Chemistry

The chemistry placement test is required of all students seeking to gain access to the CHM/CHL 140 General, Organic and Biological Chemistry, who have not passed introductory college-level general chemistry, CHM/CHL 121 or CHM 130 and CHL 130. The placement test requires students to demonstrate an understanding of basic chemistry concepts typically covered in a high school college-prep chemistry course. The test covers a wide variety of topics, such as atomic structure, chemical formulas, bonding, mass, measurements, and basic mathematical conversions. To prepare for the exam, students are encouraged to review material from their high school chemistry class. Students are only able to take the test once a semester registration period, so a solid amount of preparation is encouraged before taking the test online through Sakai. Please contact the Administrative Assistant in the Advising Center at (419) 824-3882 to sign up to take the Nursing/Public Health chemistry placement test.

SCIENCE MAJORS and AYA-INTEGRATED SCIENCE EDUCATION MAJORS

American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemistry Placement Test for entrance to CHM/CHL 181 General Chemistry I

To improve student success in CHM/CHL 181 General Chemistry I, the department will be using a placement test developed by the ACS. The ACS Chemistry Placement Test score and evaluation of mathematics background will help students assess if they will have adequate background to begin CHM/CHL 181 or if they should enroll in CHM 130 and CHL 130 Introductory General Chemistry and Introductory General Chemistry Laboratory to review essential concepts and ensure a solid foundation for future success in general chemistry.

The ACS chemistry placement test score will be used, either alone or with a high school transcript or college transcript, when available. If the student does not have a sufficient chemistry placement test score, then it is recommended that the student enroll in CHM 130 and CHL 130 Introductory General Chemistry and Introductory General Chemistry Laboratory. A student may take the chemistry placement test only once per semester.

With a minimum score of 17 on the chemistry placement test and minimum predicted GPA of 2.0, a student may enroll in CHM/CHL 181 with no restrictions. A college GPA may be substituted for a high school GPA (if high school GPA is not available) if a reasonable history of college courses is included in the GPA. If no high school or college GPA is available, a minimum placement score of 19 is required for enrollment in CHM/CHL 181. The determination of placement is based on the performance of past students enrolled in General Chemistry at the University of Toledo (data collection and analysis was performed by Dr. Andy Jorgensen and Dr. Don White of the University of Toledo).

Please first meet with your advisor to discuss registering for CHM/CHL 181 and taking the placement test. The placement test for 181 must be taken in the Academic Success Center (ASC) preferably when registering for the CHM/CHL 181 course, and at least two weeks before the start of the semester. While walk-ins can be accommodated, it is best to contact the ASC in advance to schedule a time to take the test. Call the Academic Success Center at 419-824-3748 to make your appointment for this test.

The placement test consists of 44 multiple-choice questions; each question has four possible answers. Only correct answers are counted, but guessing is discouraged for best assessment of your background knowledge. If you have no idea which answer to choose, you should leave the response blank. You may use a non-programmable calculator. A periodic table will be provided.

Topics for the questions include, but are not limited to:

  • algebraic manipulation
  • calculations using scientific notation with a consideration of significant figures
  • interpretation of graphs
  • balancing chemical equations
  • states of matter
  • periodic table interpretation and significance
  • names and formulas for compounds
  • stoichiometric calculations
  • gas laws
  • molecular geometry

The following link includes practice problems for some placement-type questions: