Chemistry Placement

This placement test is required for students who must enroll in General Chemistry (CHEM 1110 or 1130). 

• All students who plan to attend Medical, Physician Assistant (PA), Dental, Pharmacy, Veterinary, or other professional health programs.

• Majors and minors that require General Chemistry:  Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Engineering, Environmental Science, Forensic Science, Geology, Health Sciences (pre-med or pre-PA track), Medical Sciences, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Meteorology, Neuroscience, Nutrition and Dietetics, Physics.  Click here to access the Requirements and Roadmap for your intended major. 

• Note that CHEM 1080 Principles of Chemistry (required for Physical Therapy, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Health Sciences (standard track), Athletic Training, Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Med Tech, and MRI)  does NOT require a placement test. 

  Still not sure if you should take this test?  Take this short survey to find out:  Click Here for the Survey 

Instructions (from Canvas)

Deadlines 

Complete this test by June 3, 2025 for fall admission or as soon as possible if admitted after that date. 

• You may re-take the test one more time before June 30.

• The last day to access the test is 19 August (the day before the first day of classes).

Time Limit and Accommodations

This test is timed. 

• Please ensure you have sufficient time and limited distractions before taking the test.

• You have 60 minutes to complete the test. Do not open it and start until you are ready to complete it.

• Students who are currently eligible for academic accommodations (such as extended duration testing) should contact SLU's Center for Accessibility & Disability (CADR) office at accessibility_disability@slu.edu regarding placement testing accommodations.

• It is important to arrange accommodations BEFORE taking the first attempt of a placement test. Such accommodations must be prescribed by CADR before they may be applied to placement testing at SLU. High school IEPs are neither valid nor applicable.

Required Score 

Your score is important and impacts your first semester schedule and four-year plan. 

• Your score will be posted in the Canvas gradebook as soon as you have completed the test. To see your score, click on Grades in the Canvas menu to the left.

• You must earn a score of 70% or higher in the Chemistry Placement Test to enroll in CHEM 1110 or CHEM 1130 (General Chemistry 1).  

• You must complete all three Skill Builders and re-take the test if you score below 70% on the first test attempt.

  • You may re-take the test one more time after completing the three Skill Builder exercises if you score below 70% on the first attempt.

  • Skill Builder 1 automatically unlocks after submission of your first placement test attempt.

  • You must obtain a 70% or higher on each Skill Builder to unlock the next, and you have unlimited attempts at each.

  • Upon completion of Skill Builder 3 with a score of 70% or higher, the second attempt of the Chemistry Placement Test automatically unlocks.

  • If you do not achieve a score of 70% or higher on the second test attempt, you will likely be enrolled in CHEM 1030 (Fundamentals of Chemistry) in your first semester as preparation for CHEM 1110 or CHEM 1130.

• Math background:  In addition to passing the Chemistry Placement Test, students must have mastered material in College Algebra prior to taking General Chemistry. This mastery is evidenced by an ALEKS Placement Test result of MATH 1400 Pre-Calculus (or higher) or posted college credit for MATH 1200 College Algebra.

Please note: All students are encouraged to go through the Skill Builders, even if they passed the Chemistry Placement Test on the first attempt. The Skill Builders are designed to be short, to provide student feedback, and to refresh your skill sets regarding important quantitative reasoning and chemical concepts that we expect all students to be familiar with before the course begins.

Instructions & Links to Chemistry Placement Tests & Skill Builder Exercises

• Start your first attempt at the Chemistry Placement Test by clicking on the CPT 1st Attempt circular green icon below.

  • Do not click on this icon unless you are ready to start the test!

• If you score 70% or greater on your first attempt, then you need proceed no further; your Chemistry Placement Test score will permit enrollment in CHEM 1110 or CHEM 1130 (depending on your major).

• If you score below 70% on your first attempt, proceed sequentially through the Skill Builder modules in the order SB1, then SB2, then SB3, the square blue icons below.

• There is no time limit for the Skill Builder exercises and you may attempt each more than once but you need to complete each Skill Builder set with a score of 70% or greater to unlock and proceed to the second attempt at the Chemistry Placement Test.

• You may start your second attempt at the Chemistry Placement Test by clicking on the CPT 2nd Attempt circular red icon below.

  • Do not click on this icon unless you are ready to start the test!