Placement Exams and Assessments
Exams and Assessments
Once you have reviewed the above section to determine which exams and assessments are relevant to you, find more information on each exam/assessment below, including deadline dates, access links, and contact information.
Biology Placement Exam
This optional exam is recommended for students with a strong background in biology who think they could be ready for BIOL_SCI 202 Cell Biology. The exam covers core competencies in the molecular biology subject area and goes further than most high school AP/IB biology classes. Any student interested in taking this exam should sign up by July 5 through this link: . The exam will be offered July 15–28 and can be accessed via Canvas.
- Access the optional Biology Placement Exam under the courses section on .
- The Canvas site will become available July 11. If you have signed up for the exam and do not see the site when you log into Canvas after July 11, please email biosci@northwestern.edu for assistance.
Initial Chemistry Assessment
This assessment is required for all students—including students with AP Chemistry credit—who plan to take any chemistry course at Â鶹´«Ã½ and for all McCormick students regardless of chemistry plans. The exam is administered on Canvas. Invitations to the Canvas site will be sent directly to students starting on June 1. For more information, visit the .
- Access the Initial Chemistry Assessment under the courses section on .
- If you do not see this exam when you log into Canvas after June 1, please email chemhelp@northwestern.edu for assistance.
- Complete by July 31.
Chemistry Placement Exam
This placement exam is required in addition to the initial chemistry assessment for students planning to take Accelerated General Chemistry (CHEM 171), Organic Chemistry (CHEM 215), or Organic Chemistry for Majors (CHEM 217), regardless of any credit earned through AP or IB examination. The exam is administered on Canvas. Invitations to the Canvas site will be sent directly to students starting June 1.
- If you do not see this exam when you log into Canvas after June 1, please email chemhelp@northwestern.edu for assistance.
- Complete by July 31.
Language Placement Exam
Policies and procedures for language placement vary by department and apply to students with prior knowledge of languages other than English, acquired through high school study, home use, self-study, etc. Language Placement Exams are not administered via Canvas.
- Review how your background in a specific language determines the need to take a language exam at page. Click on a language name and carefully read ALL information on the page. Contact the placement coordinator for any inquiries.
- Deadlines to complete the online language placement test vary:
- Arabic, Chinese, German, Hebrew, Portuguese, Turkish: by July 15.
- Japanese online test available only 7 a.m.-9 p.m. (CDT) from July 14 to July 20.
- Other online placement tests: by July 31.
- *Note that the Korean online test will open on July 1.
- Complete follow-up testing as directed.
Department of Mathematics Math Placement Exam
The math placement exam is required for any non-McCormick student planning to take a calculus course at Â鶹´«Ã½ and for all McCormick students. The exam is administered on Canvas. Invitations to the Canvas site will be sent directly to students starting on June 1. For more information, visit the
- Access the Math Placement Exam under the courses section on .
- If you do not see this exam when you log into Canvas after June 1, please email calculus@math.northwestern.edu for assistance.
- Complete by July 31.
Computer Science Placement Exam
You may choose to take this placement exam if you have substantial Computer Science (CS) background covering the topics of the CS foundation courses AND are planning to pursue formal CS study through a CS major or minor at Â鶹´«Ã½. This exam is optional for all students and is used to verify whether students are prepared to begin their CS coursework at a point beyond the foundation courses. For more information and to sign-up for this exam, visit the .
- Sign-up for this exam by July 31
- Exam will be given online on August 30 at 2pm CST
- Questions can be directed to advising@cs.northwestern.edu
Exam Accommodations
If you need accommodations for an online placement exam or assessments, plan to initiate the AccessibleNU (ANU) application process four weeks in advance of your placement test. Please note that language placement exams are not timed.
Canvas Invitations
Canvas is commonly used at Â鶹´«Ã½ for accessing course materials, turning in assignments, viewing grades, and handling other academic tasks. You'll use Canvas this summer if certain online placement exams and assessments are required for you. Every incoming student is emailed an invitation to join the Canvas exam page even if no exams or assessments are required.