Center for Academic Achievement
Placement Examinations
Chemistry Placement Exam
Every undergraduate student who plans to take a chemistry course, either as part of her major or to fulfill a science requirement should take this exam. Because the chemistry placement examination is more a test of aptitude than achievement, a previous course in high school chemistry is not required in order to perform well. You should complete the exam before registering for classes. If you do not plan to take a college chemistry course, you do not need to take this exam. Your placement in either CHEM 111 or CHEM 113 will be determined based on your test results. No materials other than a calculator should be used while taking this exam. You will not be excluded from any course on the basis of this examination. The chemistry placement exam should be taken online prior to orientation and registration. Your placement test results will be available to you through your academic advisor.
To log on to Simmons eLearning from anywhere:
- Go to http://my.simmons.edu/elearning/
- Type your assigned username
- Type your password
- You should be at a screen that says "my Simmons eLearning"
- Click on "Center for Academic Achievement" to enter the course.
NOTE: If you have difficulty accessing the Chemistry Placement Exam make sure that the pop-up blockers are disabled. You must also use Internet Explorer or Netscape as the browser to access the exam. MAC and SAFARI are not supported.
Mathematics Competency ExamEvery Simmons graduate must have demonstrated competency in basic mathematics and she may do so in one of the following ways:
- Pass the Mathematics Competency Exam. You will have the opportunity to take the Math Competency Exam during orientation
- Achieve a score of 600 or better on the mathematics section of the SAT or a score of 24 on the mathematics section of the ACT
- Present evidence of satisfactory completion at another accredited college of a mathematics course at the level of MATH 101 OR 102 or above to the chair of the Mathematics Department.
- Successfully complete MATH 101 or 102 at Simmons.
Beginning in fall 2006, students must satisfy the math competency requirement during their first year at Simmons. Students who do not pass the Mathematics Competency Exam during new student orientation or who do not meet the math competency requirement in one of the other ways described above may choose to take Math 101 or 102 in their first semester, or to retake the exam in November. If they do not pass the November test, they will automatically be enrolled in MATH 101 or MATH 102 in the spring semester. Students who matriculate in January who do not pass the mathematics competency test or do not meet the requirement in one of the ways described above may take MATH 101 or 102 during their first semester, or they may retake the exam in March. If they fail the test in March they will be automatically enrolled in MATH 101 or 102 in the following fall semester.
To help students review and prepare for the Mathematics Competency Exam Study Guide can be downloaded. Another online practice question resource for the Basic Mathematics Competency Exam is at http://www.thatquiz.com/. This site offers over 200,000 graded exams.
Language Placement Examinations
As part of its commitment to international education for all of its students, Simmons College has a language requirement to help students understand languages and cultures other than their own. To fulfill the language requirement, you much meet competency through the 201 level. During orientation, you will have the opportunity to take the French or Spanish Placement Examination. If you would like to take a placement exam in a language other than French or Spanish or if you are unable to attend orientation, you must contact the Center for Academic Achievement at 617-521-2474 or caa@simmons.edu to make arrangements.
Students who wish to be exempted from having to take language courses at Simmons must demonstrate proficiency by one of the following:
- AP Test Scores of 3, 4, or 5
- SAT subject Test Scores of 560 or above; or,
- Placement exams given through the Center for Academic Achievement at Simmons. Students must pass third semester (201) level in the designated language.
If you are exempted from taking language courses but you would like to continue your language study, you should take the placement exam to determine the appropriate course level.
In some cases, students with a documented learning disability may be exempt from the language requirement. Students who wish to be exempt from the language requirement due to a documented learning disability must submit documentation to and meet with the Disability Services staff in the CAA who will assist you with petitioning the Administrative Board on your behalf. If approved, you must complete an alternative requirement consisting of three courses in an area of study relating to global issues and perspectives. For more information please see FAQs About Language at Simmons.
Links to Placement Examination DocumentsThese documents are in a print ready PDF format that you can download and print. Please note that you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in to view and print these files.
