Physics: Students seeking AP credit in physics in particular must take a departmental requirement fulfillment (placement) test this summer to place out of Physics 103-104. You cannot place out of Physics 103-104 without taking the departmental requirement fulfillment test, no matter how great a score you got on the AP/IB/A-levels or any other preparation. There is a separate exam for students who want to try to place into Physics 207, which is not a BSE requirement but which might be of interest to some students who really, really like physics. Most BSE students will take the 103-104 exam if they want to try to place out of the BSE physics requirement.
Chemistry: Effective in 2023, if you received a 5 on the Chemistry AP exam, a 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level exam, or an A or A* on the British A-levels, you will receive one unit of AP credit without taking a placement test. This fulfills the BSE general chemistry requirement without taking CHM 201 or 207. Make sure the score has been reported to Princeton!
Why should you take the placement test? A few possibilities:
- If you studied chemistry at a high level but didn’t take an AP exam, or if you took the AP exam and got a 4 or equivalent (e.g. IB-H 6, A-level B), but you think you know more than that score shows; if you took the SAT2 subject test in chemistry and got a high score (like 760 or above), consider taking the placement test.
- If you think you know a lot more chemistry and want to try to get two units of AP credit in order to jump into Orgo or CBE 245, then you need to take the departmental placement test.
- If you have any other preparation in chemistry other than that mentioned above, or if you scored less than a 5 on the AP exam and still think you know more chemistry than the score shows, then you need to take the placement test.
Please note that per Chemistry departmental policy, taking the placement test is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You may not take it a second time. If you have a 5 on the Chem AP exam but you take the test to try to get another unit of placement credit and fall short, we will still honor the 5 for the BSE requirement.
If you have taken any other exams (e.g. national school-leaving exams), or if you have taken college-level courses in physics or chemistry, but don’t have an AP/IB/A-level score, you must also take the departmental placement exam to receive AP credit and fulfill B.S.E. requirements.
Math: Since all B.S.E. students will continue to study math, we can use your scores to make tentative placements which can be confirmed by Math Placement Orientation. There is no placement test in Math. Math awards one unit of AP credit for a 5 on the BC Calculus exam, which is an automatic Math 104/EGR 152 placement, but you might have gone further in calculus and might be a candidate for Math 201 or 203. Successful completion of 201/203 will result in exemption from Math 103-104.