This section will help you gain a better understanding of taking placement exams prior to your arrival at Dickinson. It is important to pay close attention to the deadlines in Navigate as your scores will be discussed with you by an academic advisor when selecting course levels for your first semester. In this section, you will find information on language, math, chemistry, and music placement. Also, check out the Language Placement FAQs for additional information.
Language Placement Exam Information
Where do I find the Language Placement Exams? The language placement exams for Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, German, and Spanish can be found under your to-do list in Navigate. Instructions are in Navigate. Please note that to access the French, German, and Spanish exams, you must first create an account using your Dickison email address and 9-digit Banner ID number. You can login to the Chinese, Japanese, or Italian placement exams using your Dickinson (Gateway) username and password.
Who should take the Online Exam? Select a language and use the flow chart to determine whether you should take the exam:
Chinese
French
German
Italian
Spanish
What if I am interested in continuing with a language other than French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish? Be sure you provide this information regarding all of the languages you studied in high school on the Language Background form available in your Navigate to-do list.
If you are interested in taking Arabic, Ancient Greek, Modern Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, or Russian read more on the additional language placement site.
Transfer Students: Students who have studied French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish at another institution should take the placement exam. The results of the placement exam will be used to determine appropriate course equivalency for college-level coursework completed. For other languages, see the guidance offered in the section above.
MATHEMATICS PLACEMENT INFORMATION
The Mathematics Placement Exam is a multiple-choice test designed to measure a student’s readiness for calculus. The test is a 25-question multiple-choice exam on precalculus concepts—no calculus appears on the test.
Who should take the exam? All students are required to take the placement exam before they matriculate at the college, even if they do not plan to take a mathematics class at Dickinson. The only exceptions are listed on the Mathematics Placement Information page.
Where do I find the Mathematics Placement Exam? The mathematics placement exam can be found under your to-do list in Navigate.
Mathematics Placement Information The Mathematics Placement Information page contains a list of entry-level mathematics courses at Dickinson, an interactive placement guide, and other useful information. You can call the mathematics department at 717-245-1413, or email the departmental coordinator (Tonya Miller) at millert@dickinson.edu for more information.
Chemistry Placement Information
Chemistry Placement Exam: The Chemistry Placement Exam is a 61-question, 90-minute exam assembled by Dickinson's chemistry department. Its purpose is to allow the department to determine your readiness for college-level chemistry by assessing your comprehension in three basic areas: General Mathematics, General Chemistry Knowledge, and Specific Chemistry Knowledge.
All students who plan to take Chemistry courses must take the exam, even if they have completed AP or IB Chemistry exams. Many majors (including Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, and Earth Sciences) require Chemistry courses, and all Pre-Health students must take Chemistry courses regardless of major. If you have academic accommodations, please contact John Joyce at access@dickinson.edu for information on how to implement your accommodations for taking the Chemistry Placement exam.
Where do I find the Chemistry Placement Exam? The placement exam can be found in your Navigate to-do list.
Math Placement Exam: The Chemistry department has found that there is a strong correlation between a student's facility with mathematics and their success in general chemistry courses. Consequently, all students who plan to take Chemistry must take the Math Placement Exam, also found on Navigate.
Students who score a 15 or higher on the math placement exam may directly enroll in CHEM 131. Students who score a 10 - 14 on the math placement exam, and chemistry placement score of 30 or higher, may enroll in CHEM 131 directly. Students who score a 10 - 14 on the math placement exam, and chemistry placement score lower than 30, may enroll in CHEM 131 only if they also enroll in Math 151 concurrently. However, for all students scoring below a 15 on the math placement exam, the Chemistry Department recommends that you purchase Calculations in Chemistry by Donald J. Dahm and Eric A. Nelson (ISBN: 13: 978-0393614367) for use during the summer and once you enroll in CHEM 131.
If a student's Math Placement score is below 10, they must successfully complete MATH 151 (or equivalent at another institution) before enrolling in CHEM 131. If they seek to take an equivalent math course at another institution, the course must be approved by the chair of the Chemistry Department.
STUDENTS WHO MAY WISH TO PURSUE SCIENCE OR PRE-HEALTH MUST TAKE THESE PLACEMENT EXAMS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. NEGLECTING TO TAKE THE PLACEMENT EXAMS WILL MEAN A STUDENT WILL BE UNABLE TO REQUEST COURSES IN CHEMISTRY.
Advanced Placement: course credit and/or placement: Students who earn 4 or 5 on the Chemistry AP Exam will receive General College Credit. Those students planning to continue with Chemistry must take the Chemistry Placement Exam. Students who place into CHEM 141 will have the General College Credit changed to Chemistry General Credit upon successful completion of 141. This Chemistry General Credit does not count for medical schools. Every student planning to take Chemistry at Dickinson must have a college level general chemistry with in-person laboratory experience prior to enrolling in Organic Chemistry (CHEM 241/242). The Chemistry Department does not have a mechanism for students to “test out of” or “place out of” general chemistry.
You can call the Chemistry department at 717-254-8314, or email the department coordinator (Holly Coombs) at coombsh@dickinson.edu for more information.
Music Placement Exam Information
Where do I find the Music Placement Exam? The placement exam can be found on your to-do list in Navigate.
Who should take the exam? Any student who is interested in taking music theory courses. It is not necessary to take the entire test, but only the parts covering materials with which you have experience.
You may call the music department at 717-245-1568, or email Professor Blyth at blyth@dickinson.edu for more information.
Writing Program Placement Information
The Writing Program offers a self-assessment tool for international and multilingual students to identify whether they should take a Writing Program course (WRPG 101 or 102) in their first year at Dickinson. Please complete the Writing Program self-assessment before summer advising; it should be completed by July 1.
Who should take the Writing Program self-assessment? International students who have completed high school outside of the US or in a medium other than English are strongly encouraged to complete the Writing Program self-assessment.
Where do I find the Writing Program Self-Assessment? The Writing Program self-assessment can be found here: https://www.dickinson.edu/download/downloads/id/12818/self-placement_checklist_wrpg_101.pdf.
Writing Program Placement Information: Based on your responses to the self-assessment you may be recommended to take a Writing Program course (WRPG 101 or 102) in your first or second semester at Dickinson. If recommended, talk with your advisor about including a Writing Program course in your academic plan. International students who are interested in developing as writers are welcome to enroll in WRPG 101 or 102 regardless of placement score or completion of the self-assessment. WRPG 101 and 102 are each full-credit courses and fulfill graduation requirements (US Diversity and Sustainability Investigations, respectively).
For more information about Writing Program resources for international and multilingual writers, please contact John Katunich, Associate Director of the Writing Program and Multilingual Writer Specialist, katunicj@dickinson.edu or visit the Writing Center website.