Exemption Exams

Exemption Exams and Special Credit

The Department of Chemistry offers an exemption exam for CHEM-C101 (3 cr.) (non-science major chemistry courses that carry Natural and Mathematical – N&M – Sciences distribution) and CHEM-C117 (3 cr.). These exams do not cover lab material (C121 or C127). The exams are offered by appointment only by calling the Undergraduate office at 855-2700.

CHEM-C117 Exemption Exam

WARNING: CHEM-C117 (3 cr.) is the general chemistry course for students pursuing "science major". Although earning credit for C117 by exemption exam will meet the requirement for CHEM-C117, it does NOT necessarily provide the same background as taking an entire course. Students needing a refresher on general chemistry material before taking organic chemistry should consider taking C117/C127 or honors S117 or C106/C126 at another IU campus before taking CHEM-C341 Organic Chemistry I. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to be prepared for future coursework.

This exam can be taken only once. Students who have credit for C117, C105, C125, &/or C127 are not eligible to take the exemption exam. It is a two hour exam, consisting of 80 multiple-choice questions, and students may use a calculator. A periodic table of the elements and useful constants and equations will be provided. The exam covers most of the topics found in a first semester general chemistry course, including states of matter, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, atomic structure and periodicity, molecular structure, intermolecular forces, and solutions. Additionally, this exam covers the topics of equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics which are often covered in a second-semester general chemistry course.

To be eligible to take this exam, students must have completed two years of high school chemistry and have earned one of the following scores: 650 on the Chemistry ATP Achievement Test, 600 on the math SAT, or 27 on the math ACT.

For full-time students, a score of > 64 out of 80 on this exam will earn 3 cr. of grade "S".

CHEM-C101 Exemption Exam

C101 (3 cr.) is an elementary chemistry course for "non-science" majors that carry Natural and Mathematical Sciences distribution. This exam does not cover lab material (C121). This exam can be taken only once. Students who have credit for C101/C121 are not eligible to take the exemption exam. It is a one-hour exam, and students may use a calculator. The exam will include questions on the following subjects: nomenclature, structure of matter, gas laws, atomic structure, bonding, chemical calculations, solutions, and the properties of acids, bases, and salts.

To be eligible to take this exam, students must have completed one year of chemistry and at least one year of algebra in high school.

For full-time students, a score of > 42 out of 60 on this exam will earn 3 cr. of grade "S".

Earning Credit by AP Exam

For students who matriculated at IU in Fall 2007 or later, a score of 5 on the Chemistry AP exam will earn students 3 hours of credit for CHEM-C117. Students who earn credit by this exam are encouraged to take CHEM-H117 (the honors version of CHEM-C117), prior to enrolling in CHEM-C341 (Organic Chemistry I).