Find the right entry point into the curriculum using Princeton’s placement tests. Placement tests are one mechanism for determining your optimal placement in sequenced courses (like language and some sciences) in order to help ensure your academic success. While they do not become part of your record, they are useful diagnostic tools. Some departments also require incoming students to test to determine course placement and, for certain subjects, earn units of advanced placement credit. You will receive emails over the summer prior to matriculation with details. The dates and test links are also posted on the Your Path to Princeton website. Continuing Princeton students are sometimes eligible to take placement tests, but not more than once a year. Please reach out to your assistant dean for studies or to the relevant department to inquire. Language Placement Tests You may use standardized test scores to fulfill the A.B. language requirement for some languages, as outlined below. If you plan to continue in a language that you have previously studied and have not fulfilled the language requirement through advanced placement, you must take the appropriate placement test first. Am I required to take a language placement test? Are you planning to continue studying a language that you studied at your previous school? If you have not fulfilled the A.B. language requirement through advanced placement, you are required to take a placement test. Placement testing ensures that everyone in a class is at the appropriate level for a productive learning environment. You are not allowed to place yourself in 100-level language classes. Want to study a new language at Princeton? You don’t need to take the language placement test. Simply register for the first course in the sequence (normally 101).Wish to place out of the A.B. language requirement in a language that isn’t tested at Princeton? Placement tests elsewhere may be arranged. Talk to your residential college assistant dean for studies about this option.If you have not fulfilled the A.B. language requirement through advanced placement, you are required to take a placement test. The placement test may demonstrate language proficiency and/or provide a recommendation for continued study. If you achieve a sufficiently high score on the test, you may be certified as completing the A.B. language requirement. Placement tests that must be taken the summer before matriculation: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Russian, SpanishVisit the Princeton Center for Language Study for details regarding: American Sign Language, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Modern Greek, Persian, Portuguese, Sanskrit, Swahili, Turkish, Twi UrduNote: the B.S.E. humanities/social science distribution options for Language are fulfilled by taking a course, not by placement. Placement via advanced placement Princeton accepts standardized test scores in Spanish, German, and Hebrew (please refer to the AP table for details. Make sure to have the appropriate testing agency send the scores directly to Princeton. All other languages taught at Princeton require that you take a departmental placement test. Placement via native fluency If you are an international student who speaks a language in which no departmental placement test is offered, speak with your residential college assistant dean for studies about fulfilling the A.B. language requirement by demonstrating your fluency. Stem Placement Tests Computer Science (COS) Who should take it?: Students with exceptional preparation in Computer Science and who wish to place out of COS 126 and begin their studies in COS 217 or 226. Note that this placement does not in itself satisfy the BSE computing requirement, which must be fulfilled by one of these three courses. Chemistry (CHM) Who should take the CHM placement test? Students who seek to demonstrate prior chemistry competency and wish to place into Chemistry 215 or 301 or wish to satisfy the BSE general chemistry requirement (Chemistry 201 or 207) and didn't score 5 on the chemistry AP (or equivalent) or wish to partially satisfy premed prerequisites Additional Information about the Chemistry Placement Test: Students with an AP 5 (or equivalent) may submit their score to Princeton for automatic fulfillment of CHM 201/207 (one semester of general chemistry, which satisfies the BSE general chemistry requirement and partially satisfies the premed general chemistry requirement). See AP Table for details. Students with an AP 5 (or equivalent) do not need to take the CHM placement test unless they are interested in placement into organic chemistry (CHM 301), thereby fulfilling the general chemistry sequence (CHM201/207 + 202). Physics (PHY) Who should take it?: Students who seek to demonstrate prior physics competency and have exceptional preparation in college-level physics and wish to be considered for enrollment in Physics 207 or wish satisfy the BSE general physics requirement (Physics 103-104) or wish to satisfy the pre-med physics pre-requisites (PHY101-102) Note that there are three physics placement tests offered (1) PHY 101-102; (2) PHY 103-104; (3) Advanced Mechanics (for consideration for enrollment into PHY207). You should plan to take ONE of these exams. If you intend to major in physics, you do not need to take a placement test unless you are interested in enrolling in PHY 207. Otherwise, consult with your faculty adviser and the department’s director of undergraduate studies about appropriate course placement (PHY103 or 105). Useful Information Advanced Placement Enter upper-level courses, fulfill certain requirements, or attain advanced standing.Explore advanced placement The Language Requirement Enhance your studies by learning another language and access new insight along the way. Study a language Additional Resources Your Path to Princeton Connect to a range of resources focused on learning and living at Princeton. Math Placement Understand the philosophy–and flexibility–that guides math course recommendations. Undergraduate Announcement Review academic regulations, programs of study, and undergraduate course offerings in this publication released each August. Course Offerings Find complete information about undergraduate and graduate courses by term.
