Chemistry Placement
CHEMISTRY PLACEMENT
CUTOFF SCORES AND PLACEMENT MESSAGES FOR 2026-2027
Placement into the introductory Chemistry courses is based on a combination of the student's score on the Chemistry Placement Exam and the student's past experiences with high school chemistry and mathematics courses.
Cutoff scores and placement recommendations are derived in collaboration with the Chemistry Department and are reviewed annually. The policies below apply to all students entering the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Summer 2026, Fall 2026, or Spring 2027.
The online Chemistry Placement Test does not award academic credit. If you wish to take the Chemistry Proficiency Exam, it is offered at the beginning of each fall and spring semester.
Questions? Contact "Placement & Proficiency" staff by emailing pnp@illinois.edu or by calling 217-244-4437 during business hours.
Test Score | Placement Message |
|---|---|
| 0-12 | Placed into CHEM 101 |
| 13-14 | Placed into CHEM 1011 or CHEM 1022. |
| 15-30 | Placed into CHEM 1022. With a score of 25 or higher, consider CHEM 202 depending on student's major and interest. |
1 Ask your advisor about graduation credit policies for Chemistry 101.
2 Students who have ACT Math scores of 25 or below or who have SAT Math scores of 590 or below are recommended to enroll in Chemistry 101 regardless of chemistry placement score.
NOTE TO NON-SCIENCE MAJORS:
*Students who have ACT Math scores of 25 or below or who have SAT Math scores of 590 or below are recommended to enroll in Chemistry 101 regardless of Chemistry Placement Test score.
CHEM 108 (“Chemistry, Everyday Phenomena”) is offered in the Spring as a course that fulfills the General Education physical science requirement. If interested, please discuss this option with your academic advisor during Summer Registration.