Advanced Standing Exam - Guidelines for upperclassmen
Advanced Standing Exam - Guidelines for first term freshmen
Differences between 5.111 and 5.112

This exam is only offered once a year just before the beginning of the fall term. This year the exam is being offered on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 (9AM - Noon, Walker Gym 50-340).

Please note the directions below are for Incoming Freshmen ONLY.
Upperclassmen and 2nd Term Freshmen please see Advanced Standing Exam for more information.

Please REGISTER if you plan to take the exam. The deadline for registration is Monday, August 11th.

What is the purpose of the Advanced Standing Exam in chemistry?
The General Institute Science Requirement equips students with a broad range of tools and provides them with a common background of scientific concepts that are relied on in upper level subjects. Chemistry is one component of this core Science Requirement. It is fulfilled by the successful completion of 5.111, 5.112 or 3.091

Some freshmen have unusually strong backgrounds in chemistry that may include the concepts and tools covered in the MIT introductory chemistry courses, 5.111, 5.112 and 3.091. The purpose of the Advanced Standing Exam is to test whether your proficiency in chemistry is of a sufficiently high level for you to place out of and to receive credit for the chemistry component of the MIT Science Requirement. This exam is not the equivalent of the Advanced Placement Exam administered by the Educational Testing Service or the IB exam. Rather, it is an exam which tests whether you have mastered the material covered in our introductory courses. This material is substantially more advanced than material covered in a typical two year high school course of advanced placement chemistry.

If you have an exceptionally strong background in chemistry, you should consider taking this exam. A passing grade on this exam will earn you credit for 5.111 and a grade of P on your transcript, thereby fulfilling your General Institute Requirement in Chemistry. If you do not pass the exam, no record will appear on your transcript, although a record is kept of your attempt to take the exam. You are not allowed to take the exam again.

Please note that the Advanced Standing Exam is not an entry exam into 5.112. You are free to choose enrollment in 5.112 without taking this exam. See the online course catalog for more information about the differences between 5.111 and 5.112.

How do I find out the results?
Your advisor will have the results of your exam when you meet with him or her. If you do not receive credit for 5.111 by passing this exam, your advisor may use your performance on the exam to recommend whether you enroll in 5.111 or 5.112, but the decision as to the course in which you enroll is yours. There is no minimum performance level on this exam for entry into 5.112.

What type of exam will the Advanced Standing Exam be?
Like most MIT subjects, chemistry is oriented toward problem-solving rather than memorization. Nearly all of the problems on the Advanced Standing Exam involve calculations or analysis of information. None involve mere memorization. For example, there are no questions like: "Name the metals that are liquids at room temperature" or "What color is lead chromate?" In preparing for this exam, spend your time learning to solve problems of the type listed below quickly and accurately.

Many of the problems on the exam have numerical answers. Most of the credit for solving a particular problem will be given for providing the correct answer together with a clear demonstration of how the answer was obtained. Correct logic that leads to an incorrect numerical answer will receive some credit, but usually no more than 30-50% of the point value of the problem. The exam will be accompanied by lists of required physical constants, equations, and a periodic table of the elements. You may not use notes or books during the exam. You will be allowed 3 hours of time to work the exam.

What should I bring to the exam?
Bring a scientific calculator (no graphing calculators) with you to the exam and a writing implement. Sophisticated calculators with extensive memory will not be allowed. Bring your temporary MIT ID. Do not bring notes or books to the exam.

What type of problems will be on the exam?
The content of the Advanced Standing Exam parallels the major topics of Chemistry 5.111 and 5.112, which are taught from lectures, workbooks, and class notes, as well as from a textbook. The textbook is therefore not a perfect guide to 5.111 and 5.112, or to the Advanced Standing Exam, but it is a useful approximation. The textbook for 5.111 and 5.112 for Fall 2008 will be Atkins, Chemical Principles, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0716799030. The previous text was Oxtoby, Gillis and Nachtrieb, Principles of Modern Chemistry, 4th edition, Harcourt Brace College Publishing, 1999 ISBN 0030244277. Listed below are the pertinent chapters from that book along with typical problems.

This Registration is for the Advanced Standing Exam for Incoming Freshmen Only
Upperclassmen and Second Term Freshmen may petition to take the Advanced Standing Exam

If you are planning on taking the exam on August 26th, you need to register. Deadline for registration is August 11, 2008. The exam will be given at 9 am (Walker Gym 50-340). You will have 3 hours to complete the exam. Bring a writing implement, an acceptable calculator and your MIT ID. Water will be provided in the exam room. A continental breakfast is served on the first floor of Walker Memorial starting at 8 am.