The Physics Placement Exam

If you are planning to take Physics courses during your time at Skidmore, you might consider completing the Physics Placement Exam. This Exam is optional, and you are not required to take the Placement Exam.

Skidmore offers two courses of Introductory Physics through the first-year physics curriculum. This Placement Test will determine whether or not you can enroll directly in the second course of the Introductory Physics course sequence (PY 140) and skip the first course (PY 130). If you plan to enroll in the first course of the sequence (PY 130), there is no need to take the Placement Exam.

If you have already taken classes covering the material in both PY130 and PY 140, please speak with a faculty member in the Physics department about the possibility of skipping both of those courses and enrolling in next course in the Physics sequence (PY 210 – Modern Physics).

Instructions for the Placement Exam

Please DO NOT study or review before taking the test. It is very important that you are accurately placed into the correct course based on your knowledge and previous experience with Physics, NOT your ability to study for the test. You are also NOT allowed to use any outside sources, such as a textbook, notes, or electronic resources. Do not consult with anyone. You can use a calculator ONLY for simple arithmetic.

To begin the test, click the link below. This will lead you to the Exam page. You’ll need to sign in using your Skidmore credentials (username and password). Once you sign in, you will be presented with 37 multiple choice questions. The test is not timed, but you can only take it once. Choose an answer for each question, and click on the “Submit” button at the end of the test when you are finished. An e-mail will be sent to your Skidmore e-mail account with the results.

Take the placement exam

If you have any questions about accessing or taking the test, please contact Javier Perez-Moreno.