Chemistry Readiness Assessment
**UPDATED 5/15/25**
The Chemistry Readiness Assessment period will be from 5/19-7/31. LON-CAPA will be available for incoming fall 2025 students on 5/19. Please be sure to read this entire page for complete information regarding the assessment and the Basic Chemistry Workshop.
Overview
ASSESSMENT FORMAT
ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE
ASSESSMENT TOPICS
HOW TO TAKE THE CHEMISTRY READINESS ASSESSMENT
Basic Chemistry Workshop
Workshop Format
Cost and Required Material
Overview
General Chemistry is required for all pre-health students and most of the science majors. High School chemistry is a prerequisite for all our General Chemistry courses (CHEM 104, 107 and 111). Our data show that students with inadequate high school chemistry background struggle in the course and it impacts not only the chemistry course but also the other courses taken in the semester.
The Chemistry Readiness Assessment (CRA) is designed to identify students with a weak high school chemistry background. Students with a poor performance on the assessment will be strongly encouraged to participate in a three-week Basic Chemistry Workshop. Another option to make up this deficiency is to take our Basic Chemistry Course (CHEM 100) offered in the summer and fall semesters. Our experience shows that students that address their background shortcomings by taking the Basic Chemistry Course have a much better chance of success in CHEM 104, 107 and 111.
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Assessment Format
You have one hour to take the assessment. It is administered online. Students do not have to register to take the assessment. It is available anytime during the assessment period for students to take. The assessment cannot be paused once started. The assessment has 50 questions. The questions are a combination of short answers and multiple choices. You can only take the assessment once. However, you may assess your basic chemistry knowledge by taking the practice question module as many times as you want in preparation. Students may use a periodic table and a calculator. The passing grade is 50%, students required to register for the workshop will be contacted via email. The placement assessment can only be taken once.
If you have a disability and are unable to take the exam in the way described here, please contact us via email, chem100@binghamton.edu, and accommodations will be arranged.
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Assessment Schedule
The chemistry readiness assessment is offered over the summer (5/19-7/31). Incoming students are required to take the placement assessment before registering for CHEM 104, CHEM 107, and CHEM 111 to ensure they are able to maintain enrollment in these courses.
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Assessment Topics
The topics covered on the assessment are standard topics in high school chemistry, and, at a minimum, will include:
- Basic Math skills & Measurements applied to Chemistry
- Atoms, Molecules, Compounds, & Ions
- Composition of Substances
- Electrical Structure of Atoms
- Chemical Bonds
- States of Matter & Physical Behavior of Forces
Any high school chemistry book can be used for review.
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How to take the Chemistry Readiness Assessment
We strongly recommend that before taking the chemistry readiness assessment, you familiarize yourself with the LON-CAPA platform by completing the “how to use LON-CAPA tutorial” module and also taking the “Practice Question Module”. The LON-CAPA platform will be typically be available from mid-May to mid-July (5/19-7/31). Here is the link to LON-CAPA: LON-CAPA Login Link
The “Practice Question Module” is not the “Chemistry Readiness Assessment”. The Practice Question Module has the same basic format of the Chemistry Readiness Assessment. A passing score on the Practice Question Module does not replace the Chemistry Readiness Assessment. It is only intended to give you an idea of how you will do on the Chemistry Readiness Assessment.
If you are having difficulty accessing LON-CAPA for the assessment, or have questions regarding the assessment, please email chem100@binghamton.edu for help.
Accessing LON-CAPA
How to Use LON-CAPA
Accessing the Practice Questions and Chemistry Readiness Assessment
Your results (pass/fail) for the Chemistry Readiness Assessment will be emailed to you. If you do not pass the Chemistry Readiness Assessment offered during the summer, you will receive an email with instructions on how to register for the "Basic Chemistry Workshop".
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Basic Chemistry Workshop
The Basic Chemistry Workshop is an overview of the basic concepts of chemistry and develops skills in problem solving that provides a foundation for future studies in chemistry. It does not fulfill any college requirements in Science or Math. However, it will be transcripted with a grade.
It will be offered online during the summer (7/21-8/8). The goal of the workshop is to prepare students for more rigorous General Chemistry courses in the fall semester.
The workshop is designed by our General Chemistry Team. It will be facilitated by Dr. Murphy, an experienced Binghamton University General Chemistry instructor, and a team of Chemistry Graduate Students. For questions regarding the workshop, please email chem100@binghamton.edu.
FORMAT: Online Asynchronous. Self-paced. Course will consist of LON-CAPA learning modules. Registration will open 5/27. The workshop session will run from 7/21-8/8. This course will be transcripted with a grade of pass/fail.
COST & REQUIRED MATERIALS: No cost. Student must have a computer with a high speed internet connection and a calculator. Access to our educational platforms (Brightspace, LON-CAPA) will be provided.