How To Choose Your First Class

Everyone planning to enroll in Chem 11, Chem 31A/B, or Chem 33 is required to take one of two diagnostic placement tests before September 1st, 2024, unless you've already successfully completed the prerequisite course at Stanford.

Our goal with the placement diagnostics is to gain additional information about your previous chemistry and math background that will allow us to provide you with a Chemistry Coaching plan to set you on the path to success! Results from the diagnostic will not appear on your transcript and do not count for a grade. The placement that we provide, based on these diagnostics, has been calibrated to ensure that you have the best opportunity for success in your Stanford chemistry course based on your current background, thus it is in your best interest to follow the coaching plans these allow us to provide. The coaching plan itself does not constitute fulfillment of any requirements at Stanford.

The Canvas Course for Autumn 2024 Chemistry Placement will open on August 1st. Please check back then, where you can self-enroll in the Canvas Course to gain further instructions on which diagnostic to take. 

Self-Enroll

Students should take the diagnostic BEFORE September 1st to help better inform their enrollment decisions. Only students who have completed the placement test will have access to enrollment in general chemistry this Autumn. Placement decisions will be emailed in early September.

There are three different starting points for General Chemistry in the department.  Students should take the department’s placement diagnostic, described above, to obtain a Chemistry Coaching Plan that will direct them to the sequence of courses and resources that will set them up best for success in chemistry! 

Chem 11

For students with less experience in chemistry and/or students who place into Math 18 through the math department placement diagnostic, we have created a new foundational chemistry course offered in the spring quarter.  Students should plan to take Math 18 in the fall, and then enroll in Chem 11 in the spring. This course will support students in the development and practice of critical problem solving and study skills essential to success in Chemistry and other STEM fields through regular guided practice in lecture and weekly mentor meetings.  Content will focus on the mastery of foundational chemistry skills including dimensional analysis and stoichiometry. Students will then be assigned a STEMentor, who will move with them into Chem31A the subsequent fall to ensure a successful transition into the main General Chemistry sequence.

Students wishing to enroll in Chem 11 are REQUIRED to take the General Chemistry Placement Diagnostic before enrolling. Students must also place into Math 19 via the Math Placement Diagnostic.

Chemistry 31A 

Most students with moderate (NOT AP or IB) chemistry experience will likely place into Chem 31A, the beginning of a two-quarter sequence that covers all essential topics in general chemistry, with an emphasis on problem solving. Chem 31A is offered only in Autumn. It is a hard-coded prerequisite for 31B, the second quarter of this general chemistry sequence offered only in winter quarter. Students who successfully complete the sequence can then proceed to Chem 33 (Organic Chemistry) in the Spring. Please consult the syllabus website for the syllabus and course calendar.

The Chem 31A/B general chemistry sequence is NOT appropriate for students who have scored greater than a 5 on either the AP or IB exams, as this will be entirely review.

Students wishing to enroll in Chem 31A are REQUIRED to take the General Chemistry Placement Diagnostic before enrolling. Students must also place into Math 19 or higher via the Math Placement Diagnostic. 

Chemistry 31E

Those with a strong high school chemistry background (Honors, AP, IB, etc.) are generally successful in Chem 31E, which is offered Autumn quarter only. Chem 31E covers the more advanced portions of the same topics covered in Chem 31A/B and moves at a faster pace, allowing students to enter Organic Chemistry (Chem 33) in the Winter. 

Additional Notes on General Chemistry Placement

1. Students who have an AP score of 4 or 5 or IB credit AND do not wish to go directly into Organic Chemistry can enroll directly into Chem 31E without taking any placement diagnostic. You cannot enroll in Chem 11 or 31A/B.
2. All other students who are interested in taking chemistry at Stanford should enroll in the Autumn 2024 Chemistry Placement Canvas course and read the additional instructions on which Diagnostic to take by September 1st. 
3. Students who believe they have sufficient General Chemistry background to place directly into Organic Chemistry should also enroll in the Autumn 2024 Chemistry Placement Canvas course for instructions on how to take the General Chemistry Proficiency test.

Chemistry 33

All students with AP, IB, or international credit who are considering placing directly into Chem 33 must take the Autumn 2024 General Chemistry Proficiency Test for placement into Chem 33 and other courses in Chemistry and related departments. Students not placed into Chem 33 will be placed into Chem 31E. 

• Students wishing to enroll in Chem 33 are REQUIRED to take the General Chemistry Proficiency Diagnostic before enrolling OR successfully complete one of the of the pre-requisite General Chemistry sequences at Stanford (Chem 31E or Chem 31A+31B)
• Please note that even though Chem 33 is offered in the Winter and Spring, you must still take the placement test in Autumn, as Chem 31E is only offered in Autumn quarter.

Chemistry 121

A few students with an exceptionally strong background in chemistry, e.g., IB, A-levels, French Baccalaureate, German Abitur, or college transfer credits, may begin with Chem 121, the second quarter of organic chemistry. These students should contact Dr. Megan Brennan brennanm [at] stanford.edu (brennanm[at]stanford[dot]edu) for placement before the start of Autumn quarter. 

Mathematics Background

While neither general chemistry sequence requires calculus, a solid foundation in algebra is essential. This includes comfort with algebraic expressions and manipulations, exponents and logarithms, functions and graphs, and dimensional analysis. As solid math skills are critical to success in general chemistry, students are also STRONGLY encouraged to take the math diagnostic in July and consider enrollment in the math SOAR program if advised. This program generally begins near the end of July and will cover many of the essential math skills needed in general chemistry: (SOAR Mathematics Program - Mathematics).

Premedical Preparation in Chemistry

Premedical students should be forewarned that not all medical schools accept AP credit; students may need to take chemistry course sequence, 31A/B or 31E, or a more advanced chemistry course to qualify for some medical schools. It is therefore recommended that pre-med students with a 5 on the AP Chemistry Exam and who do not anticipate taking more advanced chemistry courses enroll in Chem 31E rather than enrolling directly in Chem 33. Students should consult with Pre-Med advising for the most up to date recommendations.

AP/IB Placement

Students who have taken an AP or IB course have generally acquired a strong background in General Chemistry and are very successful in either Chem 31E or Chem 33.

If you have not had any lab background, do consider taking Chem 31E rather than placing directly into Organic Chemistry (Chem 33) to review key lab concepts within the context of the more advanced general chemistry content. Both Chem 31E and Chem 31A/B cover ALL relevant lab skills and instrumentation needed to be successful in later chemistry labs, therefore students do NOT need to take the two-quarter general chemistry sequence, as this would be redundant to your AP/IB experience.