ACS California Chemistry Diagnostic Exams for placement into CHEM 400 are offered in the Natural Sciences Building.
Prerequisites
For CHEM 400 General Chemistry I
- CHEM 300 with a grade of "C" or better completed within one year prior to enrollment in CHEM 400 (strongly recommended option)
- or, for students with recent, successful chemistry experiences, placement through the assessment process (ACS California Chemistry Diagnostic Exam) completed within one year prior to enrollment in CHEM 400
- students having taken CHEM 310, CHEM 305, or another chemistry course must similarly pass the chemistry diagnostic exam prior to enrollment in CHEM 400
- or, for students with recent, successful chemistry experiences, placement through the assessment process (ACS California Chemistry Diagnostic Exam) completed within one year prior to enrollment in CHEM 400
The prerequisite will be checked at the first class meeting.
Exam Schedule
Rooms and dates are subject to change. Please check the website the day before your test to confirm details. Additional dates will be posted for upcoming semesters, please check back for updates.
| Date | Weekday | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 7, 2025 | Friday | 12:00 pm | Natural Sciences Bldg., NAS-201 |
| November 21, 2025 | Friday | 12:00 pm | Natural Sciences Bldg., NAS-201 |
| December 12, 2025 | Friday | 11:00 am | Natural Sciences Bldg., NAS-201 |
| December 18, 2025 | Thursday | 1:00 pm | Learning Resource Center, LRC 105 |
| January 5, 2026 | Monday | 12:00 pm | Natural Sciences Bldg., NAS-201 |
| January 15, 2026 | Thursday | 12:00 pm | Natural Sciences Bldg., NAS-201 |
| February 27, 2026 | Friday | 2:00 pm | Natural Sciences Bldg., NAS-201 |
| March 13, 2026 | Friday | 2:00 pm | Natural Sciences Bldg., NAS-201 |
| April 10, 2026 | Friday | 2:00 pm | Natural Sciences Bldg., NAS-201 |
| May 20, 2026 | Wednesday | 1:00 pm | Room to be determined, check back for updates |
| May 21, 2026 | Thursday | 1:00 pm | Room to be determined, check back for updates |
The exam takes 45 minutes, but please allow for over an hour in total.
Come Prepared
- Further information on preparing for the placement test can be found under Preparatory Review below.
- Please bring a nonprogrammable calculator (if possible, a limited number of calculators will be available to borrow) and a #2 pencil to the exam.
- Please also be on time or you may not be allowed to take the exam.
- It is not necessary to sign up in advance to take the placement test.
CHEM 400 General Chemistry I Preparatory Review
Preparatory Review
We recommend that you go through the CHEM 400 Preparatory Review prior to enrolling in a CHEM 400 class. This review is the first homework assignment given in CHEM 400. If you are not comfortable with the material or do not feel ready for CHEM 400, contact the course instructor. To help you familiarize yourself with the CHEM 400 Preparatory Review, there are the following online textbooks for the courses:
These are good places to start learning the material. The CHEM 300 text is a comprehensive introduction to many of the topics in CHEM 400. The CHEM 400 Preparatory Review for CHEM 400 is focused on students knowing the first 3-4 chapters of the CHEM 400 text. After chapters 1-3, all chapters are generally covered in full detail.
Also, it is a good idea to start memorizing the chemistry nomenclature since this is a significant item covered in CHEM 300 and assumed to be known at the beginning of CHEM 400.
Retest Policy
If you do not pass the test you may retest after two weeks. A maximum of two attempts per semester is allowed.
Contact
Dr. Todd Gruber
Email: grubert@scc.losrios.edu
Location
Natural Sciences Building
3835 Freeport Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95822