Physics Test-Out Procedure

If you have a superior high school background or if you have college-level proficiency in certain subject areas, you may qualify for Credit by Examination (CBE). This means that you take an exam (roughly equivalent to the final exam in the class). You must receive a minimum of 75% correct on the exam in order to pass. If you pass, you will get credit for this course, and you will be able to move on to higher classes.

General test-out information 

Physics Test-Out Examination Information:

Date: Thursday before Fall & Spring classes start (Next exam–Thursday, January 16, 2025)

Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location:  Physics Hall 

Fee: $100 (nonrefundable)

Score Required to Pass: 75%

The fee for the exam will be placed on your university bill and is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the exam, unless enrollment in the exam is cancelled a minimum of 24 hours before the exam starts. If you do not report for the scheduled examination, you must initiate a new request and pay an additional examination fee to take a future examination. To sign up and take the exam, you need to take the following steps:

• Complete the Physics Test-Out Application. The application must be received by the Department of Physics and Astronomy at least 1 week prior to the beginning of the test out examination.
• We do not provide study guides. Use the course textbook as a study guide.
• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the two-hour exam.
• Bring your student ID to the test.

Results are available by the Tuesday morning following the Thursday test period. If you do pass the exam, a “T” credit will be reported to the Office of the Registrar at the end of the semester in which you took the exam. The “T” grade is equivalent to a “C” or better in the course. While “T” grades are not used to compute GPA, the credit does become part of the official academic record at ISU.

Physics Test-Out Examinations are administered for the following courses:

ACCOMMODATION NOTE: Request accommodations at Student Accessibility Services at least 2 weeks prior to the testing date.