Proficiency Exams | Testing Services | Northern Illinois University
Testing Services
Exams for Credit
Proficiency Exams
Proficiency Exams
NIU offers optional proficiency exams in several areas. These exams allow you to earn credit for specific NIU courses. Generally, you can only take a proficiency exam once.
Any credit you earn will be entered on your academic record as soon as it’s approved by a university official. Please note that credit may only be entered after the last day to drop a class (the “drop deadline”) of the first semester you’re enrolled at NIU. The drop deadline is usually two weeks after the start of a semester.
How to Take the Exam
There are no fees for proficiency exams. To register, follow these steps:
Access the
exam registration system
Under Choose a Group, select “NIU Proficiency, Math Core Competency Exam (not Math Placement Exam), & COB Exemption Exams.”
Complete the rest of the form.
Exams and Credit
BIOS 103 and 105: General Biology and Laboratory
You’ll have one hour to complete this 60-question exam. It covers topics such as basic biochemistry, cell structure, metabolism, photosynthesis, evolution, ecology, phylogeny, physiology, genetics and basic laboratory techniques.
You can’t take this exam if you’re a biological sciences major or if you already have credit in a college-level general biology class.
Learn more about the BIOS 103 and 105 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
45 or more correct answers
BIOS 103/105, four hours
44 or fewer correct answers
None
CHEM 110: Chemistry
You’ll have 80 minutes to complete this 80-question exam. It covers topics such as formulas, equations, stoichiometry, atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonding, kinetic theory of gases, equilibria, acids and bases, redox reactions and the chemistry of some common elements. You can use a nonprogrammable calculator.
Learn more about the CHEM 110 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
51 or above
CHEM 110, three hours
40-50
None
39 or below
None
CHEM 210-211: General Chemistry I and II
You’ll have one hour and 50 minutes to complete this 80-question exam. It covers topics such as atomic structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, kinetic theory, solutions, gases and ionic equilibria, acids and bases, thermodynamics, reaction rates and some descriptive chemistry.
You can take this exam if you’ve taken and received credit for two years of high school chemistry (or the equivalent). You can use a nonprogrammable calculator. A table of logarithms will be provided.
Learn more about the CHEM 210-211 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
60 or above
CHEM 210, 211 and labs; eight hours
50-59
CHEM 210 and lab, four hours
49 or below
None
HSCI 318: Medical Terminology
This exam consists of 150 multiple-choice and matching questions. You’ll have two hours to complete it. A few questions are devoted to the anatomy and physiology of each system. There are diagrams for identification of anatomical regions and case studies. Focus on knowing word parts (prefixes, suffixes, combining forms) that can be combined in different ways.
Learn more about the HSCI 318 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
105 or more correct answers
HSCI 318, three hours
104 or fewer correct answers
None
NUTR 201: Human Nutrition
This exam consists of 163 multiple-choice questions. You’ll have two hours to complete it. It covers areas such as the properties of nutrients, how nutrition interacts with environmental and genetic factors, and the quality of the food supply.
Learn more about the NUTR 201 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
119 or more correct answers
NUTR 201, three hours
118 or fewer correct answers
None
HDFS 207: The Consumer
This exam consists of 100 objective items. You’ll have two hours to complete it. It covers topics such as consumer rights, fraud, laws that help consumers, and the American/global marketplace, as well as food, health care, product safety, banking, credit, housing, insurance and investment issues.
Learn more about the HDFS 207 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
80 or more correct answers
HDFS 207, three hours
79 or fewer correct answers
None
HDFS 230: Child Development
This exam consists of 112 multiple-choice questions. You’ll have two hours to complete it. It covers topics related to developmental principles of children under 8 years of age.
Learn more about the HDFS 230 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
90 or more correct answers
HDFS 230, three hours
89 or fewer correct answers
None
HDFS 280: Human Development, the Family and Society
This exam consists of 123 multiple-choice questions. You’ll have two hours to complete it. It covers topics related to human growth and development, with an emphasis on interaction and socialization processes.
Learn more about the HDFS 280 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
98 or more correct answers
HDFS 280, three hours
97 or fewer correct answers
None
HDFS 284: Introduction to Family Relationships
This exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions. You’ll have two hours to complete it. It covers topics related to family development, internal family social processes, family strengths and diversity, and interaction and communication patterns.
Learn more about the HDFS 284 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
96 or more correct answers
HDFS 284, three hours
95 or fewer correct answers
None
MATH 201: Foundations of Elementary School Mathematics
You’ll have two hours to complete this 50-question exam. It covers problem-solving heuristics, ratio and proportions, set theory, number systems, the whole number system, geometry and measurement, number theory, statistics and probability, and rational numbers. Since each topic includes theory, you must have sufficient theoretical knowledge in addition to computational ability.
Once you have registered to take the MATH 201 Proficiency Exam, Testing Services will reach out to the Department of Mathematical Sciences, they will determine if you are approved to be tested.
Learn more about the MATH 201 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
70% or higher correct
MATH 201, three hours
69% or lower correct
None
POLS 100: American Government and Politics
This exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions. You’ll have 70 minutes to complete it. It focuses on national government structure (Executive, Legislative, Judiciary and Bureaucratic); the federal system and political processes (nominations, elections, representation, voting, political parties and interest groups); and programs, policies and civil liberties.
By passing the exam, you’ll also meet the Constitution test requirement for teacher certification.
Learn more about the POLS 100 proficiency exam (DOCX)
Score
NIU Credit
84 or more correct answers
POLS 100, three hours
83 or fewer correct answers
None
Exams for Credit
About Credit by Examination
Advanced Placement (AP)
Proficiency Exams
STAMP Test (for Bilingual Undergraduates)
College-level Examination Program (CLEP)
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
Testing Services
Peters Campus Life Building 120
815-753-1203
testing@niu.edu
Hours
Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-noon
1-4:30 p.m.