Harvard Summer School 2012

Registration & Arrival


Register now

Placement Tests

Placement tests are required for a variety of Harvard Summer School courses.

Choose a test to see test dates and instructions:

You should take placement tests as early as possible. Plan to present a government-issued photo ID at on-campus tests.

If you need an accommodation because of a documented disability, call (617) 495-0977 at least 2 weeks before you take the test.

Placement test scores are posted in your online services account. From the student menu, select “Placement Tests,” then “View Placement Test Scores.”

Economics proficiency exam

This exam is required for ECON S-1010, S-1012, S-1123, S-1530, S-1535, S-1913, S-1920, and S-1941 (even if you enroll for noncredit).

The test dates are:

The test will be held in Emerson Hall, room 105. Results are available by 10 am Wednesday, June 27.

About the exam. The exam tests command of concepts and tools of economic analysis, and understanding of the mathematical techniques that facilitate their exact presentation and generalization. In addition to facility with algebra and graphical techniques, you are expected to be familiar with topics from introductory differential and integral calculus, including partial derivatives, logarithmic and exponential functions, and basic statistics. See the sample exam.

Have alternate courses in mind in case you do not pass the exam. If possible, attend alternate and chosen courses until you learn your test results. If you do not take or pass the economics proficiency exam, you are dropped from courses that require it. You may register for an alternate course until the course change deadline (Thursday, June 28).

Harvard College students: guidelines for applying summer economics courses toward your degree are at Harvard College Students.

English language placement test

This on-campus test is required for all Institute for English Language (IEL) courses unless you took the post-test in an Extension School IEL course in the spring 2012 term. See IEL placement and registration.

Boston-area students who must meet the English proficiency requirement can take this test by May 15. This test cannot be substituted for the test of critical reading and writing skills.

Test dates and times

Online reservations are required for all except the June 24 test, which is intended for students registered in IEL full-time programs. Seating is limited, so reserve a seat early. You may make reservations until noon the day of the test for tests held on weekdays and by noon Friday for the Saturday test, pending availability. Reservations will be closed for a test when all seats are taken. Locations for tests will be available here in February.

*IEL evening program students: if you do not take this test by May 15, your only option is to take the late test on Tuesday, June 12, and pay a $200 nonrefundable late fee when you register. The June test cannot be used to meet the English proficiency requirement.

To reserve a seat:

Arrive for the test 30 minutes early. Bring a government-issued photo ID and a copy of your test reservation. Allow approximately 2.5 hours for this test, including check-in time.

Math placement test

The on-campus test is required for MATH S-Ar, S-Y, S-1a, S-1b, and S-1ab.

First register, then take the test on one of the following dates:

The online math placement test is recommended for MATH S-21a, S-21b, S-101, and S-310. For these courses, the test may be taken online any time between Thursday, March 1, and Sunday, June 24, except 1–4 am (eastern standard time).

If, based on your test score, you are required to change your course, do so by the course change deadline, Thursday, June 28.

Calculators. Some math courses require the use of a graphing calculator. However, they are not allowed while taking the placement test.

Questions? If you wish to discuss placement test results or need advice regarding math placement, e-mail support@math-placement.dce.harvard.edu or visit the Science Center, room 128, Tuesday, June 26, to Thursday, June 28, 3 to 4:30 pm.

Test of critical reading and writing skills

This 1-hour online test is required for BIOS S-200; BIOT S-200; ENVR S-200, S-210, and S-599; HUMA S-100; JOUR S-100; MGMT S-4000, S-4100, S-4150, S-5000, and S-5005; MUSE S-101; and SSCI S-100a and S-100b. It cannot be taken to meet the English proficiency requirement.

To take the test, follow the instructions at the online services login.

When to take the test

Take the test early. Space is limited in courses that require it. The test is available daily between 4 am and 11 pm eastern standard time. You may take it before or after registering. However, you may take it only once between January 17 and June 10.

See the schedule of when test scores are available.

How course registration works

If you register for 1 of the above courses before you have met course prerequisites, your status in the course is WP (Pending test score/Prerequisite evaluation). You must pass the test and complete any other prerequisites before you are enrolled (RE) or waitlisted (WL). You are enrolled or waitlisted in the order in which you register for the course and pass the placement test.

Within 2 business days of each score-posting date, WP students’ registration status is updated as follows.

If you pass the test, you are:

If you do not pass the test, you are dropped from the course for a full-tuition refund.

If you do not take the test by June 10, you are dropped from the course for a full-tuition refund.

Test and score posting schedule

Take the test between

To have your score available on

January 17 and February 26

March 3

February 27 and March 18

March 24

March 19 and April 15

April 21

April 16 and May 13

May 19

May 14 and June 10

June 16