Computer Science Placement
This placement test will help you determine which of the following two courses is appropriate for your enrollment (COSI 10a or COSI 12b).
Note: If you have taken the AP Computer Science A exam and received a score of 5, you don’t need to take this exam and can enroll in COSI 12b.
This test assesses if you are ready for COSI 12b "Advanced Programming Techniques in Java." It will check your knowledge of Java syntax, control flow, ability to trace code, primitive data types versus reference types. You will need to demonstrate good knowledge of the Scanner, String, and Math classes, familiarity with fundamental concepts of classes and objects, and fluency working with arrays.
If you need to refresh those topics, we advise you take a look at the book that will be used in COSI 12b "Building Java Programs" by S. Reges and M. Stepp (any edition will suffice). The first 8 chapters cover what you will be tested on.
You have 90 minutes to answer 25 questions of this self-administered test and have to complete the test in one sitting. The test can not be paused or restarted. Make sure you have a sufficient amount of time to complete the test before starting it.
Please note: Students are only allowed 1 attempt of the test per semester. If you do not pass the test on your first try, please email compsci@brandeis.edu 2 weeks before the start of the next semester requesting to retake the test and we will manually add permission for another attempt.
If you have test accommodations, please contact us via email with your accommodation letter. We need the letter no less than 48 hours in advance. If you have questions about documenting a disability or requesting accommodations, please contact Student Accessibility Support (SAS) or call 781.736.3470.
Once you pass the test, you can submit an override request for the section(s) you are interested in mentioning the score you received on the placement test in the comment section.