Placement Exam and Exemption Information

Students who wish to be placed in the appropriate offering of a course or wish to be exempt from any required courses should take the exam held prior to the start of their first semester at Heinz, when available.

Review the Fall 2026 Placement and Exemption Exam Schedule, which includes exams for all degree programs.

This will be your only opportunity to take the exam (Heinz faculty reserve the right to adjust exam offerings.).

Dates, exams, and registration processes are subject to change.

If you are unable to attempt a scheduled exemption exam due to a scheduling conflict, please notify Heinz College Academic Services before the exam date, to determine if accommodations can be made.

Have questions about placement and exemption exams or the petition process? Please reference the FAQ section below, or contact Heinz College Academic Services for any additional questions regarding placement and exemption exams.

Exemption exams will be offered remotely with the help of Canvas, Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor. The lockdown browser and Monitor serve as digital proctors for each exam, by limiting access to other websites and applications, and also by recording your exam attempt to ensure compliance with the University's academic integrity policy.

Get more information about Respondus Lockdown Browser. Also, here are some Respondus Monitor quick tips.

A practice test will be available for all students to make sure they can access an assessment in Canvas using the Respondus lockdown browser and Monitor prior to any scheduled exemption or placement exams. This practice test is solely to test your ability to use Respondus - it will not contain any content or topics related to the offered exemption exams.

For courses that offer exemption exams, you must sit for the exam to earn an exemption. There are no options to exempt those courses after your program begins.

For courses that do not offer a placement or exemption exam prior to matriculation, students may submit an exemption petition directly to the instructor. Get information about course exemption. This process is generally available one month prior to the start of the fall semester.

Please open the Fall 2026 Placement and Exemption Exam Schedule and click on the "MSPPM" button or scroll to the MSPPM page.

Database

  • Relevant course: 90-728 Introduction to Database Management
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: exempt 90-728
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • No other materials are permitted
  • Exam length: 60 minutes

Statistics

  • Relevant courses: 90-707 Statistical Reasoning, 90-711 Statistical Reasoning with R, and 90-777 Accelerated Statistics
  • Possible outcomes of exam: determines accurate placement into the relevant Statistics course for your program, or exempt Statistics requirement. 
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor and scratch paper
  • Calculator provided within lockdown browser, so no other calculator will be needed
  • Exam length: 90 minutes

Please open the Fall 2026 Placement and Exemption Exam Schedule and click on the "MSPPM-DA" button or scroll to the MSPPM-DA page.

Database:

  • Relevant course: 90-838 Database Management for Policy Analytics
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: exempt 90-838
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • No other materials are permitted
  • Exam length: 60 minutes

Statistics:

  • Relevant course: 90-711 Statistical Reasoning with R and 90-777 Accelerated Statistics
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: determines accurate placement into the relevant Statistics course for your program, or exempt Statistics requirement. 
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor and scratch paper
  • Calculator provided within lockdown browser, so no other calculator will be needed
  • Exam length: 90 minutes

Python:

  • Relevant courses: 90-812 Python Programming I, 90-819 Python Programming II, and 95-888 Data Focused Python
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: determines accurate placement into the relevant Python programming course for your program, satisfies a Python programming condition (if this was part of your offer letter), and/or exempt Python requirement.
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • Exam length: To Be Announced

Please open the Fall 2026 Placement and Exemption Exam Schedule and click on the "MSHCA" button or scroll to the MSHCA page.

Database

  • Relevant course: 95-703 Database Management
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: move from 95-703 to 95-813 Intermediate Database Management, or fully exempt Database requirement
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • No other materials are permitted
  • Exam length: 60 minutes

Statistics

  • Relevant course: 90-777 Accelerated Statistics
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: exempt 90-777
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor and scratch paper
  • Calculator provided within lockdown browser, so no other calculator will be needed
  • Exam length: 75 minutes

Python

  • Relevant courses: 90-812 Python Programming I, 90-819 Python Programming II, and 95-888 Data Focused Python
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: determines accurate placement into the relevant Python programming course for your program, satisfies a Python programming condition (if this was part of your offer letter), and/or exempt Python requirement.
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • Exam length: To Be Announced

Please open the Fall 2026 Placement and Exemption Exam Schedule and click on the "MAM" button or scroll to the MAM page.

Database

  • Relevant course: 90-728 Introduction to Database Management
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: exempt 90-728
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • No other materials are permitted
  • Exam length: 60 minutes

Statistics

  • Relevant courses: 90-707 Statistical Reasoning, 90-711 Statistical Reasoning with R, and 90-777 Accelerated Statistics
  • Possible outcomes of exam: determines accurate placement into the relevant Statistics course for your program, or exempt Statistics requirement.
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor and scratch paper
  • Calculator provided within lockdown browser, so no other calculator will be needed
  • Exam length: 90 minutes

Please open the Fall 2026 Placement and Exemption Exam Schedule and click on the "MEIM" button or scroll to the MEIM page.

Statistics

  • Relevant courses: 90-707 Statistical Reasoning, 90-711 Statistical Reasoning with R, and 90-777 Accelerated Statistics
  • Possible outcomes of exam: determines accurate placement into the relevant Statistics course for your program, or exempt Statistics requirement. 
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor and scratch paper
  • Calculator provided within lockdown browser, so no other calculator will be needed
  • Exam length: 90 minutes

Please open the Fall 2026 Placement and Exemption Exam Schedule and click on the "MISM" button or scroll to the MISM page.

Database

  • Relevant courses: 95-703 Database Management and 95-813 Intermediate Database Management
  • Possible outcomes of passing exam: move from 95-703 to 95-813 Intermediate Database Management, or fully exempt Database requirement
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • Exam length: 60 minutes

Economics

  • Relevant course: 95-710 Economic Analysis
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: exempt 95-710
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • No other materials are permitted; a calculator is available within the lockdown browser, so no outside calculators are permitted
  • Exam length: 70 minutes

Statistics

  • Relevant course: 95-796 Statistics for IT Managers
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: exempt 95-796
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor and scratch paper
  • Calculator provided within lockdown browser, so no other calculator will be needed
  • Exam length: 75 minutes

Python

  • *Students with a Python programming condition will have an opportunity to test out of the required summer course by passing the 90-812 Python Programming Placement exam as scheduled.
  • Exam length: To Be Announced
  • Relevant courses: 95-896 Python for Software Development and 95-895 Python System Fundamentals
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: determines accurate placement into the relevant Python programming course for your program
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • Exam length: 120 minutes

Please open the Fall 2026 Placement and Exemption Exam Schedule and click on the "MSISPM" button or scroll to the MSISPM page.

Economics

  • Relevant course: 95-710 Economic Analysis
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: exempt 95-710
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • No other materials are permitted; a calculator is available within the lockdown browser, so no outside calculators are permitted
  • Exam length: 70 minutes

Statistics

  • Relevant courses: 90-707 Statistical Reasoning, 90-711 Statistical Reasoning with R, and 90-777 Accelerated Statistics
  • Possible outcomes of exam: determines accurate placement into the relevant Statistics course for your program, or exempt Statistics requirement. 
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor and scratch paper
  • Calculator provided within lockdown browser, so no other calculator will be needed
  • Exam length: 90 minutes

Python

Also available to MSISPM students is an optional free Introduction to Python summer course. The course is completely remote and asynchronous - i.e., students can watch lectures and participate at a time that works for you. The dates for the course are June 22nd through July 31st. 

Your participation will not be monitored or graded, but you can review the content as a refresher or in preparation for the fall semester. You will receive an invitation to join the Canvas site via your Andrew email account. If you do not intend to access this content, you do not need to accept the invitation.

Please open the Fall 2026 Placement and Exemption Exam Schedule and click on the "AIM" button or scroll to the AIM page.

Statistics

  • Relevant course: 95-796 Statistics for IT Managers
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: exempt 95-796
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor AND scratch paper
  • Calculator provided within lockdown browser, so no other calculator will be needed
  • Exam length: 75 minutes

Python

  • Relevant courses: 90-812 Python Programming I and 95-888 Data Focused Python
  • Possible outcome of passing exam: satisfies a Python programming condition (if this was part of your offer letter), and/or exempt Python requirement.
  • What you’ll need: Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor
  • Exam length: To Be Announced

Will these exemption and placement exams be offered more than once?

No, the listed exam dates are your ONLY opportunity to exempt these core course requirements. Students can only attempt these exams prior to the start of their first semester, and this is the only method available to exempt the listed core course requirements on this page.

Will study guides be provided?

No, we do not provide study guides or materials for exemption and placement exams. If you are looking for information about what might be covered on a particular exam, please review the linked course descriptions and syllabi to learn what topics are covered in the associated course(s).

What materials and resources are permitted for these exams?

No outside books or resources are permitted for placement and exemption exams. For any exam where a calculator could be helpful, a calculator will be available within the Respondus lockdown browser itself. No outside calculators are permitted. Exams that require you to work out a math problem or show work generally allow scratch paper. You will simply be asked to show it to your webcam before submitting your exam, or upload a photo/scan of it in a separate "assignment" on the Canvas page. If the exam has specific instructions regarding scratch paper, they will be noted in the exam instructions on Canvas.

What happens if I pass an exam?

Congrats! Passing an exam can place you into a higher, intermediate level of a required course when available, or it can exempt you from the requirement. Exempted courses do not factor into your GPA and do not show on your CMU transcript. Grades/results from exemption exams are not listed on your transcript. Students do not earn units for exempted courses, but can replace those exempted units with additional elective coursework.

What happens if I attempt an exam and don't pass?

No worries! Results from exemption exams are not listed on your CMU transcript and are not factored into your GPA. This simply means that you will still need to complete the requirement for your degree program.

How do I exempt required core courses that do not have an exam scheduled?

For required courses that do not have an exam scheduled, you may petition to request an exemption from a designated staff or faculty member. Get more information about course exemptions. Exemption petitions are available the month prior to the fall semester.

Who can I contact if I need support related to an exemption exam?

If you do not have access to a particular exam that is available to your degree program after the exam window opens (reference schedules above for specific days and times), please contact Heinz-Academic-Services@andrew.cmu.edu.

If you are having difficulty with Respondus lockdown browser or Monitor, please contact Respondus support.

If you have questions or problems once you have started an exam, please use the Canvas inbox to message the teacher of the course. They may not respond to you immediately, depending on the time zone in which you are completing the exam, but they will be monitoring questions and will respond as soon as possible.