The Biology Advanced Standing Exam (ASE) is offered twice each year on Registration Day of the fall and spring semesters. The exams will next be offered on Monday, February 1, 2010; Tuesday, September 7, 2010; and Monday, January 31, 2011. The exam time is 9am-12noon.

Please REGISTER HERE if you plan to take the Biology Advanced Standing Exam. The deadlines to register for the Biology Advanced Standing Exam are as follows:

Recommended study materials, problems sets, and exams are available on the Biology course websites for 7.012, 7.013,  and 7.014. A list of common topic areas covered in these courses is available here (pdf).

A passing grade on the advanced standing exam will give you credit for 7.012 Introductory Biology, and will fulfill the Biology General Institute Requirement (GIR).

For all students:  The ASE can be only taken by students who have never registered for or attended 7.012, 7.013, or 7.014.  A student who has failed an ASE may not retake the same exam, but may register for the subject in a subsequent term.

Information for first year students:
For entering freshman who take the exam on Fall Registration Day: if you receive a grade of C or better on the ASE, you will receive the grade P for 7.012. This grade will be posted to your fall term record and will appear on your transcript. If you receive a grade of D or F on the exam, no record will be kept of your non-passing performance.

For freshman who take the exam on Spring Registration Day:  If you receive a grade of C or better on the ASE, you will receive a letter grade (A,B, or C) that will be posted to your spring term record and appear on your transcript.  A non-passing D or F grade will appear on your internal record, but not on your transcript.

Information for students other than first year:
If you are not a first year student, you must complete a petition requesting permission to take the exam. Once completed and signed, please submit your petition to the Schedules Office, 5-111, at least three weeks before the exam date. A grade of A through F will be recorded and will appear on your transcript, but will not be included in the calculation of your term or cumulative GPA.

Additional information on Advanced Standing Exam procedures and grading is available on the Registrar’s website, on Uinfo, and on the Class of 2013 and 2014 website.

Please email bioadvance [at] mit.edu if you have questions.