Computer Science Placement

About the Exam

The Place Into “Introduction to Computer and Data Science” Exam at NYU Shanghai is offered once a semester before the first day of the fall and spring semesters. Students can take the exam in-person and no make-up tests will be offered.

The beginner-level Computer Science course, CSCI-SHU 11 Introduction to Computer Programming (ICP), is designed for students with no prior computer programming experience.

If you have a programming background, you can take the Place Into “Introduction to Computer and Data Science” Exam to enroll directly in the next level course -- CSCI-SHU 101 Introduction to Computer and Data Science (ICDS). 

Students can sign up for the placement exam twice but are eligible to take the exam once only. Students who have taken ICP, whether they passed or failed are not allowed to take the placement exam.

Place Into “Introduction to Computer and Data Science” Exam
RSVP by noon CST, August 29, 2024

Exam Location: In-person, New Bund Campus
Exam Date & Time: 3:00 PM CST, Sunday, September 1, 2024
Step 1: Students planning to take the placement exam should have a solid and deep understanding of the first nine chapters of Starting Out with Python (5th Global Edition, Tony Gaddis). Prepare by practicing every problem printed in the first nine chapters of this textbook.
Step 2: Review the sample syllabi for CSCI-SHU 11 Introduction to Programming and syllabi for CSCI-SHU 101 Introduction to Computer and Data Science.
Step 3: Take the sample Place Into Introduction to Computer and Data Science exam. If you are able to complete and pass the sample test in 40 minutes, you should sign up for the placement exam. If not, you are probably not ready for the placement exam.
Step 4: After signing up the placement exam, you will be emailed a link to complete an online test that will assess readiness to sit for the placement exam. If you score less than 60% on the online quiz, you should not take the placement test, and should instead enroll in CSCI-SHU 11 Introduction to Programming.

Placement Exams for Computer Science Courses in New York

Placement exams are required for Computer Science Courses in New York. Here is the New York sample placement exam. Below is the course list and placement exams information:

  • CSCI-UA 2 Introduction to Programming
  • CSCI-UA 101 Introduction to Computer Science
  • CSCI-UA 102 Data Structures (Students from Shanghai who take CSCI-SHU 101 Intro to Computer and Data Science will be required to pass a placement exam before enrolling in CSCI-UA 102 Data Structures due to differences in programming language taught in the courses at each campus. This placement test is in Java.)
  • CSCI-UA 4 Web Design Placement

Students who are currently in New York or plan to continue to be in New York should contact Romeo Kumar (kumar@cims.nyu.edu) in the CAS Department of Computer Science to arrange a time to take the test. Students can take the exam any day of the week before 2:30 PM EST.

Students who are currently in Shanghai and plan to be in New York next semester can reach out to Yu Shen (ys88@nyu.edu) for detailed information.

Computer Science Exam FAQs

How many times can I take the Place Into Introduction to Programming Exam?

Students are allowed one attempt at the exam. If you do not pass the exam, you must enroll in CSCI-SHU 11 Introduction to Programming.