nursing pre-requisite question

Motherwisdomdoula · Apr 9, 2009

Hi Dina,

I'm interested in going back to school for nursing ( I have a BA in a non science), and I am hoping to register for some of the prerequisites this summer at FRCC Westminister. I am about to take the biology placement test next week and was wondering if you could tell me how detailed the test is. I have been studying for a couple of weeks now, although a lot the material is new for me. I feel that I could do pretty well. But everyone says how difficult this placement test is. What makes is so difficult? Do you have any tips for preparing for it? I would really appreciate any advice you (or anyone else) could give.

Thanks!

-Danielle

Benedina · Apr 10, 2009

Hi, Danielle. It's a hard question for me to answer because I took the science placement test in January--and now that feels like ancient history! But as best as I can remember:

1. Lots of questions on the actual structures of the cell, down to fairly detailed information. Really know what every label on a diagram of a cell means.

2. Knowing the basic biochemistry of the cell was important; recognizing chemical functional groups by their simplified chemical formulas was important.

3. Knowing the process and phases of cellular metabolism, division, protein production--all that stuff.

4. Knowing the parts and names of a microscope. I can't remember if any other lab equipment was covered? Maybe there were some questions on the scientific process in general?

The topics they describe on their study guide gives a pretty accurate overview, as I remember. If you haven't found that yet, it's available at this link:

http://www.frontrange.edu/FRCCTemplates/FRCC7.aspx?id=1195

All the way through I thought: I'm flunking this. I just wasn't sure of the material, and barely one question was something I could say, aha, I'm POSITIVE I know the answer to that.

But all I needed was a 70? 75? to pass, and I managed--barely--with a 78. The best thing I did for myself was pay to access the Pearson study guide for the course. I went to the FRCC Larimer bookstore, found out what text the on-campus class was using, then went online to find the Pearson study guide for that textbook and purchased access. This wasn't cheap ($90), but it's what I studied pretty intensively before taking the test.

Good luck! If you know this material (I hadn't studied biology in, oh, 25 years) you'll probably do just fine.

Dina