Summer Placement Exams for Incoming Students

Dear <<First Name>>,

Harvard College placement exams for the incoming Class of 2027 will take place this summer. You do not need to study for these exams. All fields of study are open to all students at Harvard, and your placement exam results will help you determine where you should start on the path to your academic goals.

Placement Exam Dates

06.02 - 06.15

Required:

Writing & Math

06.22 - 09.05

Recommended:

Languages, Biology, Chemistry

08.28 - 09.05

Optional:

Music Theory

View Full Exam Schedule and Access Exams

If you were admitted to the Class of 2026 and took a gap year, it is not necessary for you to retake any placement exams that you took in the summer of 2022. However, if you feel it would be helpful to retake either the math exam or a language exam, you may do so.
Your placement exam results and recommendations will be available in myHarvard in mid-July.

Plan for the Exams

What you need to do:

Read and follow the placement exam guidance for technology set-up.
Activate your HarvardKey, email account, and two-step verification before your exams.
If you need accommodations for placement exams due to a documented disability, contact the Disability Access Office at dao@fas.harvard.edu. If you have already registered with DAO, you will receive an invitation this week to schedule a meeting with your DAO advisor to discuss how you are impacted and determine reasonable accommodations.

For more information and resources, visit the Placement Exams website. You can also email placement-help@fas.harvard.edu.

Action Steps Before the Exams

In July, the College will host two live webinars to help prepare you for your academic journey. The webinars will cover many topics including the College curriculum, academic tools for course selection, and academic and support resources available to all.

How to Harvard Series

How to Harvard: Choosing Your Courses

Friday, July 14

How to Harvard: Doing Your Coursework

Friday, July 28

In August, you will be matched with a First-Year Advisor and Peer Advising Fellow who will meet with you regularly throughout the year and assist you in the course selection process. The course registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, August 31, so you will have plenty of time to engage with all of these resources before finalizing your fall term schedule.