STAT 107 / CS 107 / IS 107 Proficiency Exam

(The Department of Statistics is the unit handling the administration of the STAT 107 / CS 107 / IS 107 proficiency exam. The below policies for this exam are were initially adapted from the Computer Science proficiency exam policies.)

If you have already mastered the material covered in DISCOVERY and are enrolled at the University of Illinois as a student, you may receive credit and satisfy prerequisites by taking a proficiency exam. Proficiency exams are given ONLY at the start of the Fall and Spring semesters.

  • In Fall 2024, the dates of the proficiency are: Friday, August 23 - Thursday, August 29
  • (Spring 2025 exam dates and registration will be available in November, around Fall Break)

It is best to take the exam at the earliest date that works for you, so that you can easily rework your class schedule and get caught up if you pass the exam. The exam is autograded, so you will know immediately after you take it whether you have demonstrated proficiency at a level to earn proficiency credit.

Exam Format

The proficiency exam is similar in coverage and scope to a comprehensive final exam and is 170 minutes long (2 hours, 50 minutes). The exam is intended to ensure that you are well-prepared for later courses in the Data Science sequence. You are not allowed to bring anything into the exam, but you will be provided with an in-browser Python environment and a PDF of the pandas "Cheat Sheet".

You will take the exam in the Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF), a secure, computer-based testing environment. You will have access to a computer, but that computer does not have access to the Internet except for access to our exam.

To earn proficiency credit, you must earn at least a B- (80% or above) on the proficiency exam. Scores below 80% will not earn you any proficiency credit.

Disability Accommodations

If you have an accommodation letter from the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES), please follow the instructions on the CBTF FAQ page to submit your letter to the CBTF. Do that now, since they need 5 business days to process the letter and set up your accommodations.

If you need disability-related accommodations and do not yet have a DRES letter, contact DRES as soon as possible to start the process of getting an official letter.

Restrictions

In certain cases you may not be eligible to take a proficiency exam. You are responsible for understanding these conditions. We will not attempt to determine whether you are eligible to take a proficiency exam before you take it. If you are ineligible, you will not receive credit.

Review the Student Code, Section 3-203: Proficiency Examinations for full details on eligibility. Here are specifics on how this policy applies to the STAT/CS/IS 107:

  1. You may only take the proficiency exam once in a 12-month period. You may attempt the proficiency exam a maximum of two times. If you attempt the exam for your second time before the year is up, your result will not be counted and you will have used up both attempts. For example, if you attempt the exam at the beginning of the Fall semester, you must wait until the following Fall semester for your second eligible attempt.
  2. You may not take the proficiency exam if you have already received a grade in STAT/CS/IS 107. This is true even if it was a failing grade. You cannot use the proficiency exam for a grade replacement.
  3. You may not take the proficiency exam in STAT 107 if you have already received credit for a course that follows later in its sequence, e.g. STAT 207, CS 307.
  4. Graduate students may only take a proficiency exam when required to satisfy another degree program on our campus and an academic advisor has given you special permission to take the exam.

Study Resources

The exam will cover all 43 modules on DISCOVERY. In addition to the content on DISCOVERY, you can take practice proficiency exams on Mastery Platform to both study and get familiar with the platform you will take your exam on.

Register for the Proficiency Exam

To register for the proficiency exam:

  1. Using your Illinois NetID login, register on our PrairieTest proficiency exam registration page
  2. Make sure to note the time and location of your exam. You will NOT be given any reminders about this exam. Your registration on PrairieTest confirms your registration for the exam.
  3. You must arrive on time and bring your University of Illinois ID to the proficiency exam. If you show up late or without proper identification, you will not be able to complete the exam.
  4. Review the CBTF Proficiency Exams page for their policies, procedures, and FAQ.

After Exam

As noted above, you will be able to immediately view your proficiency exam score when you complete the exam while in the CBTF. An official summary of the result will be sent via email after the proficiency exam window has closed. It may take several weeks for proficiency credit to appear on your official transcript. However, you can adjust your semester schedule right away. Only passing results will appear on your transcript.

Contact / Further Questions

For questions about the proficiency exam policies, contact the Department of Statistics at stat-undergrad@illinois.edu. For questions about the content on the exam or in the course, find the contact information in the current DISCOVERY syllabus.