Waiver Exams

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Students who have not received transfer credit or advanced credit, but believe their preparation in high school is substantially equivalent to MATH-1350: Calculus I, MATH-1360: Calculus II, MATH-2250: Linear Algebra, or MATH-2370: Multivariable Calculus may place out of these courses by taking the corresponding departmental Waiver Exam. Students who pass a Waiver Exam will receive a course waiver and may register for more advanced courses. However, course credit is not awarded for passing a Waiver Exam.

Each Waiver Exam is a handwritten two-hour exam. Students interested in taking a waiver exam should read our FAQs below before registering for it.

Waiver Exam FAQs

How often are the waiver exams administered?

They are administered once a year. 

When are the waiver exams administered?

They are administered in the run-up to the fall semester. In AY25-26, they will take place on Friday, August 22, 2025, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM and on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM.

Where will the waiver exams be administered?

In AY25-26, the waiver exams will be administered in REISS 262.

How many waiver exams can I take on each day?

You can take at most one waiver exam on each day. Since there are two different days (see above) when the exams are administered, you can take at most two waiver exams.

Can I use a calculator during the waiver exam?

No. Calculators are not allowed on any waiver exam.

If I take a waiver exam and do not pass it, can I take it again the following year?

No. You can take a waiver exam only once.

Are the problems on the waiver exams multiple-choice?

No. They are short-answer/free-response problems, with partial credit possible.

What is considered a passing score?

A score of 75% or higher is considered a passing score.

Are there past waiver exams I can use to study?

No. We do not share waiver exams from previous years.

If I pass the Calculus II Waiver Exam, do I place out of Calculus I as well?

Yes. If you pass the Calculus II Waiver Exam, you will not have to take the Calculus I Waiver Exam. If you’re hoping to place out of Calculus I and Calculus II, we recommend that you take the Calculus II Waiver Exam first. If you do not pass it, then you can take the Calculus I Waiver Exam during the next waiver exam day (that is, four days later). Make sure you register for both exams.

If I pass the Multivariable Calculus Waiver Exam, do I place out of Calculus II as well?

No. Passing the Multivariable Calculus Waiver Exam will not place you out of Calculus II. Passing the Multivariable Calculus Waiver Exam will allow you to take courses that have Multivariable Calculus as a prerequisite. However, there are many courses that have Calculus II as a prerequisite, and you will not be able to take such courses unless you pass the Calculus II Waiver Exam or take a Calculus II course.

What topics should I study for the waiver exams?

The topics that appear on a waiver exam are the topics that are covered in the corresponding course at Georgetown.

Calculus I –  It covers calculus of single variable functions. Topics include limits, continuity, derivatives, Mean Value Theorem, applications of the derivative, L’Hôpital’s Rule, antiderivatives, Riemann sums, the indefinite and definite integral, basic techniques of integration, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. In this course, students review and extend their knowledge of the exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions.

Calculus II – This is the second-half of the calculus of single variable functions. Topics include techniques of integration, applications of the definite integral, improper integrals, sequences and series (including Taylor’s theorem and power series), and polar and parametric curves.

Multivariable Calculus – This is a first course in differential and integral calculus of functions of several variables. Topics include vectors and the geometry of space (vectors in the plane, vectors in three dimensions, dot products, cross products, lines and planes in space, and cylinders and quadric surfaces), vector-valued functions (calculus of vector-valued functions, length of curves, and curvature and normal vectors), functions of several variables (limits and continuity, partial derivatives, the chain rule, directional derivatives and the gradient, tangent planes and linear approximation, maximum/minimum problems, and Lagrange multipliers), multiple integration (double integrals, triple integrals, and change of variables in multiple integrals), and vector calculus (line integrals, Green’s Theorem, divergence and curl, surface integrals, Stoke’s Theorem, and Divergence Theorem).

Linear Algebra – Topics include matrices and systems of linear equations; vector spaces, bases, and dimension; linear transformations, kernel, image, matrix representation, basis change, and rank; scalar products and orthogonality; determinants, inverse matrices; eigenvalues, eigenvectors, diagonalization of symmetric matrices, positive definite matrices, spectral theorem for Hermitian matrices; linear discrete dynamical systems via matrix iteration.

Is it possible to request special accommodations?

There is a process in place to request academic accommodations on the basis of disability. Students must submit a request through the Academic Resource Center’s (ARC) online portal. We recommend beginning this process in July to take the exam in August. If the student’s accommodation request is approved, the ARC will provide documentation for the student.

When is the last day to register for a waiver exam?

For AY25-26, the last day to register for the waiver exams is August 19, 2025.

How do I register for a waiver exam?

Click the link below and complete the form.

What happens after I register for a waiver exam?

Two days before the waiver exam, you will get an exam reminder from our Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). 

What should I do if I have a question that was not answered above?

If you have a question that was not addressed above, please contact our DUS at erblin.mehmetaj@georgetown.edu.