Exemption by Examination

Exemption by Examination Test

The Exemption by Examination test is intended for students who do not have the required academic background but who believe they have the necessary knowledge for a corequisite or prerequisite to a program offered through Career and Professional Development (CPD). Please note that the Exemption by Examination test is not applicable to required or complementary course(s) within a program. The test is optional.

• Students who pass the Exemption by Examination test will not have to take the prerequisite or corequisite course for which the test was taken.
• The passing grade for an undergraduate Exemption by Examination test is 55%*.
• The passing grade for a graduate Exemption by Examination test is 65%*.
• Students who fail the test will not be permitted to retake it and must enroll in the course, or be obliged to take the pre-requisite of the course if deemed necessary.
• There are no re-reads.
• Students are not eligible to take an Exemption by Examination test if they have previously completed the course and did not receive a passing grade* for it. In this case, students are required to retake the course again.

If a student has completed an equivalent credit course at an accredited educational institution within the last five years, he/she may request Advanced Standing. Advanced Standing is only considered for students who have applied and/or have been admitted to a CPD program.  For more information, see Advanced Standing.

How to Request an Exemption by Examination

Students need to complete the Exemption by Examination form and submit it to Client Services at the School of Continuing Studies at least two weeks prior to the test dates.

Exemption by Examination Form – Undergraduate [pdf]

Exemption by Examination Form – Graduate [pdf]

• Include a copy of one piece of photo ID with the application (e.g., valid passport, Medicare card, driver’s license, citizenship card, permanent resident card or McGill ID card).
• Pay a non-refundable $100 application fee.

After we have received your request and payment, you will receive an email acknowledgement and further instructions detailing the time and location of your exam.

Taking an Exemption by Examination Test

Exemption by Examination Schedule

Below is a list of courses for which you can take an Exemption by Examination test, as well as the scheduled test dates. Please note that the School reserves the right to re-schedule Exemption by Examination tests at any time.

Undergraduate Level Courses:

Graduate Level Courses:

Advanced Standing

If you are seeking advanced standing in your program, you will need to submit a Credit/Exemption Request Form (Request for Advanced Standing) along with all required supporting documents.
For more information, see Advanced Standing.