# Advanced Standing Exam

**Source**: https://biology.mit.edu/undergraduate/major-minor-requirements/advanced-standing-exam/
**Parent**: https://biology.mit.edu/

With a passing grade on the Advanced Standing Exam (ASE), you will receive credit for [7.012 Introductory Biology](http://student.mit.edu/catalog/m7a.html) and will fulfill the . The ASE is offered twice each year: once before the beginning of fall semester and once before the beginning of spring semester. The ASE is offered only for the Biology GIR and not for any other biology courses.

The ASE is intended for first-year students. However, you [may petition](#returning_students) to take the ASE after your first year if you have never registered for or attended a 7.01x class, and if you have never attended the exam before.

## Receiving credit

### First-year students

If you take the ASE July/August and receive a grade of C or better, you will receive the grade P for 7.012. This grade will be posted to your fall term record and will appear on your transcript. If you receive a grade of D or F on the exam, no record will be kept of your non-passing performance.

If you take the ASE January/February and receive a grade of C or better, you will receive a letter grade (A, B, or C) that will be posted to your spring term record and appear on your transcript. A non-passing D or F grade will appear on your internal record but not on your transcript. First year students must submit a [signed petition](https://registrar.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2021-09/ase_petition.pdf) to the Registrar’s office requesting permission to take the January/February ASE at least three weeks before the exam date (email [bioadvance@mit.edu](mailto:bioadvance@mit.edu) to request a department signature for the petition). [Learn More](https://registrar.mit.edu/classes-grades-evaluations/grades/grading-policies/advanced-standing-exam-grades).

### Returning students

Returning students must submit a [signed petition](https://registrar.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2021-09/ase_petition.pdf) to the Registrar’s office requesting permission to take the ASE at least three weeks before the exam date (email [bioadvance@mit.edu](mailto:bioadvance@mit.edu) to request a department signature for the petition). If you take an ASE past the fall of your first year, you will receive a letter grade. The letter grade of A through F will be recorded and will appear on your transcript but will not be included in the calculation of your term or cumulative GPA.

### Transfer students

Transfer students who did not take Introductory Biology at their previous university and who wish to take the ASE may do so. If you choose to take the ASE during orientation you do not need to petition. A petition will be required to take the ASE after your first semester at MIT. A letter grade of A through F will be recorded and will appear on your transcript but will not be included in the calculation of your term or cumulative GPA.

Transfer students who have taken Biology courses at their previous university can seek [transfer credit](https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/ap-transfer-credit/transfer-credit/). You may be required to pass the GIR Validation Exam in order to receive Bio GIR credit. .

## Registering for the ASE

Incoming first-year students are required to register using the ASE registration form for the fall exam (found on the [first year website](https://firstyear.mit.edu/)), or to submit a [petition](https://registrar.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2021-09/ase_petition.pdf) and register using [this online form](https://goo.gl/BosygJ) for the spring exam. Upperclassmen are required to submit a [petition](https://registrar.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2021-09/ase_petition.pdf) and to register using [this online form](https://goo.gl/BosygJ).

| Exam Date | Registration Deadline |
| --- | --- |
| January 29, 2025  1:00-4:00PM **(on campus only)** | **First Years\***: Register by January 10, 5 p.m.  **Upperclassmen\***: Register by January 10, 5 p.m. |
| **August 1, 2025** 1:00-4:00PM | **First Years**: Register by July 11, 5 p.m.  **Upperclassmen\***: Register by July 10, 5 p.m. |
| January 28, 2026  *(on campus only)* | **First Year**:\* Register by January 9, 5 p.m.  **Upperclassmen\***: Register by January 9, 5 p.m. |

\* [By petition only](#returning_students)

## Exam content

The ASE is a mix of multiple choice, check box, text response, and longer response answers. You will have three hours to take the exam. The content of the exam is largely focused on core material covered in all 7.01X classes, including:\

### Biochemistry

- Macromolecules: nucleic acid; protein, lipid, carbohydrates
- Bonds and forces
- Cellular energy generation and usage
- Enzymes and kinetics

### Cell Biology

- Basic cell structure
- Cell cycle
- Viruses

### Genetics

- Basic Mendelian genetics
- Basic bacterial genetics
- Mapping and linkage
- Genomics

### Molecular Biology and Techniques

- Central Dogma
- Gene expression
- DNA structure/function
- Cloning of a gene: cutting and pasting DNA; vectors and plasmids; transformation/selection/screening of positive clones
- DNA sequencing

### Other Possible Topics

- Immunology
- Molecular evolution

### Study materials

Recommended study materials, problem sets, and past exams are available online:

- [MIT Introduction to Biology online course](https://bit.ly/700xBio)
- [7.016 (Introductory Biology) from MIT OpenCourseWare](https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/biology/7-016-introductory-biology-fall-2018/)
- [Video lectures from MIT OpenCourseWare 7.01SC](https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/biology/7-01sc-fundamentals-of-biology-fall-2011/)

## Additional information

You can find additional information about the ASEs at MIT on the [Registrar’s website](https://registrar.mit.edu/classes-grades-evaluations/examinations/advanced-standing-examinations) and on the [First-Year website](https://firstyear.mit.edu/), or learn about study materials available online through the [MIT Learn](https://bit.ly/MITLearn) site. If you have questions or concerns, contact [bioadvance@mit.edu](mailto:bioadvance@mit.edu).