Does Simon Fraser University accept Chemistry HL?

💡Expert's Take

“FAST-TRACK CREDIT — YOU CAN START ORGO, BUT MECHANISMS MATTER

The Good News: SFU grants CHEM 121 (4) + CHEM 122 (2) for IB Chemistry HL (Diploma 4+, Certificate 5+).

• The Value: That's 6 units of credit covering General Chemistry I & II. • The Unlock: You meet the prerequisites to jump straight into CHEM 281 (Organic Chemistry I).

The Reality Check:

• The Academic Shift: Organic Chemistry is less about calculation and more about reasoning through electron movement. If you relied on memorization in IB, you will struggle. ◦ Key Concepts: You need to master Resonance, Hybridization, and Curved-Arrow Mechanisms. • The Lab Context: ◦ You receive credit for Lab I (included in CHEM 121), but you didn't experience SFU's specific lab workflow. ◦ You do not receive credit for Lab II (CHEM 126). ◦ CHEM 281 has its own rigorous lab component, so be ready to adapt quickly to university standards.

Strategic Advice:

• For Chemistry Majors: Watch out. While you can start CHEM 281, you will eventually need CHEM 126 as a prerequisite for upper-year labs (like CHEM 216 or 236W). This transfer credit does not cover it. • For Bio/Kinesiology/Health Sci: Check your degree plan. Many of these programs do not require CHEM 126, meaning this transfer credit efficiently clears your chemistry requirements.

Verdict: Take the credit. But spend the summer reviewing Topic 10/20 (Organics)—specifically nucleophiles vs. electrophiles—so CHEM 281 feels like a step forward, not a cliff.”