Could You Have Gotten into Cornell in the 19th Century?

Try your hand at our (very much abbreviated) version of a University entrance examination!

And check out our story on Cornell entrance exams of yesteryear!

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: VERY HARD

Students take final exams in Barton Hall

With the aim of letting modern readers experience what it was like to take Cornell entrance exams in the late 1800s, we’ve approximated 10 questions—albeit in much-simplified form—with this multiple-choice quiz.

(If you don’t do well, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone.)

Published November 9, 2022


Comments

  1. Pat Evans, Class of 1968

    100% for the class of ‘68!

  2. Nancy Harvey, Class of 1968

    Is 70 passing ?

  3. Mario Villanueva, Class of 1998

    6 out of 10…my usual percentage of Engineering prelim scores while at Cornell.

  4. Jon Poe (representing), Class of 1982

    Classis anni 1982 congruit cum anno 1968. Gratias tibi ago quod in spectaculo fuisti!

  5. Steve Sauter, Class of 1975

    I deficit.

  6. Perry Jacobs, Class of 1974

    Need a safety school.

  7. Robert Meller, Class of 1973

    9/10, credited to a good science education, good luck, and a decent BS detector.

  8. Athena, Class of 2001

    Hmmm…equally shocked and impressed 6 out of 10…ahh the memories. Cornell will always keep you on your toes.

  9. Rose, Class of 1985

    8/10. Go CALS!

  10. Mitchell, Class of 1977

    6/10
    is this test curved?
    how much does it count for our final grade?

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