Good basic skills in math, physics, chemistry, and computer science make it easier to have a successful start in a STEM degree program and give students confidence for their upcoming school examinations. The free MINTFIT online tests allow you to quickly and easily determine which areas of math, physics, chemistry, and computer science you should brush up on in order to achieve the best-possible results in your studies or at school.

The MINTFIT math test consists of two separate parts. Basic Skills I includes questions dealing with fractions and exponents, and Basic Skills II tests your skills in more advanced areas such as differential and integral calculus. Each test can be completed in approximately 45–60 minutes. And you do not need any special resources such as a calculator. The problems were developed so that they can and should be able to be solved by doing the calculations on paper and sometimes also in your head. So make sure to have a pencil and paper ready before you start the test!

The MINTFIT chemistry test includes fundamental questions in the skill areas of structure of matter, states of matter, chemical reactions, organic molecules, biomolecules, and polymers. The questions will test your knowledge, your handling of chemical formulas and structures, and your math skills. The subject-specific content is based on topics from the intermediate and advanced levels. Some of the problems will give you an idea of the level typical at higher education institutions. The test takes approximately 45–60 minutes.

The MINTFIT physics test includes fundamental questions in all of the relevant skill areas (e.g., mechanics and electricity). The test takes approximately 60 minutes. And you do not need any special resources such as a calculator. The problems were developed so that they can and should be able to be solved by doing the calculations on paper and sometimes also in your head.

The MINTFIT computer science test includes fundamental questions in all of the relevant skill areas (e.g., logic, programming, and algorithms). All tasks are set in such a way that you can solve them without any previous knowledge of computer science, but just by using logical thinking and a little skill. And you do not need any special resources such as a calculator. You can solve all of the problems by doing the calculations on paper or in your head. The test takes approximately 60 minutes.

After you complete a test, your results and the solutions will be displayed for each skill area. On the “My MINTFIT” page, you will find recommendations as to which skill areas you should review.
It is important that you correctly interpret your results. You may be unable to answer a particular question because you learned the material a long time ago or have never covered it. In any case, if you aren’t satisfied with your test results, you should view this as motivation to fill existing gaps and review specific skill areas.

If you have further questions about the test, look through the answers in the FAQs or send an email to kontakt@mintfit.hamburg.

Who is behind MINTFIT?
MINTFIT is a project of the state STEM higher education institutions in Hamburg (Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, HafenCity University Hamburg, Hamburg University of Technology, and Universität Hamburg) as well as the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and is sponsored by the Behörde für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Gleichstellung (Agency for science and research, BWFGB).

Aim
To support school-age students with their exams and prospective students to have a successful start with their studies.

Background
In the first few semesters, the drop-out rate in the STEM subjects is particularly high. This can naturally have a large number of reasons, but it has been shown again and again that students do not (or no longer) have a firm enough grasp of the basics of math, physics, chemistry, and computer science that they should have learned by Abitur or that they are not able to remember certain things quickly enough.
With the MINTFIT tests in math, physics, chemistry, and computer science, school-age students and prospective students should be able to assess on their own well in advance of their studies whether or not their skills are at a level appropriate to follow and do well in the courses offered in the first semester of a STEM degree program. If the test results show gaps in knowledge, students can fill these by using any of the numerous (MINTFIT) offerings before they start their studies.

Selection of topics and level of difficulty

• Math: The first-semester math courses at the higher education institutions HafenCity University     Hamburg, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg University of Technology, and Universität Hamburg assume that students will have at least the minimum requirements for math as set out by COSH (Cooperation between schools and higher education institutions) in Baden-Württemberg in July 2014. These minimum requirements were jointly developed by teachers from schools and vocational colleges, and by university teaching staff in a process that lasted ten years. As with the Hamburg higher education institutions, many universities and higher education institutions throughout Germany hold to these minimum requirements.
• Physics: There are currently no nationally recognized minimum requirements for the subject of physics. The topics in the MINTFIT test are based on the curricula of the federal states and were developed in coordination with the German Physical Society. The test contains intermediate-level questions.
• Chemistry: There are currently no nationally recognized minimum requirements for the subject of chemistry. The topics in the MINTFIT test are based on the curricula of the federal states. The test contains intermediate-level questions.
• Computer science: There are currently no nationally recognized minimum requirements for the subject of computer science. The topics in the MINTFIT test are based on the curricula of the federal states and the Hamburg higher education institutions HAW, HCU, TUHH, and Universität Hamburg. The test can be solved without any previous knowledge of computer science, but is also challenging for participants who already have experience in the field of computer science.

Testing
The MINTFIT tests were intensively tested in schools and higher education institutions before they were released. The tests were therefore developed in a process that included ongoing testing, multiple optimization rounds, and a positive final assessment by specialists in the field, educators, and several volunteers from the target group.

Distribution
The MINTFIT offering are used throughout Germany. MINTFIT is one of the largest and most popular noncommercial providers of self-assessment tests in Germany.

Data storage
The MINTFIT server is located at the Computer Center at Hamburg University of Technology (Germany). No foreign cloud services or other storage locations are used.

PDFs with information about the MINTFIT online tests (only available in German)
Information about the MINTFIT math test
Information about the MINTFIT physics test
Information about the MINTFIT chemistry test
Information about the MINTFIT computer science test