Yes, taking a remedial class will take a little time – not all that much. Taking a class you aren’t academically ready for and failing it will take even more time.

Think of diagnostics tests as good – they make sure you know what you need to know. And they don’t always result in remedial placement, sometimes they result in advanced placement.

There is no pass-fail because they are level based. Consider math for example. A diagnostic would determine whether you know geometry, algebra, calculus, business math, trig. etc… If you know some but not others then you need to take the others. If you know algebra and geometry already then you can start with calc or trig. If you’re not so hot at math you might need to start with algebra. It’s not pass-fail, it’s “what do you know already”

Relax – this isn’t an “urgent help” sort of educational issue. If you want in a pre-med then you better get almost all A grades – that’s means not taking any class until you’re ready for that material. This isn’t High School, professors won’t wait for you to catch up with the class. ☺