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Ever wondered if you could have gotten into Columbia University in the 1890s?🤔
Back then, hopeful students faced grueling entrance exams that tested everything. From Latin translation and classical mythology to algebra, chemistry, and history.🧐There were no calculators, no internet, and no second chances.🚫
This quiz is inspired by the actual Columbia College Admission Exam of 1890 – adapted for modern readers. Each question reflects the academic expectations of the era – the kind that once decided who got into the world’s top institutions.🎓
Think you could make the cut? Let’s find out!
🚀 💡 Want more or looking for something else? Head over to the Bored Panda Quizzes and explore our full collection of quizzes and trivia designed to test your knowledge, reveal hidden insights, and spark your curiosity.💡 🚀
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| User | Result | Reward |
|---|---|---|
  | / 30 | |
| | / 30 | |
Trivia Top Performers
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What do you think ?
Summer Flees 3 weeks ago
#27 - I also picked 4 and realized that -4 x -4 =16 as well as 4 x 4 = 16
FoxThatHasFennecaphobia 3 weeks ago (edited)
Sure, that is true, but if they wanted to be like that, then they could include all numbers that work. For example, -4i works as well in the problem, but they didn't include it.
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Susan Betz 3 weeks ago
"You’d probably have been offered a scholarship at the turn of the century. Your mix of logic, language, and scientific reasoning shows real academic range. If you ever find a time machine, you’ve already passed your entrance exam!👍" Except, yanno, I have the wrong equipment in my pants.
Brian Droste 3 weeks ago
Got 19/30. I did what I expected I would. A few I guessed and got right. There were a few I didn't get right that I should have. So every thing evened out or maybe should done slightly better than I did.
BrunoVI 4 weeks ago
Is this REALLY the Columbia University entrance exam? Because the "first" president to face the impeachment process would've been the only one. It's not as bad as seeing a reference to World War One in the 20s, as it wouldn't've been unthinkable to presume a second, but it seems unlikely.
Nicky 4 weeks ago
BP said the exam was modernized to accommodate a contemp0orary audience.
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Diane Blackmore 2 weeks ago
1890 my a**e - one of the questions referred to the United Nations which wasn't even a thing until after World War II 60-ish years later.
Diane Blackmore 2 weeks ago
1890 my a**e - one of the questions refers to the United Nations which wasn't even a thing until after World War II.
FoxThatHasFennecaphobia 3 weeks ago
#27 is correct, -4^2 is still 16. ± means + or -, so in this context it meant that both +4 and -4 work. Although being correct the question is still rather stupid, as there are more numbers that work to replace x in x^2-16=0. (-4i works for example, but I don't think imaginary numbers were used that much yet in 1890)
Load More Replies... Summer Flees 3 weeks ago
#27 - I also picked 4 and realized that -4 x -4 =16 as well as 4 x 4 = 16
FoxThatHasFennecaphobia 3 weeks ago (edited)
Sure, that is true, but if they wanted to be like that, then they could include all numbers that work. For example, -4i works as well in the problem, but they didn't include it.
Load More Replies... Susan Betz 3 weeks ago
"You’d probably have been offered a scholarship at the turn of the century. Your mix of logic, language, and scientific reasoning shows real academic range. If you ever find a time machine, you’ve already passed your entrance exam!👍" Except, yanno, I have the wrong equipment in my pants.
Brian Droste 3 weeks ago
Got 19/30. I did what I expected I would. A few I guessed and got right. There were a few I didn't get right that I should have. So every thing evened out or maybe should done slightly better than I did.
BrunoVI 4 weeks ago
Is this REALLY the Columbia University entrance exam? Because the "first" president to face the impeachment process would've been the only one. It's not as bad as seeing a reference to World War One in the 20s, as it wouldn't've been unthinkable to presume a second, but it seems unlikely.
Nicky 4 weeks ago
BP said the exam was modernized to accommodate a contemp0orary audience.
Load More Replies... Diane Blackmore 2 weeks ago
1890 my a**e - one of the questions referred to the United Nations which wasn't even a thing until after World War II 60-ish years later.
Diane Blackmore 2 weeks ago
1890 my a**e - one of the questions refers to the United Nations which wasn't even a thing until after World War II.
FoxThatHasFennecaphobia 3 weeks ago
#27 is correct, -4^2 is still 16. ± means + or -, so in this context it meant that both +4 and -4 work. Although being correct the question is still rather stupid, as there are more numbers that work to replace x in x^2-16=0. (-4i works for example, but I don't think imaginary numbers were used that much yet in 1890)
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