Advanced Placement Exams | International Baccalaureate Programme Exams | British A-Level Exams
Advanced Placement Exams
Students who request college credit or fulfillment of College requirements for Advanced Placement (AP) examinations taken in high school are asked to submit an official report of their scores on the AP tests given by the College Entrance Examination Board (i.e., CollegeBoard) during the summer prior to their enrollment in the College for evaluation. Once AP Scores are received and processed from the College Board, the corresponding credit will appear on the student's record. Individual AP Examinations and their corresponding scores do not appear on the official transcript. Total test credit earned will appear on the transcript.
While AP scores are sometimes used to establish placement or confer credit, satisfactory performance on the College’s own placement tests may supplement AP scores in determining proper placement to begin study. Please see Placement Exams for more information.
The following chart shows how AP credit is automatically awarded. For further information on how credit may be used toward individual degree programs, a student should consult their Academic Adviser. See elsewhere in the Catalog for more information on how AP credit may be used to meet Core, major, or minor requirements.
Students may earn any amount of credit from AP/IB/British A-Level, placement, or accreditation examinations. However, for students matriculating in Autumn 2017 or later, at least 3800 units must be earned through course enrollment to meet degree requirements. Students who enrolled prior to Autumn 2017 should consult the catalog of their year of entry for policies regarding the use of AP and examination credit, or speak to their Academic Adviser.
Credit, placement, or fulfillment of degree milestones is not granted for the following AP exams: Computer Science A, Computer Science Principles, Human Geography, Physics 1: Algebra-Based, Physics 2: Algebra-Based, Precalculus, Psychology, Research, or Seminar.
| AP Exam | Score | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| African American Studies | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| Art History | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| Biology | 4 or 5 | BIOS 10130+ |
| Calculus AB | 5 | MATH 15100 placement |
| Calculus BC | 4 or 5 | MATH 15200 placement† |
| Chemistry | 5 | CHEM 11100* |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | Satisfies the Language Competency Requirement |
| Drawing | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| Economics: Micro AND Macro (combined) | 5 on each | 100 units general elective credit |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| Environmental Science | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| European History | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | Satisfies the Language Competency Requirement |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | Satisfies the Language Competency Requirement |
| Government and Politics: Comparative AND United States (combined) | 5 on each | 100 units general elective credit |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | Satisfies the Language Competency Requirement |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | Satisfies the Language Competency Requirement |
| Latin | 5 | Satisfies the Language Competency Requirement^ |
| Music Theory | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 5 | PHYS 12100‡ |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 5 | PHYS 12200‡ |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | Satisfies the Language Competency Requirement |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | Satisfies the Language Competency Requirement |
| Statistics | 5 | STAT 22000++ |
| United States History | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| World History: Modern | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| 2-D Art and Design | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| 3-D Art and Design | 5 | 100 units general elective credit |
| + | AP Biology: Students who earn a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Biology exam and opt to complete the “Advanced Biology Fundamentals” sequence (BIOS 20234 Molecular Biology of the Cell, BIOS 20235 Biological Systems and BIOS 20236 Biological Dynamics) are awarded an additional 100 units of examination credit after successful completion of all three courses to meet the general education requirement. |
| † | AP Calculus BC: Students who earn a score of 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam will also receive an invitation to register for MATH 16100 Honors Calculus I/MATH 16110 Honors Calculus I (IBL) or MATH 18300 Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences I, though completion of the Mathematics Placement Exam prior to matriculation is also required to confirm this placement. |
| * | AP Chemistry: The Chemistry Placement Exam is required for those seeking further study in Chemistry. For further detail on AP Chemistry exam credit and options on continued study in Chemistry, please see the Chemistry Program of Study Page. |
| ^ | AP Latin: If the AP Latin exam was taken prior to 2013, a score of 5 on either the Literature or Vergil variation of the exam will result in satisfaction of the Language Competency Requirement. |
| ‡ | AP Physics C: Students wishing to apply AP credits for "Physics C: Mechanics" or "Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism" toward the physical sciences general education requirement should plan to complete the requirement with an appropriate course from PHYS 12100-12200 General Physics I-II. Students who complete a corresponding Physics introductory course on campus (PHYS 13100 Mechanics/PHYS 14100 Honors Mechanics for PHYS 12100 or PHYS 13200 Electricity and Magnetism/PHYS 14200 Honors Electricity and Magnetism for PHYS 12200) will forego the AP Credit. |
| ++ | AP Statistics: Will count for general education mathematics credit. May not be used to meet requirements for the statistics major or minor. Students who register and obtain credit for STAT 20000 Elementary Statistics, STAT 22000 Statistical Methods and Applications, or STAT 23400 Statistical Models and Methods forgo AP credit for STAT 22000 Statistical Methods and Applications. |
International Baccalaureate Programme Exams
Students who request college credit or fulfillment of College requirements for International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations taken in high school are asked to submit an official report of their scores on the IB tests given by the International Baccalaureate (i.e., the IB) during the summer prior to their enrollment in the College for evaluation. Once IB Scores are received and processed from the International Baccalaureate, the corresponding credit will appear on the student's record. Individual IB Examinations and their corresponding scores do not appear on the official transcript. Total test credit earned will appear on the transcript.
While IB scores are sometimes used to establish placement or confer credit, satisfactory performance on the College’s own placement tests may supplement IB scores in determining proper placement to begin study. Please see Placement Exams for more information.
The following chart shows how IB credit is automatically awarded. For further information on how credit may be used toward individual degree programs, a student should consult their Academic Adviser. See elsewhere in the Catalog for more information on how IB credit may be used to meet Core, major, or minor requirements.
Students may earn any amount of credit from AP/IB/British A-Level, placement, or accreditation examinations. However, for students matriculating in Autumn 2017 or later, at least 3800 units must be earned through course enrollment to meet degree requirements. Students who enrolled prior to Autumn 2017 should consult the catalog of their year of entry for policies regarding the use of IB and examination credit, or speak to their Academic Adviser.
Credit will not be granted for other IB exams not listed in the table below.
| IB Examination | Level | Score | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | Higher Level | 7 | BIOS 10130 |
| Calculus | Higher Level | 7 | MATH 15200 placement~ |
| English | Higher Level | 7 | 100 units general elective credit |
| Languages other than English | Standard or Higher Level | 5, 6, or 7 | Satisfies the Language Competency Requirement |
| ~ | Students who earn a score of 7 on the Higher-Level Calculus exam will also receive an invitation to register for MATH 16100 Honors Calculus I/MATH 16110 Honors Calculus I (IBL) or MATH 18300 Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences I, though completion of the Mathematics Placement Exam prior to matriculation is also required to confirm this placement. |
| ± | IB Biology: Students who earn a score of 7 on the IB Biology exam and opt to complete the “Advanced Biology Fundamentals” sequence (BIOS 20234 Molecular Biology of the Cell, BIOS 20235 Biological Systems and BIOS 20236 Biological Dynamics) are awarded an additional 100 units of examination credit after successful completion of all three courses to meet the general education requirement. |
British A-Level Exams
Students who request college credit or fulfillment of College requirements for A-Level examinations taken in high school are asked to submit an official report of their scores on the A-Level tests given by Cambridge International or another qualified examining board during the summer prior to their enrollment in the College for evaluation. Once A-Level Scores are received and processed from the examining board, the corresponding credit will appear on the student's record. Individual A-Level Examinations and their corresponding scores do not appear on the official transcript. Total test credit earned will appear on the transcript.
While A-Level scores are sometimes used to establish placement or confer credit, satisfactory performance on the College’s own placement exams may supplement A-Level scores in determining proper placement to begin study.
The following chart shows how A-Level credit is automatically awarded. For further information on how credit may be used toward individual degree programs, a student should consult their Academic Adviser. See elsewhere in the Catalog for more information on how A-Level credit may be used to meet Core, major, or minor requirements.
Students may earn any amount of credit from AP/IB/British A-Level, placement, or accreditation examinations. However, for students matriculating in Autumn 2017 or later, at least 3800 units must be earned through course enrollment to meet degree requirements. Students who enrolled prior to Autumn 2017 should consult the catalog of their year of entry for policies regarding the use of AP and examination credit, or speak to their Academic Adviser.
Credit, placement, or fulfillment of degree milestones is not granted for the following A-Level exams: Chemistry, Mathematics, Mathematics-Further, or Physics. To request consideration of other A-Level examination results for credit, placement, or fulfillment of degree milestones, students should submit a General Petition to the College Academic and Student Services Office at mailto:casso@uchicago.edu. Credit will only be awarded for scores of A or A* and with an approved petition. No credit will be awarded for the Core requirements in Humanities, Civilization Studies, or Social Sciences.
| A-Level Exam | Score | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | A or A* | BIOS 10130# |
| # | A-Level Biology: Students who earn a score of A or A* on the A-Level Biology exam and opt to complete the “Advanced Biology Fundamentals” sequence (BIOS 20234 Molecular Biology of the Cell, BIOS 20235 Biological Systems and BIOS 20236 Biological Dynamics) are awarded an additional 100 units of examination credit after successful completion of all three courses to meet the general education requirement. |