Exam Credit
Eligible exams
The University of California awards unit credits for designated exams completed with the following:
- Advanced Placement (AP) – score of 3, 4, or 5
- International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IBH) – score of 5, 6 or 7
- GCE and Singapore-Cambridge Advanced Level (A-level) – grade of A, B or C
Credit is not granted for IB standard (IBS) or advanced subsidiary (AS) level exams. Not all AP, IBH and A-level exams have been approved to earn credits.
Awarded credit
Exam credit is awarded based on the year an exam was taken. See the tables below for detailed information.
Advanced Placement exams
AP Exams taken in 2024-25
Advisory: See footnotes below table for important limitations on certain AP exams.
| Code | Exam Name | Score | Units Awarded | Equivalent Course(s) | GE Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | African American Studies | 3+ | 4 | CRES 68 | ER |
| 15 | Art and Design: 2-D Art and Design1 | 3+ | 8 | ART 10D | IM |
| 16 | Art and Design: 3-D Art and Design1 | 3+ | 8 | ART 10E | IM |
| 14 | Art and Design: Drawing1 | 3 | 8 | PR-C | |
| 4+ | 8 | ART 20L | PR-C | ||
| 13 | Art History | 3+ | 8 | IM | |
| 20 | Biology | 3, 4 | 8 | SI | |
| 5 | 8 | BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B | SI | ||
| 25 | Chemistry | 3 | 8 | SI | |
| 4+ | 8 | CHEM 3A, 3B, 3BL | SI | ||
| 31 | Computer Science: A | 3 | 8 | CSE 10 | MF |
| 4+ | 8 | CSE 5J | MF | ||
| 32 | Computer Science: Principles | 3+ | 8 | CSE 10 | MF |
| 34 | Economics: Microeconomics | 3 | 4 | PE-H | |
| 4+ | 4 | ECON 1 | PE-H | ||
| 35 | Economics: Macroeconomics | 3 | 4 | PE-H | |
| 4+ | 4 | ECON 2 | PE-H | ||
| 36 | English: Language and Composition1 | 3+ | 8 | ELWR | |
| 37 | English: Literature and Composition1 | 3+ | 8 | ELWR | |
| 40 | Environmental Science | 3+ | 4 | PE-E | |
| 57 | Government and Politics: United States | 3+ | 4 | ||
| 58 | Government and Politics: Comparative | 3+ | 4 | CC | |
| 07 | History: United States | 3+ | 8 | AH&I | |
| 43 | History: European | 3+ | 8 | CC | |
| 93 | History: Modern World | 3+ | 8 | CC | |
| 53 | Human Geography | 3+ | 4 | ||
| 28 | Language and Culture: Chinese | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 48 | Language and Culture: French | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 55 | Language and Culture: German | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 62 | Language and Culture: Italian | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 54 | Language and Culture: Japanese | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 87 | Language and Culture: Spanish | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 60 | Language: Latin | 3+ | 8 | TA | |
| 89 | Literature and Culture: Spanish | 3+ | 8 | TA | |
| 65 | Mathematics: Precalculus | 3+ | 0 | MATH 3 | MF |
| 66 | Mathematics: Calculus AB1 | 3+ | 4 | MATH 11A, 19A | MF |
| 69 | Mathematics: Calculus BC (AB Subscore)1 | 3+ | 4 | MATH 11A, 19A | MF |
| 68 | Mathematics: Calculus BC1 | 3 | 8 | MATH 11A, 19A | MF |
| 4+ | 8 | MATH 11A, 11B, 19A, 19B | MF | ||
| 75 | Music Theory2 | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 83 | Physics: 11 | 3+ | 8 | SI | |
| 84 | Physics: 21 | 3+ | 8 | SI | |
| 80 | Physics: C Mechanics1 | 3 | 4 | SI | |
| 4 | 4 | PHYS 6A, 6L | MF | ||
| 5 | 4 | PHYS 5A, 5L | MF | ||
| 82 | Physics: C Electricity and Magnetism1 | 3 | 4 | SI | |
| 4 | 4 | PHYS 6C, 6N | SI | ||
| 5 | 4 | PHYS 5C, 5N | SI | ||
| 85 | Psychology | 3 | 4 | PE-H | |
| 4+ | 4 | PSYC 1 | PE-H | ||
| 23 | Research | 3+ | 0 | ELWR | |
| 22 | Seminar | 3+ | 0 | ELWR | |
| 90 | Statistics | 3 | 4 | SR | |
| 4+ | 4 | STAT 5, PSYC 2, SOCY 3B | SR |
1A maximum of eight units are awarded in each of the areas of art and design, English, mathematics, and physics. If multiple exams are taken within one of these subject areas, all GE and course equivalencies will be awarded for the taken exams, but units will be capped at 8 credits. All other exams may be taken for credit.
2Awarded based on the overall Music Theory score. Individual scores for the Aural and Nonaural components are not awarded credit.
AP Exams taken in 2023-24
Advisory: See footnotes below table for important limitations on certain AP exams.
| Code | Exam Name | Score | Units Awarded | Equivalent Course(s) | GE Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | African American Studies | 3+ | 4 | ||
| 15 | Art and Design: 2-D Art and Design1 | 3+ | 8 | ART 10D | IM |
| 16 | Art and Design: 3-D Art and Design1 | 3+ | 8 | ART 10E | IM |
| 14 | Art and Design: Drawing1 | 3 | 8 | PR-C | |
| 4+ | 8 | ART 15 | PR-C | ||
| 13 | Art History | 3+ | 8 | IM | |
| 20 | Biology | 3, 4 | 8 | SI | |
| 5 | 8 | BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B | SI | ||
| 25 | Chemistry | 3+ | 8 | SI | |
| 31 | Computer Science: A | 3 | 8 | CSE 10 | MF |
| 4+ | 8 | CSE 5J | MF | ||
| 32 | Computer Science: Principles | 3+ | 8 | CSE 10 | MF |
| 34 | Economics: Microeconomics | 3 | 4 | PE-H | |
| 4+ | 4 | ECON 1 | PE-H | ||
| 35 | Economics: Macroeconomics | 3 | 4 | PE-H | |
| 4+ | 4 | ECON 2 | PE-H | ||
| 36 | English: Language and Composition1 | 3+ | 8 | ELWR | |
| 37 | English: Literature and Composition1 | 3+ | 8 | ELWR | |
| 40 | Environmental Science | 3+ | 4 | PE-E | |
| 57 | Government and Politics: United States | 3+ | 4 | ||
| 58 | Government and Politics: Comparative | 3+ | 4 | CC | |
| 07 | History: United States | 3+ | 8 | AH&I | |
| 43 | History: European | 3+ | 8 | CC | |
| 93 | History: Modern World | 3+ | 8 | CC | |
| 53 | Human Geography | 3+ | 4 | ||
| 28 | Language and Culture: Chinese | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 48 | Language and Culture: French | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 55 | Language and Culture: German | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 62 | Language and Culture: Italian | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 54 | Language and Culture: Japanese | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 87 | Language and Culture: Spanish | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 60 | Language: Latin | 3+ | 8 | TA | |
| 89 | Literature and Culture: Spanish | 3+ | 8 | TA | |
| 65 | Mathematics: Precalculus | 3+ | 0 | MATH 3 | MF |
| 66 | Mathematics: Calculus AB1,2 | 3+ | 4 | MATH 11A, 19A | MF |
| 69 | Mathematics: Calculus BC (AB Subscore)1,2 | 3+ | 4 | MATH 11A, 19A | MF |
| 68 | Mathematics: Calculus BC1 | 3 | 8 | MATH 11A, 19A | MF |
| 4+ | 8 | MATH 11A, 11B, 19A, 19B | MF | ||
| 75 | Music Theory3 | 3+ | 8 | ||
| 83 | Physics: 11 | 3+ | 8 | SI | |
| 84 | Physics: 21 | 3+ | 8 | SI | |
| 80 | Physics: C Mechanics1 | 3 | 4 | SI | |
| 4 | 4 | PHYS 6A, 6L | MF | ||
| 5 | 4 | PHYS 5A, 5L | MF | ||
| 82 | Physics: C Electricity and Magnetism1 | 3 | 4 | SI | |
| 4 | 4 | PHYS 6C, 6N | SI | ||
| 5 | 4 | PHYS 5C, 5N | SI | ||
| 85 | Psychology | 3 | 4 | PE-H | |
| 4+ | 4 | PSYC 1 | PE-H | ||
| 23 | Research | 3+ | 0 | ELWR | |
| 22 | Seminar | 3+ | 0 | ELWR | |
| 90 | Statistics | 3 | 4 | SR | |
| 4+ | 4 | STAT 5, PSYC 2, SOCY 3B | SR |
1A maximum of eight units are awarded in each of the areas of art and design, English, mathematics, and physics. If multiple exams are taken within one of these subject areas, all GE and course equivalencies will be awarded for the taken exams, but units will be capped at 8 credits. All other exams may be taken for credit.
2Beginning with exams taken in 2023-24, a score of 3 on AP Calculus AB or the AB subscore of the Calculus BC exam award credit for MATH 11A and 19A. For exams taken prior to 2023-24, only MATH 3 and AM 3 are awarded.
3Awarded based on the overall Music Theory score. Individual scores for the Aural and Nonaural components are not awarded credit.
International Baccalaureate – Higher Level exams
IB-H Exams taken in 2024-25
| Exam Name | Score | Units Awarded | Equivalent Course(s) | GE Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology, Social and Cultural | 5+ | 8 | PE-H | |
| Biology | 5+ | 8 | SI | |
| Business Management | 5+ | 8 | ||
| Chemistry | 5+ | 8 | SI | |
| Computer Science | 5+ | 8 | CSE 5J | MF |
| Dance | 5+ | 8 | IM | |
| Economics | 5+ | 8 | PE-H | |
| English A: Language and Literature1 | 5+ | 8 | ELWR | |
| English A: Literature1 | 5+ | 8 | ELWR | |
| Film | 5+ | 8 | IM | |
| Geography | 5+ | 8 | PE-E | |
| Global Politics | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: Africa | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: Americas | 5+ | 8 | AH&I | |
| History: Southeast Asia & Oceania | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: Europe & the Islamic World | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: Europe & the Middle East | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: World History (20th Century) | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| Language A: Language and Literature (all non-English languages) | 5+ | 8 | ||
| Language A: Literature (all non-English languages) | 5+ | 8 | ||
| Language B (all languages) | 5+ | 8 | ||
| Mathematics Analysis and Approaches | 5+ | 8 | MATH 11A, 11B, 19A | MF |
| Music | 5+ | 8 | PR-C | |
| Philosophy | 5+ | 8 | TA | |
| Physics | 5+ | 8 | SI | |
| Psychology | 5+ | 8 | PE-H | |
| Theatre Arts | 5+ | 8 | PR-C | |
| Visual Arts | 5+ | 8 | PR-C |
1A maximum of 8 quarter units awarded for both English A: Language and Literature and English A: Literature exams.
IB-H Exams taken in 2023-24
| Exam Name | Score | Units Awarded | Equivalent Course(s) | GE Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology, Social and Cultural | 5+ | 8 | PE-H | |
| Biology | 5+ | 8 | SI | |
| Business Management | 5+ | 8 | ||
| Chemistry | 5+ | 8 | SI | |
| Computer Science | 5+ | 8 | CSE 5J | MF |
| Dance | 5+ | 8 | IM | |
| Economics | 5+ | 8 | PE-H | |
| English A: Language and Literature1 | 5+ | 8 | ELWR | |
| English A: Literature1 | 5+ | 8 | ELWR | |
| Film | 5+ | 8 | IM | |
| Geography | 5+ | 8 | PE-E | |
| Global Politics | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: Africa | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: Americas | 5+ | 8 | AH&I | |
| History: Southeast Asia & Oceania | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: Europe & the Islamic World | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: Europe & the Middle East | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| History: World History (20th Century) | 5+ | 8 | CC | |
| Language A: Language and Literature (all non-English languages) | 5+ | 8 | ||
| Language A: Literature (all non-English languages) | 5+ | 8 | ||
| Language B (all languages) | 5+ | 8 | ||
| Mathematics Analysis and Approaches | 5+ | 8 | MATH 11A, 11B, 19A | MF |
| Music | 5+ | 8 | PR-C | |
| Philosophy | 5+ | 8 | TA | |
| Physics | 5+ | 8 | SI | |
| Psychology | 5+ | 8 | PE-H | |
| Theatre Arts | 5+ | 8 | PR-C | |
| Visual Arts | 5+ | 8 | PR-C |
1A maximum of 8 quarter units awarded for both English A: Language and Literature and English A: Literature exams.
A-Level exams
A-Level Exams taken in 2024-25
| Exam Name | Grade | Units Awarded | Equivalent Course(s) | GE Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Afrikaans | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Arabic | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Art and Design | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Biology | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Chemistry | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Chinese | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Classical Studies | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Computing | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Economics | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| English – Language | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| English – Literature | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| French | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Geography | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| German | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Hindi | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| History | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Marathi | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Marine Science | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Mathematics | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Mathematics – Further | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Music | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Physics | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Portuguese | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Psychology | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Putonghua | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Sociology | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Spanish | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Tamil | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Telugu | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Urdu | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Urdu – Pakistan only | A, B, C | 12 |
A-Level Exams taken in 2023-24
| Exam Name | Grade | Units Awarded | Equivalent Course(s) | GE Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Afrikaans | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Arabic | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Art and Design | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Biology | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Chemistry | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Chinese | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Classical Studies | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Computing | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Economics | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| English – Language | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| English – Literature | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| French | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Geography | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| German | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Hindi | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| History | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Marathi | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Marine Science | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Mathematics | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Mathematics – Further | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Music | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Physics | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Portuguese | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Psychology | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Putonghua | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Sociology | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Spanish | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Tamil | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Telugu | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Urdu | A, B, C | 12 | ||
| Urdu – Pakistan only | A, B, C | 12 |
If you took exams prior to those listed above, see our archive of past exam equivalency charts.
Exam credit policies
External exams can award unit credits, course credits, and/or general education (GE) credit. Unit credits count toward the minimum 180 credits required to graduate. Course credit will satisfy major/minor requirements and serve as prerequisites to other courses. GE credit will satisfy specific GE requirements. In addition, some exams satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) and American History and Institutions (AH&I) requirements, as well as requirements of specific majors, while awarding no specific course or GE credit.
Credit will not be awarded for non-English language and literature exams if the exam is in the student’s native language and/or the student has completed at least nine years of education in that language.
Students will not receive duplicate credit for multiple exams in the same subject area, such as AP Biology and IBH Biology. Students may receive credit for exams and college courses in the same subject area, such as AP Biology and a college-level introductory biology course, but only if the exam is taken before the college-level course. Exams taken after college courses in the same subject area will not be awarded duplicate credit.
Sending scores to UC Santa Cruz
To have AP scores sent to UC Santa Cruz, request them to be sent online. Use the UC Santa Cruz CEEB code 004860. Older test scores require additional fulfillment time by CollegeBoard.
To have IB scores sent to UC Santa Cruz, follow the instructions on the IB website.
Reviewing exam credit
You can review your awarded exam credit in your MyUCSC portal. Once logged in click on the My Academics tile. From the left hand navigation menu click Transfer Credit Summary. A page will display which shows awarded transfer credit and exam credit. Under the Exam Credit section you will see something similar to the screenshot below. This will only show exams that were processed and have credit awarded.
Issues with your exam credit
If you have questions or believe there to be a mistake with your exam credit, contact us at transfercredit@ucsc.edu.
Contact the Degree Progress Unit
Get answers to questions about external credit.