Calvin grants course credit for qualifying scores on high school level exams through Advanced Placement, International Baccelaurate and A-Levels or Cambridge Exams. Calvin grants minimal credit for CLEP. The policies are listed here. See the core pages for more details.
Multiple exams for one subject will not be given duplicate credit. A maximum of 32 semester hours may be obtained through the transfer of non–classroom based credit. Credit given is noted in number of semester hours.
- Advanced Placement
Students may submit scores from an Advanced Placement (AP) examination conducted by the College Board.
- Minimum scores and credit hours granted vary; see the table below.
- Students may not receive duplicate credit or duplicate requirements from AP credit, high school exemptions, college credit or any other exam based credit.
- A maximum of 32 semester hours may be obtained through non–classroom based credit.
AP Examination Title
Score
Equivalent Calvin Course
Core
Credit
Art History 3Arts Core credit Arts 4 hrs Biology 4Biology 111 Living World 4 hrs Calculus AB (or AB subscore) 3Math 171 (Calculus I) Mathematics 4 hrs Calculus BC 3Math 171 (Calculus I) Mathematics 4 hrs Calculus BC 4Math 171 & 172 (Calc I & II) Mathematics 8 hrs Chemistry 4Chemistry 103 Phys World 4 hrs Chemistry 5Chemistry 103 & 104 Phys World 8 hrs Chinese Language/Culture 3Chinese 102 4 hrs Chinese Language/Culture 4Chinese 201 & 202 Language 8 hrs Comparative Govt & Politics 4Political Science 214 3 hrs Computer Science A 3Computer Science 108 Info Tech 4 hrs Computer Science: Principles 3IDIS 110 (Info Technology) Info Tech 1 hr English Language and Comp 4English 101 Written Rhetoric 3 hrs English Language and Comp 5English 101 & English 261 Written Rhetoric 6 hrs English Literature and Comp 4English Elective* 3 hrs English Literature and Comp 5English 101 & English Elective* Written Rhetoric 6 hrs Environmental Science 4Environmental Studies 210 Global/Historical 3 hrs European History 4History 152 History 4 hrs French Language and Culture 3French 202 Language 4 hrs French Language and Culture 4French 301 or 302** 3 hrs French Language and Culture 5French 301 & 302 6 hrs German Language and Culture 3German 123 4 hrs German Language and Culture 4German 201 & 202 Language 8 hrs Human Geography 4Geography 200 3 hrs Japanese Language and Culture 3Japanese 102 4 hrs Japanese Language and Culture 4Japanese 201 & 202 Language 8 hrs Latin: Catullus-Horace 3Latin 201 4 hrs Latin: Catullus-Horace 4Latin 201 & 202 Language 8 hrs Latin: Virgil 3Latin 201 4 hrs Latin: Virgil 4Latin 201 & 202 Language 8 hrs Macroeconomics 3Economics 222 3 hrs Microeconomics 3Economics 221 Soc Structures 3 hrs Music List & Lit (or subscore) 3Music 103 Arts Core 3 hrs Music Theory 3Music 108 4 hrs Physics 1 4Physics 221 (General Phys I) Phys World 4 hrs Physics 2 4Physics 222 (General Phys II) Phys World 4 hrs Physics B 4Physics 221 Phys World 4 hrs Physics C: Electricity & Magn 4Physics 235 Phys World 4 hrs Physics C: Mechanics 4Physics 133 Phys World 4 hrs Psychology 3Psychology 151 Pers in Cmnty 3 hrs Spanish Language 3Spanish 202 Language 4 hrs Spanish Language 4Spanish 202 & 301 Language 7 hrs Spanish Language 5Spanish 301 & 302 6 hrs Spanish Literature 4Spanish Elective 3 hrs Statistics 4Stat 143 Mathematics 4 hrs Studio Art: Draw, 2-D, 3-D design 3Art Studio 250 3 hrs US Govt & Politics 4Political Science 101 Soc Structures 3 hrs United States History 4History 229 4 hrs World History 4History 151 History 4 hrs *The English elective contributes 3 semester hours of credit but does not fill any specific core requirement.
**Requires interview with French professor.
- International Baccalaureate
IB credit will be given to students who receive a grade of 5 or higher on higher-level (HL) exams. No credit will be given for subsidiary-level exams. Students must provide an official report of their IB exam scores. Visit the IB website for instructions about how to send a transcript of results.
Multiple exams for one subject will not be given duplicate credit.
The following list is not exhaustive of IB exams.
IB Exam
Equivalency (credit)
Art Art elective (3) Biology BIOL 161 (4) Chemistry Physical Sci core (4) Computer CS 108 (4) Economics ECON 221(4) English ENGL 101(3) English Lit Literature core (3) French FREN 202 (4) Geography GEOG 110 (4) History, Americas History core (4) History, European History core (4) History, US History elective (3) Indonesian LCTL (4) Korean KOR 202 Mathematics Mathematics core (3) Music MUSC 103 Philosophy Philosophy core (3) Physics Physical science core (4) Psychology PSYC 151 (3) Spanish SPAN 202 (4) Visual Arts Rhetoric in culture core (3) - Advanced-Level, Cambridge Exams
Calvin will accept A-Level exam scores of C or better for college credit in certain subjects. This exam policy is in progress.
Exam
Course credit
Accounting Business 203 Biology Biology Core Business Business 160 Chemistry Chemistry 103* Economics Economics 151 English English 101 Geography Geography 110 History History 152 Information Sys Foundations of Info Tech Core - IDIS 110 Math Mathematics 171 (Calculus I) Maths - Further Mathematics 172 (Calculus II) Physics Physics 222 *The registrar's office may work with designated academic departments for further review of higher level achievement and curriculum depth on a case-by-case basis.
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Calvin College accepts credit only for the course listed below, completed with the score 50 or higher. No other CLEP examinations are accepted.
Exam
Course credit
Calculus with Elementary Functions Mathematics 171 (Calculus I)