Calvin grants course credit for qualifying scores on high school level exams through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate 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 & Rhetoric 4 hrs Biology 4Biology Core credit Natural Sciences 3 hrs Calculus AB (or AB subscore) 3Mathematics core credit Mathematical Science 4 hrs Calculus AB (or AB subscore) 4Math 171 (Calculus I) Mathematical Science 4 hrs Calculus BC 3Math 171 (Calculus I) Mathematical Science 4 hrs Calculus BC 4Math 171 & 172 (Calc I & II) Mathematical Science 8 hrs Chemistry 4Chemistry 101 (previously 103) Natural Sciences 4 hrs Chemistry 5Chemistry 101 & 102 (previously 104) Natural Sciences 8 hrs Chinese Language/Culture 3Chinese 102 World Language 1 4 hrs Chinese Language/Culture 4Chinese 201 & 202 World Language 2 8 hrs Comparative Govt & Politics 4Political Science 214 Social & Behavioral Science 3 hrs Computer Science A 3Computer Science 108 Mathematical Science 4 hrs Computer Science: Principles 3IDIS 110 (Info Technology) Info Tech 1 hr English Language and Comp 4English 101 Foundational Writing 3 hrs English Language and Comp 5English 101 & English 340 Foundational Writing 6 hrs English Literature and Comp 4English Elective* 3 hrs English Literature and Comp 5English 101 & English Elective* Foundational Writing 6 hrs Environmental Science 4Environmental Studies 210 Environmental Sustainability 3 hrs European History 4History 152 Humanities 3 hrs French Language and Culture 3French 202 World Language 2 4 hrs French Language and Culture 4French 301 or 302** World Language 2 3 hrs French Language and Culture 5French 301 & 302 World Language 2 6 hrs German Language and Culture 34 hrs German Language and Culture 4German 201 & 202 World Language 2 8 hrs Human Geography 4Geography 101 Social & Behavioral Science 3 hrs Japanese Language and Culture 3Japanese 102 World Language 1 4 hrs Japanese Language and Culture 4Japanese 201 & 202 World Language 2 8 hrs Latin 3Latin 201 World Language 2 4 hrs Latin 4Latin 201 & 202 World Language 2 8 hrs Macroeconomics 3Economics 222 Social & Behavioral Science 3 hrs Microeconomics 3Economics 221 Social & Behavioral Science 3 hrs Music Theory 3Music 100 Arts & Rhetoric 4 hrs Physics 1 4Physics 221 (General Phys I) Natural Science 4 hrs Physics 2 4Physics 222 (General Phys II) Natural Science 4 hrs Physics B 4Physics 221 Natural Science 4 hrs Physics C: Electricity & Magn 4Physics 235 Natural Science 4 hrs Physics C: Mechanics 4Physics 133 Natural Science 4 hrs Psychology 3Psychology 151 Social & Behavioral Science 3 hrs Spanish Language 3Spanish 202 World Language 2 4 hrs Spanish Language 4Spanish 202 & 301 World Language 2 7 hrs Spanish Language 5Spanish 301 & 302 World Language 2 6 hrs Spanish Literature 4Spanish Elective 3 hrs Statistics 4Statistics 143 Mathematical Science 4 hrs Studio Art: Draw, 2-D, 3-D design 3Art Studio 250 Arts & Rhetoric 3 hrs US Govt & Politics 4Social & Behavioral Science 3 hrs United States History 4History Core Humanities 3 hrs World History 4History 151 Humanities 3 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 Natural Science 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 Humanities Core (4) History, European Humanities Core (4) History, US History elective (3) Indonesian LCTL (4) Korean KOR 202 Mathematics Mathematical Science Core (3) Music MUSC 103 Philosophy Humanities core (3) Physics Natural Sciences Core (4) Psychology PSYC 151 (3) Spanish SPAN 202 (4) Visual Arts Arts & Rhetoric 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 Accounting 203 Biology Natural Science Core Business Business 101 Chemistry Chemistry 101* Economics Economics 151 English English 101 Geography Geography 110 History History 152 Information Sys 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 University 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)