AP and other exam credit
This table lists the equivalencies of selected AP, IB and A-level exams. Scores that are equivalent to undistributed credit are marked with "1xxxx." These credits are listed on the transcript, but are not counted as equivalent to any particular course, and cannot meet any course-specific graduation requirement. Courses listed in
bold may satisfy First Year Engineering requirements.
Students who earn credit through AP or other exams retain the option to take the course while at Purdue, and the earned course grade will replace the AP or other exam credit. Students should consult with an FYE advisor to discuss if this option is advisable.
The lists presented here are partial lists of common exams. The complete list of all exams is available at the
Admissions website.
College Board Advanced Placement
| Subject Area |
AP Score |
Equivalent Purdue Course |
| Biology |
3 |
BIOL 1xxxx |
| 4 |
BIOL 11000 |
| 5 |
BIOL 11000 and 11100 |
| Calculus AB |
3 |
MA 15555 |
| 4 or 5 |
MA 16500 |
| Calculus BC |
3 |
MA 15555 |
| 4 or 5 |
MA 16500 and MA 16600 |
| Chemistry |
3 |
CHM 11100 |
| 4 or 5 |
CHM 11500 and 11600 |
| Computer Science A or AB |
3 |
CS 1xxxx |
| 4 or 5 |
CS 17700 |
| English Language and Composition |
3 |
ENGL 1xxxx |
| 4 or 5 |
ENGL 10600 |
| English Literature and Composition |
3 |
ENGL 1xxxx |
| 4 or 5 |
ENGL 23100 |
| Microeconomics and Macroeconomics |
3 (on either) |
ECON 1xxxx |
| 4 or 5 (on both) |
ECON 21000 |
| Government: US |
3 |
POL 1xxxx |
| 4 or 5 |
POL 10400 |
| Government: Comparative |
3 |
POL 1xxxx |
| 4 or 5 |
POL 14100 |
| History: American |
3 |
HIST 1xxxx |
| 4 or 5 |
HIST 15100 and 15200 |
| History: European |
3 |
HIST 1xxxx |
| 4 or 5 |
HIST 10400 |
| History: World |
3 |
HIST 1xxxx |
| 4 or 5 |
HIST 10500 |
| Modern Languages |
3 |
10100 and 10200 |
| 4 |
10100, 10200, and 20100 |
| 5 |
10100, 10200, 20100 and 20200 |
| Physics B |
3 or 4 |
PHYS 1xxxx |
| 5 |
PHYS 22000 and 22100 |
| Physics C: Mechanics |
3 or 4 |
PHYS 1xxxx |
| 5 |
PHYS 17200 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism |
3 or 4 |
PHYS 1xxxx |
| 5 |
PHYS 27200 |
International Baccalaureate
| Subject Area |
Score |
Equivalent Purdue Course |
| Biology (HL) |
5 |
BIOL 11000 |
| 6 or 7 |
BIOL 11000 and 11100 |
| Chemistry (SL) |
5, 6, 7 |
CHM 11100 and 11200 |
| Chemistry (HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
CHM 11500 and 11600 |
| Economics (HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
ECON 21000 |
| English (SL & HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
ENGL 23100 |
| Foreign Language (HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
10100 and 10200 |
| Mathematics (HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
MA 16500 and 16600 |
| Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
MA 16500 |
| Further Mathematics (HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
MA 16500 and MA 16600 |
| Philosophy (HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
PHIL 11000 |
| Physics (HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
PHIL 17200 |
| Psychology (HL) |
5, 6, 7 |
PSY 12000 |
G.C.E. A Levels
| Subject Area |
Grade |
Equivalent Purdue Course |
| Chemistry |
A, B |
CHM 11500 and 11600 |
| English |
A, B |
ENGL 23100 |
| Foreign Language |
A, B |
FLL 10100 and 10200 |
| Mathematics |
A, B |
MA 16500 |
| Further Mathematics |
A, B |
MA 16600 |
| Pure Mathematics (London) |
A, B |
MA 16500 and 16600 |
| Physics |
A, B |
PHYS 17200 |
