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Did you excel in your high school classes and think you have college-level knowledge? Consider earning Iowa State credit through exams.

Advantages of earning credit by exam

  • Fulfill basic education requirements with courses from a wider variety of academic areas than most students
  • Gain an advance standing in introductory courses 
  • Accelerate your entire academic career and perhaps even graduate early

Credit earned by examination is not used in figuring out grade point averages. However, it does become part of your official record and may be applied toward graduation requirements. Iowa State will allow a maximum of 60 credits of prior learning credit to satisfy a student's undergraduate degree requirements, of which no more than 32 credits may come from the credit by exam. Please note that you will at least need to have one year of residency for graduation.

If AP or CLEP credit is earned at any Iowa public college or university and is accompanied by at least 12 semester credits earned in residence at the sending institution, it may be transferred directly to Iowa State University.

If your AP or CLEP credit is from any other college or university, your scores must be sent to the Office of Admissions and credit will be awarded based on our requirements.

The Advanced Placement Program allows the College Board to offer national examinations for you to qualify for advanced placement or academic credit at Iowa State. These exams are administered each May. Official scores must be sent to Iowa State University directly from the College Board. For specific equivalencies, see the chart below.

Art

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Art History3-4Art History 2803
 5Art History 280, 2816
Drawing No Credit 
2-D Art & Design No Credit 
3-D Art & Design No Credit 

Biology

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Biology4-5Biology 1004

Chemistry

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Chemistry4-5Chemistry 177, 1787

Depending upon the Chemistry Department's review of the student's AP Chemistry lab notebook, students may receive up to two additional credits: one credit for CHEM 167L, or one credit for CHEM 177L, or two credits for CHEM 177L and 178L. 

Computer science

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Computer Science A4Computer Science 1274
Computer Science A5Computer Science 127 and 2278
Computer Science Principles4-5Computer Science 1003

Economics

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Macroeconomics3-5Economics 1023
Microeconomics3-5Economics 1013

English

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
English Language & Composition3-5English 1503
English Literature & Composition4-5English 100 or 1503

If you have earned an ACT English score of at least 24 or an SAT ERW score of at least 600, you do not need to take the English Language/Composition Exam as you will automatically be placed into English 250. If you earn a grade of C or better in English 250 taken at Iowa State University, you will be awarded test-out credit for English 150.

Environmental science

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Environmental Science 3-5Environmental Studies 1003

Foreign language

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Chinese Language & Culture3Chinese 1014
Chinese Language & Culture4Chinese 101, 1028
Chinese Language & Culture5Chinese 101, 102, 20112
French Language & Culture3French 101, 1028
French Language & Culture4-5French 101, 102, 201, 20216
German Language & Culture3German 101, 1028
German Language & Culture4-5German 101, 102, 201, 20216
Italian Language & Culture3Italian 100P8
Italian Language & Culture4-5Italian 100P, Italian 200P16
Latin3Latin 101, 1028
Latin4-5Latin 101, 1028
Spanish Language & Culture3Spanish 101, 1028
Spanish Language & Culture4-5Spanish 101, 102, 201, 20216
Spanish Literature & Culture3-5Spanish 300*3

Students who plan to enroll in a foreign language course at Iowa State and who receive a score of 5 on a Foreign Language or Literature AP examination may qualify for foreign language credits in addition to those indicated above.

* Credits earned in Spanish 300 may be counted toward the following requirements: general education requirements in the humanities; international perspectives; requirements for the Spanish major or minor; Latin American Studies Certificate; or elective credit. NOTE: Students interested in applying these credits to the major or minor in Spanish or U.S. Latino/a Studies should consult with an advisor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Geography

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Human Geography3-5Social Science 1003

Government and politics

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
U.S. Government and Politics4-5Political Science 1113
Comparative Government/Politics4-5Political Science 1253

History

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
African American Studies4-5African American Studies 2013
European History4-5History 201, 2026
United States History4-5History 221, 2226
World History: Modern4-5History 1006

Mathematics

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Calculus AB4-5Math 1654
Calculus BC3Math 1654
Calculus BC4-5Math 165, 1668
Precalculus4-5Math 1434

Note: All students are required to take a math placement exam prior to registering for classes. If the student’s math placement is not consistent with the credits awarded on the basis of their AP Calculus exam (as indicated above), the student should consult with their academic advisor to determine whether they still wish to accept the math credit they have been awarded. 

Music

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Music Theory4-5Music 2244

Physics

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Physics 1: Algebra-based5Physics 131, 131L5
Physics 1: Algebra-based4*Physics 131, 131L5
Physics 2: Algebra-based5Physics 132, 132L5
Physics 2: Algebra-based4**Physics 132, 132L5
Physics C: Mechanics4-5Physics 231, 231L5
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism4-5Physics 232, 232L5

* Students must also earn a minimum score of 3 on the Physics 2 exam
** Students must also earn a minimum score of 3 on the Physics 1 exam

Psychology

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Psychology4-5Psychology 1013

Statistics

AP ExamScoreISU CourseSem. Crs. Awarded
Statistics3Statistics 1014
Statistics4-5Statistics 2014

We will award credit for College Board examinations if you satisfy the requirements of the College-Level Examination Program.

CLEP examMinimum test scoreISU coursesSem. crs. awarded
Financial Accounting*65Acct 2843
American Government64Pol Sci 1113
Biology**56Biol 1013
Calculus64Math 1654
Humanities*55Fine Arts2
  Literature4
Macroeconomics, Principles of62Econ 1023
Microeconomics, Principles of64Econ 1013
Natural Sciences*66Biological Science3
  Physical Science3
Introductory Psychology55Psych 1013
Social Sciences and History*63Social Science4
  History2
Introductory Sociology56Soc 1343
French Language**50French 101
French 102
3
3
 59

French 101
French 102

French 201

3
3

3

German Language**50German 101
German 102
3
3
 60

German 101
German 102

German 201

3
3

3

Spanish Language***50Spanish 101
Spanish 102
3
3
 63

Spanish 101
Spanish 102

Spanish 201

3
3

3

 

*Excludes engineering majors

**Excludes biology and engineering majors

***To develop deeper language proficiencies, the Department of World Languages and Cultures encourages students to enroll in classes rather than take CLEP exams. Students who have not already earned CLEP credits and who complete two consecutive courses at the 200-level or above will be awarded 8 test-out credits. These credits may be applied to graduation.

In order to award GAC graduates transfer credits, we must receive official confirmation of their completion/graduation by a GAC Academic Transcript.

This program offers college preparatory courses at high schools and colleges in the United States and abroad. These examinations are given by your high school at the end of your courses. You should have an original examination report sent from the International Baccalaureate North America office sent to Iowa State (the CEEB code is 6306).

For more information, contact your school counselor or visit the International Baccalaureate website.

International Baccalaureate website

Departmental examinations are offered by many of Iowa State University's academic departments to allow students to earn credit in specific courses. These exams are offered at the beginning of each semester, and they are administered by the department on campus – for a departmental exam fee.

To learn more about the departmental exams offered at Iowa State University, contact the specific departmental office.