Calvin grants academic credit for qualifying exam scores through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International A-Levels and College Level Examination Program (CLEP). 

Calvin will not award credit by exams that result in duplication of course content from any other course or test for which the student has received credit, either at Calvin or through transfer of credit. A maximum of 32 semester hours may be obtained via non-classroom-based credit.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Students may submit scores from an Advanced Placement (AP) examination conducted by the College Board.

Students who completed AP exams before 1/1/2023 will fall under the previous requirements. The scores and equivalencies can be found here.

AP Examination Title

Min Score

Equivalent Calvin Course

Core Category Met

Credit

Art History
4
Visual Arts core credit Arts, Oral Rhetoric, Visual Rhetoric: Visual Arts 3 hrs
Biology 
4
Biology 123  Natural Sciences, Biology 4 hrs
Calculus AB (or AB subscore)
3
Mathematics core credit Mathematical Science 4 hrs
Calculus AB (or AB subscore)
4
Math 171 Mathematical Science 4 hrs
Calculus BC  
3
Math 171 Mathematical Science 4 hrs
Calculus BC  
4
Math 171 & 172 Mathematical Science 8 hrs
Chemistry
3
Elective credit 3 hrs
Chemistry
4
Chemistry 101 & 101L Natural Sciences, Chemistry 4 hrs
Chemistry
5
Chemistry 101, 101L, 102, 102L  Natural Sciences, Chemistry 8 hrs
Chinese Language/Culture
3
Chinese 102 World Language 1 4 hrs
Chinese Language/Culture
4
Chinese 201 World Language 2 4 hrs
Comparative Govt & Politics
4
Political Science 214 Social & Behavioral Sciences: Political Science 4 hrs
Computer Science A
3
Computer Science 108 & 108L Mathematical Science 4 hrs
English Language and Comp
4
English 101 Foundational Writing 4 hrs
English Literature and Comp
4
English Elective   4 hrs
Environmental Science
4
Environmental Studies 210 4 hrs
European History
4
History 152 Humanities: History 3 hrs
French Language and Culture
3
French 202 World Language 2 4 hrs
French Language and Culture
4
French 301 World Language 2 4 hrs
German Language and Culture
3
German 202 World Language 2 4 hrs
German Language and Culture
4
German 301 World Language 2 4 hrs
Human Geography
4
Geography 101 Social & Behavioral Sciences: Geography  4 hrs
Japanese Language and Culture
3
Japanese 102 World Language 1 4 hrs
Japanese Language and Culture
4
Japanese 201 World Language 2 4 hrs
Latin
3
Latin 201 World Language 2 4 hrs
Latin
4
Latin 201 & 202 World Language 2 8 hrs
Macroeconomics
3
Economics 191 Social & Behavioral Sciences: Economics 2 hrs
Microeconomics
3
Economics 191 Social & Behavioral Sciences: Economics 2 hrs
Music Theory
4
Music 100 & 108 Arts, Oral Rhetoric, Visual Rhetoric: Performing Arts 6 hrs
Physics 1
4
Physics 221 (General Phys I) Natural Science: Physics 4 hrs
Physics 2
4
Physics 222 (General Phys II) 4 hrs
Physics B
4
Physics 221 Natural Science: Physics 4 hrs
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism 
4
Physics 235 4 hrs
Physics C: Mechanics
4
Physics 133 Natural Science: Physics 4 hrs
Psychology
4
Psychology 151 Social & Behavioral Sciences: Psychology 4 hrs
Research
4
Elective credit 3 hrs
Seminar 4 Elective credit 3 hrs
Spanish Language
3
Spanish 202 World Language 2 4 hrs
Spanish Language
4
Spanish 301 World Language 2 4 hrs
Spanish Literature
4
Elective: 300 level Spanish World Language 2 4 hrs
Statistics
4
Statistics 143 Mathematical Science 4 hrs
Studio Art: Draw, 2-D, 3-D design
4
Studio Art core credit Arts, Oral Rhetoric, Visual Rhetoric: Visual Arts 4 hrs
US Govt & Politics
4
Political Science core credit Social & Behavioral Science, Political Science 3 hrs
United States History
4
History core credit Humanities: History 3 hrs
World History
4
History core credit Humanities: History 3 hrs
International Baccalaureate (IB)

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.

IB Examination Title

Min Score

Equivalent Calvin Course

Core Category Met

Credit

Art
5
Art Elective Arts & Rhetoric 3 hrs
Biology
5
Biology 123 Natural Sciences 4 hrs
Chemistry
5
Chemistry 101 Natural Sciences 4 hrs
Computer
5
Computer Science 108 & 108L Mathematical Science 4 hrs
Economics
5
Economics 191 2 hrs
English
5
English 101 Foundational Writing 4 hrs
English Literature
5
English Elective Humanities 3 hrs
French
5
French 202 World Languages 2 4 hrs
Geography
5
Geography 110 Social & Behavioral Sciences 4 hrs
History, Americas
5
History Elective Humanities 3 hrs
History, European
5
History Elective Humanities 3 hrs
History, US
5
History Elective Humanities 4 hrs
Indonesian
5
Language Credit World Language 2 4 hrs
Korean
5
Korean 202 World Language 2 4 hrs
Mathematics
5
Elective Mathematical Science 4 hrs
Music
5
Music 103 Arts & Rhetoric 3 hrs
Philosophy
5
Humanities 3 hrs
Physics
5
Natural Sciences 4 hrs
Psychology
5
Psychology 151 Social & Behavioral Science 4 hrs
Spanish
5
Spanish 202 World Languages 2 4 hrs
Visual Arts
5
Art Elective Arts & Rhetoric 3 hrs
Advanced-Level, Cambridge Exams

Calvin will accept A-Level (A2) exam scores of C or better for college credit in certain subjects. 

Exam

Course credit

Accounting Accounting 203
Biology Natural Science Core
Business Business Elective (3 hrs)
Chemistry Chemistry 101*
Economics Economics 151
English English 101
Geography Geography 110
History History 152
Information Sys
Math Mathematics 171
Math - Further Mathematics 172
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 accepts credit for the exams listed below. Visit the CLEP website for instructions about how to send a transcript of results.

CLEP Examination Title

Min Score

Equivalent Calvin Course

Core

Credit

American Government
50
Social & Behavioral Science: Political Science 3 hrs
American Literature
50
English 220 Humanities: Literature 4 hrs
Analyzing & Interpreting Literature
50
Elective 3 hrs
Biology
50
Biology 123 Natural Sciences 4 hrs
Calculus
50
Math 171 Mathematical Sciences 4 hrs
Chemistry 50 Chemistry 101 Natural Sciences 4 hrs
College Composition 50 Elective 3 hrs
College Mathematics 50 Elective 4 hrs
English Literature 50 English Elective 3 hrs
Financial Accounting 55 Accounting 204 4 hrs
Human Growth & Development 50 Psychology 201 4 hrs
Information Systems 50 Elective 4 hrs
Introduction to Educational Psychology 50 Elective 3 hrs
Introduction to Psychology 50 Psychology 151 Social & Behavioral Science: Psychology 4 hrs
Introductory Business Law 55 Business 350 4 hrs
Introductory Sociology 50 Sociology 151 Social & Behavioral Science: Sociology & Social Work 2 hrs
Macroeconomics 50 Economics 191 Social & Behavioral Science: Economics 2 hrs
Microeconomics 50 Economics 191 Social & Behavioral Science: Economics 2 hrs
Principles of Management 50 Elective 3 hrs
Principles of Marketing 55 Marketing 301 4 hrs
Spanish with Writing: Level 1 or Level 2 50 Spanish 102 World Languages 1 4 hrs