AP Information
One (1) unit is awarded for most AP exams with a score of 5.
For Math BC, students will earn 2 units with a score of 4 or 5.
For Math AB or AB subscore on Math BC exam, students will earn 1 unit with a score of 4 or 5.
See Information about Wellesley College course equivalencies in the table below.
Information about requesting exam scores can be found through the College Board.
IB Information
One (1) unit is awarded for each higher level IB exam with a grade of 5, 6, or 7, except for IB Economics, which is awarded 2 units.
No credit is awarded for IB exam in English A2 or B as the course content is similar to ESL.
Wellesley College course equivalents are similar to those listed in the AP chart on the following page.
If your IB exam scores were not sent directly to Wellesley College, come to the Registrar's Office with your official IB diploma. We will take a copy of the official to keep for our records. If you do not have an official IB diploma, please contact us with your name, ID#, and month and year you took the exam by emailing registrar@wellesley.edu. We may be able to access your IB scores online.
Additional Information
No more than 2 units of credit may be awarded in a single department; no more than 4 units total credit. No distribution credit or lab credit may be earned through any AP or IB subject.
An AP score of 5 or an IB higher-level score of 5 may count towards the fulfillment of the Foreign Language requirement
An AP score of 5 on the Statistics exam fulfills the Data Literacy component of the the Quantitative Reasoning & Data Literacy degree requirement
No credit given toward majors or minors in most departments. Information about AP and IB exams is included in the course catalog under "Academic Programs" or each department's "Directions for Election."
AP or IB exams may not be taken after matriculation at Wellesley College.
AP and/or IB higher level exam credit will be added to a student's record in the spring of the student’s sophomore year, provided they have not taken an equivalent course at Wellesley. Official scores may be sent to the Registrar's Office at any time.
Student records will be checked after each semester, and AP or IB credit will be removed if the material has been repeated in a Wellesley course.
For Wellesley departments which offer no equivalent course to the AP test subject, students with AP credits should consult the department about placement.
The Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate examinations are the only tests that are eligible for Wellesley course credit.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit Guide
| Examination | Score | Units | Course Equivalents |
|---|---|---|---|
Art History | 5 | 1 | ARTH 100 or 101 |
Studio Art: 2-D Design | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Studio Art: 3-D Design | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Studio Art: Drawing | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Biology | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Calculus AB | 4 or 5 | 1 | MATH 115* |
Calculus BC | 4 or 5 | 2 | MATH 115 & 116 or MATH 115 & 120 |
Chemistry: for students entering Fall 2009 - 2013 | 5 | 1 | CHEM 105 or 120 |
Chemistry: for students entering Fall 2014 - current | 5 | 1 | CHEM 105 or 205 |
Chinese Language & Culture | 5 | 1 | TBD |
Computer Science A or AB | 5 | 1 | CS 111 |
Economics: Macro | 5 | 1 | ECON 102 |
Economics: Micro | 5 | 1 | ECON 101 |
English Language & Composition | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
English Literature & Composition | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Environmental Science | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
European History | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
French Language & Culture | 5 | 1 | FREN 202 |
German Language & Culture | 5 | 1 | GER 202 |
Government & Politics: Comparative | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Government & Politics: United States | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Human Geography | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Italian Language & Culture | 5 | 1 | ITAS 202 |
Japanese Language & Culture | 5 | 1 | TBD |
Latin: Literature | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Latin: Virgil | 5 | 1 | LAT 201 |
Music Theory | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Physics B: for students entering Fall 2009 and beyond | 5 | 1 | PHYS 104 OR 107 |
Physics 1 | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Physics 2 | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
Physics C: Mechanics | 5 | 1 | PHYS 104 OR 107 † |
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | 5 | 1 | PHYS 106 OR 108 † |
Psychology | 5 | 1 | PSYC 101 |
Spanish Language & Culture | 5 | 1 | SPAN 202 |
Spanish Literature & Culture | 5 | 1 | SPAN 202 |
Statistics | 5 | 1 | QR 150 / STAT 150 |
United States History | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
World History | 5 | 1 | No exact equivalent |
*Students may receive credit for Calculus AB or BC, but not both.
†Students may not receive more than 2 units of credit for the introductory sequence. For example, a student who enrolls in both PHYS 107 and 108 will not also receive AP or IB credit.