AP, IBH, and A-Level Examinations
The University of California grants credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations on which a student scores 3, 4, or 5, for International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IBH) Examinations on which a student scores 5, 6, or 7, and for GCE and Singapore-Cambridge Advanced Level (A-level) grades of A, B, or C. Students must have official test score reports sent directly from the testing service to UC Santa Cruz to receive credit. Not all AP, IBH and A-level exams have been approved to grant credits. Credit is not granted for IB standard or subsidiary level exams.
Students who complete the IB diploma with a score of 30 or above will be awarded six quarter credits toward their UC undergraduate degree, in addition to the credits earned for scores of 5 or better on designated individual Higher Level exams (usually 24 quarter credits).
Designated examinations are awarded elective credits which may be applied to UC Santa Cruz graduation requirements for specific subjects and/or for general education/breadth requirements. Please see the Exam tables listed below for reference. Students who enter UC Santa Cruz with exam credit do not have to declare a major earlier than other students, nor are they required to graduate earlier.
Students will not receive duplicate credit for multiple exams in the same subject area, such as AP Biology and IBH Biology. Students may receive credit for exams and college courses in the same subject area, such as AP Biology and a college-level introductory biology course, but only if the exam is taken before the college-level course. Exams taken after college courses in the same subject area will not be awarded duplicate credit.*
*Revised: 8/12/24