Stanford
Student Services

Undergraduate Degrees & Programs: Advanced Placement

Stanford University allows up to 45 units of external credit (90 units for transfer students) toward graduation including work completed in high school as part of the College Board Advanced Placement curriculum. The awarding of such credit is based on Advanced Placement test scores and is subject to University and department approval.

The faculty of a given department determine whether any credit toward the 180-unit requirement can be based on achievement in the College Board Advanced Placement Program in their discipline. Stanford departments electing to accept the Advanced Placement (AP) credit are bound by these University policies:

  1. Credit is usually granted for an AP score of 4 or 5. Usually, 10 quarter units are awarded (but occasionally fewer than 10). No more than 10 quarter units may be given for performance in a single examination.
  2. Whether credit is to be given for an AP score of 3 is a matter for departmental discretion; up to 10 units may be awarded.
  3. No credit may be authorized for an AP score lower than 3.

Performance on an AP exam can indicate the appropriate placement for continuing course work in that subject at Stanford. If students enroll in courses at Stanford for which they received equivalent AP credit, the duplicating AP credit will be removed. The chart below shows the current AP credit and placement policies.

A maximum of 45 quarter units of Advanced Placement (AP), transfer credit, and/or other external credit (such as International Baccalaureate) may be applied toward the undergraduate degree. More than 45 units of AP, transfer, and other external credit may appear on the Stanford University transcript; however, only 45 units can be applied to the minimum units required for the undergraduate degree. Once credit has been posted it cannot be removed from the student record. However, if Stanford courses are taken below the level of the placement course, the duplicating AP units are removed. Students may not receive duplicate unit credit for AP and IB exams in the same discipline, and the duplicating unit credit may be removed from the student's record. Stanford University policies on AP and other external credit are subject to review and change on an annual basis. Subjects not listed on this chart are not eligible for AP credit at Stanford University. Students may only receive AP credit for the AP policies that were effective during their matriculation year at Stanford.

AP Scores and Placement

SUBJECT

SCORE

PLACEMENT

QUARTER UNITS

DUPLICATING COURSES

CALCULUS AB (OR AB SUBSCORE)1

5

Take placement diagnostic, see the Math Placement website

6

MATH 19, 20

CALCULUS BC1

5

Take placement diagnostic, see the Math Placement website

10

MATH 19, 20, 21

 

4

Take placement diagnostic, see the Math Placement website

6

MATH 19, 20

CHEMISTRY

4

CHEM 31M, see the Chem Placement website

5

CHEM 31A

 

5

CHEM 33, see the Chem Placement website

102

CHEM 31A, 31B, 31M

CHINESE LANGUAGE & CULTURE3

5

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

CHINLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A. 2A

COMPUTER SCIENCE A

4,5

CS 106B or CS 106X

5

CS 101, 105, 106A

COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES

4,5

CS 106A

5

CS 101, 105

FRENCH LANGUAGE3

5

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

FRENLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

ITALIAN LANGUAGE & CULTURE3

5

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

ITALLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

GERMAN LANGUAGE3

5

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

GERLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

JAPANESE LANGUAGE & CULTURE3

5

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

JAPANLNG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

LATIN (LITERATURE OR VERGIL)3

5

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

CLASSICS 1L, 2L, 3L

PHYSICS C - MECHANICS4

5

Placement diagnostic required. Contact the Physics Department for additional placement information

4

PHYSICS 21, 41

 

4

Placement diagnostic required. Contact the Physics Department for additional placement information

4

PHYSICS 21

PHYSICS C - ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM4

5

Placement diagnostic required. Contact the Physics Department for additional placement information

4

PHYSICS 23,  43

 

4

Placement diagnostic required. Contact the Physics Department for additional placement information

4

PHYSICS 23

PHYSICS 1 & 2 - BOTH4,5

9,10

Placement diagnostic required. Contact the Physics Department for additional placement information

8

PHYSICS 21, 23

 

8

Placement diagnostic required. Contact the Physics Department for additional placement information

4

PHYSICS 21

SPANISH (LANGUAGE)3

5

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

SPANLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A
  1. Students who take multiple math exams will be granted credit for only one score -- Calculus AB, Subscore AB, or Calculus BC -- whichever awards them the highest number of units.
  2. Some students may prefer CHEM 31M and will be awarded only 5 units
  3. A score of 4 or 5 on this test fulfills the Language Requirement, but awards no units. A score of 5 is required to receive 10 quarter units of credit.
  4. Students are eligible for Physics B, Physics C (both), or Physics 1 & 2, however not a combination of the three. For more information on these exams, see the Physics Department's Physics Advanced Placement website.
  5. Students must have taken both Physics 1 & 2 to receive credit along with scoring a minimum of 4 on each exam. The standard rules apply such that students cannot receive credit for multiple exams taken within the same subject. The best score and or unit rate is applied to the transcript for Physics. If a student wants to have a certain Physics exam reflected on the transcript, the student should contact the Student Services Center.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Transfer Credit

SUBJECT

SCORE

PLACEMENT

QUARTER UNITS

DUPLICATING COURSES

CHEMISTRY

5 or higher

CHEM 33 or higher. Placement above Chem 33 requires department-administered placement test. Email chemistry-studentservices@stanford.edu 

10

CHEM 31A & 31B

COMPUTER SCIENCE

5 or higher

CS 106B or CS 106X

5

CS 101, CS 105, 106A

CHINESE (A OR B)*

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

CHINLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

CLASSICAL GREEK (HL)

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

CLASSICS 1L, 2L, 3L

FRENCH (A OR B)*

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

FRENLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

GERMAN (A OR B)*

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

GERLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

JAPANESE (A OR B)*

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

JAPANLNG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

KOREAN (A OR B)*

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

 KORLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

LATIN (A OR B)*

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

CLASSICS 1L, 2L, 3L

MATHEMATICS

6 or higher. HL exam taken November 2020 or earlier

Take placement diagnostic, see the Math Placement website

10

MATH 19, 20, 21

MATHEMATICS: ANALYSIS & APPROACHES*

6 or higher. HL exam taken from May 2021 and later

Take placement diagnostic, see the Math Placement website

6

Math 19, 20

PHYSICS

6 or higher

Placement diagnostic required. Contact the Physics Department for additional placement information

8

PHYSICS 21, 23

PHYSICS

5

Placement diagnostic required. Contact the Physics Department for additional placement information

4

PHYSICS 21

PORTUGUESE (A OR B)*

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

PORTLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

RUSSIAN (A OR B)*

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

SLAVLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

SPANISH (A OR B)*

5 or higher

Take placement exam if continuing in this language

10

SPANLANG 1, 2, 3, 1A, 2A

* A score of 5 or higher on this test fulfills the Language Requirement. 

*Mathematics: applications and interpretations HL exam taken from May 2021 and later does not receive credit

Chemistry Advanced Placement for Incoming Frosh Placement Chart

CHEMISTRY ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCORES CHEM 31A CHEM 31M CHEM 33 CHEM 121 WITH CHEM 100
Chem AP 5 permission of instructor only YES YES NO
Chem AP 4 permission of instructor only YES NO NO
Chem AP 3 or lower take placement exam to determine appropriate placement take placement exam to determine appropriate placement After passing grade in 31M or 31A/B NO
No AP or IB background YES Okay with passing placement exam score After passing grade in 31M or 31A/B NO
IB, A-level, French Baccalaureate, German Arbitur permission of instructor only YES YES YES