Undergraduate Study / AdmissionsTransfer of AP / IB Credits
You may receive Northwestern credit for your Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) test scores and/or be able to skip introductory courses in some sequences.
Please follow these procedures to ensure that your AP / IB credits are properly transferred.
For Incoming First Year Students
For information on submitting AP or IB scores, please review the score submission guidelines section on the Office of the Registrar's Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB).
For Upper-Class Students
For students that entered prior to the 2026-2027 academic year, reference previous AP/IB credit tables here.
If your AP/IB credit does not appear on your unofficial transcript on CAESAR, check with the Office of the Registrar at nu-registrar@northwestern.edu or phone: 847-491-5334.
Northwestern Credits Granted
The matrix on this page shows what credit (if any) is granted for a particular score on a particular exam. This matrix may be altered on a yearly basis and will show the information for the current academic year. Credit is not final until it has been posted to your Northwestern transcript by the Office of the Registrar.
The next question after determining how many and which units of credit you have been awarded, is how they can be applied to McCormick degree requirements. See the section below for further specifics.
AP Credit Table: Currently Being Updated for the 2026-2027 Academic Year
| Exam | Score | Course Credit Authorized | Area to Allocate Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American Studies | 5 | 1 unit (BLK_ST 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Art History | 5 | 1 unit (Art History 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Art: Drawing | 5 | 1 unit (Art 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Art: 2-D Art and Design | 5 | 1 unit (Art 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Art: 3-D Art and Design | 5 | 1 unit (Art 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Biology | 5 | 1 unit (Biol Sci 1XX) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Chemistry | 5 | 1 unit (Chem 1XX) | Basic Science or Unrestricted Elective. Dependent on degree program. |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Chinese 1LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 2 units (Chinese 1LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Computer Science A | 4, 5 | 1 unit (COMP_SCI 1CA) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Computer Science Principles | 4, 5 | 1 unit (COMP_SCI 1CP) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Economics-Macro | 5 | 1 unit (Economics 201) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Economics-Micro | 5 | 1 unit (Economics 202) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| English (Language and Composition) | 5 | 2 units (English 1LC) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| English (Literature and Composition) | 5 | 2 units (English 1LT) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Environmental Science | 5 | 1 unit (EARTH 1ES) | Unrestricted Elective |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (French 1LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 2 units (French 2LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Geography (Human) | 5 | 1 unit (EARTH 1GE) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (German 1LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 2 units (German 2LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Government and Politics (United States) | 5 | 1 unit (Poli Sci 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Government and Politics (Comparative) | 5 | 1 unit (Poli Sci 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| History (European) | 5 | 2 units (History 2EU) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| History (United States) | 5 | 2 units (History 2US) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| History (World) | 5 | 2 units (History 2WL) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Italian 2LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 2 units (Italian 2LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Japanese 1LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 2 units (Japanese 1LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Latin | 4 | 1 unit (Latin 2LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Latin | 5 | 2 units (Latin 2LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Mathematics (Calculus) AB, or the AB subscore of Calculus BC* | 4 | 1 unit (Math 220-1) | Math Requirement |
| Mathematics (Calculus) AB, or the AB subscore of Calculus BC* | 5 | 2 units (Math 220-1,2) | Math Requirement |
| Mathematics (Calculus) BC* | Below 4 | See Mathematics AB | See Mathematics AB |
| Mathematics (Calculus) BC* | 4 | 2 units (Math 220-1,2) | Math Requirement |
| Mathematics (Calculus) BC* | 5 | 3 units (Math 220-1,2 & Math 226-0) | Math Requirement & Unrestricted Elective (Math 226-0) |
| Music Theory | 5 | 1 unit (Gen Mus 252) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Physics 1 | 5 | 1.34 units (Physics 130-1 and lab course 13X-1) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Physics 2 | 5 | 1.34 units (Physics 130-2 and lab course 13X-2) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Physics C (Mechanics) | 5 | 1.34 units (Physics 135-1 and lab course 136-1) | Unrestricted Elective or Basic Science. Dependent on degree program. |
| Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism)* | 5 | 1.34 units (Physics 135-2 and lab course 136-2) | Basic Science or Unrestricted Elective |
| Psychology | 5 | 1 unit (Psychology 110) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Spanish 2LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 2 units (Spanish 2LN) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Spanish 2LT) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 2 units (Spanish 2LT) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Statistics* | 4, 5 | 1 unit (STAT 210-0) | Unrestricted Elective or Major Requirement. Dependent on degree program. |
Recognition for International Baccalaureate Testing
The following list is not exhaustive. Northwestern grants credit for sufficiently high scores on most HL (Higher Level) IB exams. Northwestern does not grant credit for any SL (Standard Level) IB exams.
| IB Higher Level Exam | Score | Northwestern Credit | Area to Allocate Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | 6, 7 | 1 unit (ANTHRO 1XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Arts (Visual) | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Art 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Biology | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Biol Sci 1XX) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Chemistry | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Chem 1XX) | Basic Science or Unrestricted Elective. Dependent on degree program. |
| Computer Science | 5, 6, 7 | 1 unit (COMP_SCI 1CA) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Dance | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Dance 1XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Economics | 6, 7 | 2 units (Econ 201, 202) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Environmental Systems and Societies | 6, 7 | 1 unit (EARTH 1ES) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Film | 6, 7 | 1 unit (RTVF 1XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Geography | 6, 7 | 1 unit (EARTH 1GE) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| History (Americas) | 6, 7 | 2 units (History 2AM) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| History (European) | 6, 7 | 2 units (History 2EU) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| History (Asia and Oceania, or Africa and Middle East) | 6, 7 | 2 units (History 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language A – English Literature | 6, 7 | 2 units (English 1LT) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language A – English Language and Literature | 6, 7 | 2 units (English 1LC) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language A – Literature (all languages other than English) | 6 | 1 unit of 1XX in the relevant language | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language A – Literature (all languages other than English) | 7 | 2 units of 1XX in the relevant language | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language A – Literature & Language (all languages other than English) | 6 | 1 unit of 1XX in the relevant language | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language A – Literature & Language (all languages other than English) | 7 | 2 units of 1XX in the relevant language | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language B (no credit if the language is English) | 6 | 1 unit of 1XX in the relevant language | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language B (no credit if the language is English) | 7 | 2 units of 1XX in the relevant language | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language – Classical (Latin or Classical Greek) | 6 | 1 unit of 1XX in the relevant language | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Language – Classical (Latin or Classical Greek) | 7 | 2 units of 1XX in the relevant language | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches* | 6 | 1 unit (Math 2XX) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches* | 7 | 2 units (Math 2XX) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation* | 6 | 1 unit (Math 2XX), and 1 unit (STAT 210) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation* | 7 | 2 units (Math 2XX), and 1 unit (STAT 210) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Philosophy | 7 | 1 unit (Phil 1XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Physics | 6, 7 | 2.68 units (Physics 130-1,2 and lab courses 13X-1,2) | Unrestricted Elective |
| Politics (Global) | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Poli Sci 2XX) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Psychology | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Psych 110) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
| Theatre | 6, 7 | 1 unit (THEATRE 1XX, also recognized by Performance Studies) | Theme or Unrestricted Elective |
* A student who earns a score of 6 or 7 on the IB Mathematics HL examination may be eligible for additional credit if their examination includes the Calculus Option (credit for MATH 220-2 and MATH 226-0) or the Statistics and Probability option (credit for STAT 210-0). To apply for additional credit, the student must have their high school IB Diploma Programme Coordinator submit a copy of the student's IB Registration Summary to the Office of the Registrar.
If you have taken an exam not listed here (British A-Levels, for example) and wish to discuss earning credit, please e-mail your McCormick first year adviser for further information.
