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Frequently Asked Questions about Advanced Placement Tests

Below are some frequently asked questions about the Advanced Placement test.

Q: What scores do I need to get on the exam to receive college credit for Calculus?

A: We grant credit for Calculus in the following way:

Test Score Credit & Placement:

  • BC 4 or 5 credit for Calculus I & II; take Calculus III
  • BC 3 credit for Calculus I; take Calculus II
  • BC 1 or 2 credit and placement determined on a case-by-case basis
  • AB 4 or 5 credit for Calculus I; take Calculus II
  • AB 3 credit for Applied Calculus for Business; placement into Calculus II.  Upon completion of Calculus II with a grade of C or higher, the student may request to change the credit from Applied Calculus to Calculus I.
  • AB 1 or 2 no credit; take Calculus I

Q: What scores do I need to get on the exam to receive college credit for Statistics?

A: We grant credit for Statistics in the following way:

Test Score Credit & Placement:

  • 4 or 5 credit for Introduction to Statistics (ST210) or Biostatistics (ST265)
  • 3 credit for Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis (ST110)

Q: I am not taking calculus in high school. Will I be behind in college?

A: NO. Our program assumes students begin with Calculus I. The only prerequisite is Precalculus. Further, Calculus I is taught as if students do not know any calculus.

Q: I am taking calculus in high school; however, my course is not an AP course. Will I need to take Calculus I in college?

A: YES. We only give advanced placement credit to students who have taken the AP exam. Since our Calculus I course makes extensive use of the computer, it is likely that our course will differ in significant ways from your high school course. Of course, there will be some repetition. (The derivative of sin x will still be cos x!)

Q: I am taking AP Calculus. Should I take the AP exam?

A: YES. We do give advanced placement credit to students who earn high scores on the AP exam. Thus it is to your advantage to take the exam.

Q: I don't have any computer experience. Even if I do well on the AP exam, can I really "skip" Calculus I (and II)?

A: YES. In each calculus course, instructors cover the fundamentals of computer usage for those students who do not have any prior experience.