AP Credit-Granting Recommendations
The American Council on Education (ACE) and College Board recommend that colleges and universities award credit for AP scores of 3 or higher on any AP Exam. This recommendation is based upon ACE’s most recent review of AP and on the recommendation of the development committee for each course and exam.
Founded in 1918, ACE is the nation's unifying voice for higher education. ACE serves as a consensus leader on key higher education issues and seeks to influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives.
Credit-Granting Recommendations by AP Subject
The table below shows recommendations for what cut score should be demonstrated to earn college credit and how many semesters of credit should be awarded. For more detailed information for each AP subject, visit ACE’s website.
| AP Exam | Minimum Credit-Granting Score | Total Recommended Credits | Number of Semesters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Art History | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Business with Personal Finance | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | 8 | 2 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| 4 | 12 | 4 | |
| 5 | 16 | 5 | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Cybersecurity | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| European History | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 4 | 9 | 3 | |
| 5 | 12 | 4 | |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 12 | 4 |
| 4 | 16 | 5 | |
| 5 | 20 | 6 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 4 | 9 | 3 | |
| 5 | 12 | 4 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| 4 | 12 | 4 | |
| 5 | 16 | 5 | |
| Latin | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 4 | 9 | 3 | |
| 5 | 12 | 4 | |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 6 | 2 | |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Precalculus | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Research | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 4 | 9 | 3 | |
| 5 | 12 | 4 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 9 | 3 |
| 4 | 12 | 4 | |
| 5 | 15 | 5 | |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| United States History | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | 2 |