Re: Credit for AP and IB exams

[Stan Dodds <dodds@RICE.EDU>]

The practice here at Rice follows Ray's description below. Basically,
we don't offer non-calculus physics except for one course that can be
used in partial fulfillment of a general education requirement. AP
Physics B is viewed as the equivalent of the general education course,
while the C exams can substitute for the regular calculus-based
physics required for science/engineering majors.

Credit is also available here through IB higher level exams. If we are
consistent (not always the case), IB credit would apply to the general
education requirement, but would not substitute for the 'regular'
course.

Some institutions do teach a non-calculus physics survey course, often
intended for pre-med students. They could reasonably accept the AP-B
exam in lieu of that course, but actually practice might differ.

I hope this clarifies one view from the university side.

Stan

> What's been said so far about university credit for AP B and AP C tests
> pretty well matches what I thought.
>
> My question:  Why do so many university physics departments grant credit
> for doing well on the IB (International Baccalaureate) Higher Level physics
> test when it's not calculus-based?
>
> Digby Willard

> > While it varies from university to university generally most will not
> > give advanced standing for AP-B since it is (1) not calculus based and
> > (2) usually does not include 3 hrs of lab/week along with 5 hrs of
> > lecture. However, AP-B often can be used to waive the Natural Science
> > required in the General Education requirements. The University of
> > California system  will permit  AP-B to be used to waive either the
> > Natural Science or the Mathematics requirement in the GE requirements.