Pre-Matriculation Credits
Students who clearly demonstrate the capacity for upper-level course work will ordinarily be granted credit and advanced standing at the discretion of the relevant academic department. Any credits received for academic work completed before enrolling at Tufts are considered "credit-bearing pre-matriculation course equivalents." Students in the School of Arts and Sciences may receive up to five credit-bearing pre-matriculation course equivalents towards their degree, and may apply one course equivalent towards each of the five areas for distribution requirements. Students in the School of Engineering may use up to 27 pre-matriculation credits towards their degree. Most pre-matriculation course equivalents will carry three credits, but some course equivalents may carry more credit. In several cases, pre-matriculation scores may yield placement into a higher level course or fulfillment of a requirement but receive no credit; these scores are marked with 0 in the charts below.
Note: this is a simplified chart intended for prospective students. Current students should refer to the information on the Student Services website, which can be found by clicking here.
Jump to the Appropriate Chart
Advanced Placement (AP) - Arts and Sciences and Engineering
British General Certificate of Education (A-Level)
International Baccalaureate - Arts and Sciences and Engineering
Advanced Placement (AP) - Arts and Sciences
For the School of Arts and Sciences, these are the available course equivalents from Advanced Placement exams:
| Exam | Score | Credit Equivalents | Notes |
| Art History | 4, 5 | 3 | |
| Biology | 5 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of BIO 13 or BIO 14 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 10 | Earns the equivalent of CHEM 0001 and 0002 |
| Chinese | 5 | 0 | Place out of 4 semesters of Chinese coursework |
| 4 | 0 | Place out of 3 semesters of Chinese coursework | |
| Computer Science | 4, 5 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of COMP 0005 |
| Economics | 5 | 3 | Awarded for either Macroeconomics or Microeconomics exams |
| 5/5 | 7 | With both Macroeconomics and Microeconomics exams, place out of EC 0005 | |
| English | 5 | 3 | For either AP English exam, exempt from First-Year Writing Requirement |
| 4 | 3 | For either English exam, place out of ENG 0001 | |
| Environmental Science | 4, 5 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of BIO 0007 |
| French | 5 | 4 | Place out of 5 semesters of French coursework |
| 4 | 0 | Place out of 4 semesters of French coursework | |
| 3 | 0 | Place out of 3 semesters of French coursework | |
| German | 5 | 4 | Place out of 5 semesters of German coursework |
| 4 | 0 | Place out of 4 semesters of German coursework | |
| 3 | 0 | Place out of 3 semesters of German coursework | |
| History | 4, 5 | 3 | Maximum of 2 course equivalents awarded for AP History exams, if multiple exams are taken |
| Human Geography | 4, 5 | 3 | Course equivalent awarded through the Anthropology Department |
| Italian | 5 | 0 | Place out of 4 semesters of Italian coursework |
| 4 | 0 | Place out of 3 semesters of Italian coursework | |
| 3 | 0 | Place out of 2 semesters or Italian coursework | |
| Latin | 5 | 3 | Place out of 3 semesters of Latin coursework |
| Mathematics: Calculus AB | 4, 5 | 4 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 |
| Mathematics: Calculus BC | 5 | 8 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 and 0034 |
| 4 | 4 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 | |
| Music | 5 | 0 | See Department for placement |
| Physics 1 | 5 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0001 |
| 4 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0001 | |
| Physics 2 | 5 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0002 |
| Physics C (M) | 4, 5 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0011 |
| Physics C (E) | 5 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0012 |
| Political Science | 4, 5 | 3 | Either Government exam may be taken for a maximum of one course equivalent. |
| Psychology | 4, 5 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of PSY 0001 |
| Spanish | 5 | 0 | Place out of 4 semesters of Spanish coursework |
| 4 | 0 | Place out of 3 semesters of Spanish coursework | |
| 3 | 0 | Place out of 2 semesters of Spanish coursework | |
| 2 | 0 | Place out of 1 semester of Spanish coursework | |
| Statistics | 4, 5 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0021 |
| Studio Art | 4, 5 | 4 |
Return to Top
Advanced Placement (AP) - Engineering
For the School of Engineering, these are the available course equivalents from Advanced Placement exams:
| Exam | Score | Credit Equivalents | Notes |
| Biology | 5 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of BIO 13 or BIO 14 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 10 | Earns the equivalent of CHEM 0001 and 0002 |
| Computer Science | 4, 5 | 3 | Credit awarded for either COMP A or CSP. If both exams are taken, only one credit is awarded. Does not satisfy Engineering course requirements. |
| Economics | 5 | 3 | Awarded for either Macroeconomics or Microeconomics exams |
| 5/5 | 7 | With both Macroeconomics and Microeconomics exams, place out of EC 0005 | |
| English | 5 | 3 | For either AP English exam, exempt from First-Year Writing Requirement |
| 4 | 3 | For either English exam, place out of ENG 0001 | |
| Environmental Science | 4, 5 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of BIO 0007 |
| French | 5 | 4 | 1 Humanities credit |
| German | 5 | 4 | 1 Humanities credit |
| Latin | 5 | 4 | 1 Humanities credit |
| History | 4, 5 | 3 | Maximum of 2 course equivalents awarded for AP History exams, if multiple exams are taken |
| Mathematics: Calculus AB | 5 | 4 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 |
| Mathematics: Calculus BC | 5 | 8 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 and 0034 |
| 4 | 4 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 | |
| Physics C (M) | 4, 5 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0011 |
| Physics (E) | 5 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0012 |
| Political Science | 4, 5 | 3 | Either Government exam may be taken for a maximum of one course equivalent. |
| Statistics | 4, 5 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0021 |
Return to Top
British General Certificate of Education (A-Level)
These are the available course equivalents from British General Certificate of Education (A-Level) exams:
| Exam | Score | Credit Equivalents | Notes |
| Anthropology | A, B | 3 | Earns the equivalent of ANTH 0010 |
| Biology | A, B | 5 | Earns the equivalent of BIO 13 or BIO 14 |
| Chemistry | A | 10 | Earns the equivalent of CHEM 0001 and 0011 |
| B | 5 | Earns the equivalent of CHEM 0001 | |
| Classics | A, B | 3 | |
| Computer Science | A, B | 3 | Earns the equivalent of COMP 0005 for Arts and Sciences students; awards general credit for Engineering students. Does not satisfy Engineering course requirements. |
| Economics | A, B | 7 | Earns the equivalent of EC 0005 plus additional department credit |
| English | A | 3 | Exempt from First-Year Writing Requirement |
| B | 3 | Place out of ENG 0001 | |
| Environmental Science | A, B | 3 | Earns the equivalent of BIO 0007 for Arts and Sciences students; awards general credit for Engineering students. Does not satisfy Engineering course requirements. |
| French | A | 4 | Place out of French 0021 |
| History | A, B | 3 | |
| Mathematics | A | 4 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0034 for Arts and Sciences students; earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 for Engineering students. |
| B | 4 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 | |
| Music | A, B | 3 | See Department for placement |
| Physics | A | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0002 for Arts and Sciences students only |
| B | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0001 for Arts and Sciences students only | |
| Political Science | A, B | 3 | |
| Psychology | A, B | 3 | Earns the equivalent of PSY 0001 |
| Sociology | A, B | 3 | Earns the equivalent of SOC 0001 |
| Statistics | A, B | 3 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0021 for Arts and Sciences students; awards general credit for Engineering students. Does not satisfy Engineering course requirements. |
Return to Top
International Baccalaureate (IB) - Arts and Sciences
For the School of Arts and Sciences, these are the available course equivalents from International Baccalaureate exams. All exams must be Higher Level except where otherwise noted:
| Exam | Score | Credit Equivalents | Notes |
| Anthropology | 6, 7 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of ANTH 0010 |
| Biology | 6, 7 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of BIO 13 or BIO 14 |
| Chemistry | 7 | 10 | Earns the equivalent of CHEM 0001 and 0002 |
| 6 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of CHEM 0001 | |
| Classics | 6, 7 | 3 | |
| Computer Science | 6, 7 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of COMP 0005 |
| Economics | 6, 7 | 7 | Earns the equivalent of EC 0005 plus additional department credit |
| English | 7 | 3 | Exempt from First-Year Writing Requirement |
| 6 | 3 | Place out of ENG 0001 | |
| Environmental Science | 6, 7 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of BIO 0007 |
| French | 7 | 4 | Place out of 5 semesters of French coursework |
| 6 | 0 | Place out of 4 semesters of French coursework | |
| 5 | 0 | Place out of 3 semesters of French coursework | |
| German | 7 | 4 | Place out of 5 semesters of German coursework |
| 6 | 0 | Place out of 3 semesters of German coursework | |
| 5 | 0 | Place out of 2 semesters of German coursework | |
| History | 6, 7 | 3 | |
| Italian | 7 | 4 | Place out of 5 semesters of Italian coursework |
| 6 | 0 | Place out of 3 semesters of Italian coursework | |
| Latin | 6,7 | 3 | Place out of 3 semesters of Latin coursework |
| Mathematics | 7 | 8 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 and 34 |
| 6 | 4 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 | |
| Music | 6, 7 | 3 | See Department for placement |
| Physics | 7 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0002 |
| 6 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of PHY 0001 | |
| Political Science | 6, 7 | 3 | |
| Psychology | 6, 7 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of PSY 0001 |
| Sociology | 6, 7 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of SOC 0001 |
| Spanish (Higher Level) | 7 | 0 | Place out of 5 semesters of Spanish coursework |
| 6 | 0 | Place out of 3 semesters of Spanish coursework | |
| 5 | 0 | Place out of 2 semesters of Spanish coursework | |
| Spanish (Standard Level) | 6, 7 | 0 | Place out of 2 semesters of Spanish coursework |
| 5 | 0 | Place out of 1 semester of Spanish coursework | |
| Studio Art | 6, 7 | 4 | |
| Theater | 6,7 | 3 |
Return to Top
International Baccalaureate (IB) - Engineering
For the School of Engineering, these are the available course equivalents from International Baccalaureate exams. All exams must be Higher Level except where otherwise noted:
| Exam | Score | Credit Equivalents | Notes |
| Biology | 6, 7 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of BIO 13 or BIO 14 |
| Chemistry | 7 | 10 | Earns the equivalent of CHEM 0001 and 0002 |
| 6 | 5 | Earns the equivalent of CHEM 0001 | |
| Computer Science | 6, 7 | 3 | Awards general credit for Engineering students. Does not satisfy Engineering course requirements. |
| English | 7 | 3 | Exempt from First-Year Writing Requirement |
| 6 | 3 | Place out of ENG 0001 | |
| Environmental Science | 6, 7 | 3 | Awards general credit for Engineering students. Does not satisfy Engineering course requirements. |
| Languages other than English | 6, 7 | 4 | See this site for specific languages |
| Mathematics | 7 | 8 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 and 34 |
| 6 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of MATH 0032 | |
| Psychology | 6, 7 | 3 | Earns the equivalent of PSY 0001 |
Return to Top
College Coursework
Students who took college courses while still in high school may request transfer of credit for those courses. Course equivalents are awarded only for those courses taken at a college with regularly enrolled college students. Course equivalents will not be given for college courses offered at a secondary school composed entirely of secondary school students. Students requesting these course equivalents should provide a letter from their principal or school counseling department stating that the course was not used to complete requirements for the high school diploma.