Pre-Matriculation Credits

Pre-matriculation credits are credits you may have earned from certain scores on advanced placement and SAT II examinations, scores on examinations of certain international diplomas, or college courses you may have taken prior to matriculating at Tufts. Pre-matriculation credits are treated as regular course credits and accepted toward fulfilling your degree requirements.

  • Arts and Sciences BA/BS students can have a maximum of 5 pre-matriculation course equivalencies regardless of credits. 
  • Arts and Sciences BFA students can have a maximum of 4 credits for Studio Art pre-matriculation test credit, and the equivalent of up to two non-studio pre-matriculation course equivalencies, regardless of Semester-hour units. 
  • Engineering students can have a maximum of 27 credits of pre-matriculation credit. 

Please note, if a student elects to take the equivalent course at Tufts, the exam credit will be removed upon completion of the course. This applies only to scores for which departments award credits.

The following exam equivalencies are only applicable to the incoming class matriculating in the Fall of 2024. For all other class years, please refer to the Tufts Bulletin. Incoming students should keep the following points in mind:

AbbreviationTest Name
APAdvanced Placement
SATSAT I
SAT IISAT Subject Tests
A-levelBritish General Certificate of Education
FBFrench Baccalaureate
IB-HLInternational Baccalaureate Higher Level
IB-SLInternational Baccalaureate Subsidiary Level

Anthropology

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent
A-levelA, B3.0ANTH 0010
IB-HL6,73.0ANTH 0010

Art History

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent
AP4,53.0FAH 0330

Biology

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP55.0BIO APEquivalent to BIO 13 or BIO 14
A-LevelA, B5.0BIO ACEquivalent to BIO 13 or BIO 14
IB- HL6, 75.0BIO ACEquivalent to BIO 13 or BIO 14

Chemistry

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP510.0CHEM 0001 & 0002Lose credit if CHEM 11 & 12 are taken
 (5)5.0CHEM 0001If CHEM 0002 or 0012 is taken at Tufts
A-LevelA10.0CHEM 00001 & 0002Exempt from CHEM 0001 & 0011
 (A)5.0CHEM 0001If CHEM 0002 or 0012 is taken at Tufts
 B5.0CHEM 0001Lose credit if CHEM 11 is taken
IB/HL710.0CHEM 0001 & 0002Lose credit if CHEM 0011 & 0012 are taken
 (7)5.0CHEM 0001If CHEM 0002 or 0012 is taken at Tufts
 65.0CHEM 0001Lose credit if CHEM 11 is taken

Chinese

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent
AP50.0CHNS 0004
 40.0CHNS 0003

Classics

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent
A-levelA, B3.0CLS AC
IB-HL6,73.0CLS AC

Computer Science

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP 4, 53.0COMP 0005Either COMP A or CSP. If both exams are taken, only one credit is awarded.Awards general credit for EN; Does not satisfy SoE course requirements
A-levelA, B3.0COMP 0005Awards general credit for EN; Does not satisfy SoE course requirements
IB-HL6, 73.0COMP 0005Awards general credit for EN; Does not satisfy SoE course requirements

Economics

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP53.0EC APStudent should enroll in EC 0005
 5/57.0EC 0005 and EC APIf both Macro and Micro AP
A-levelA, B7.0EC 0005 and EC AC 
IB-HL6, 77.0EC 0005 and EC AC 

English

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP53.0ENG 01/2Exempt from Writing Requirement
 43.0ENG 0001 
A-levelA3.0ENG 01/2Exempt from Writing Requirement
 B3.0ENG 0001 
General Paper Exam (A- Level)A3.0ENG 01/2Exempt from Writing Requirement
 B3.0ENG 0001 
IB/HL73.0ENG 01/2

ENG A Lang & Lit, ENG A Lit

Exempt from Writing Requirement

 63.0ENG 0001ENG A Lang & Lit, ENG A Lit

Environmental Science

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP4, 53.0BIO 0007Awards general credit for EN; Does not satisfy SoE course requirements
A-levelA, B3.0BIO 0007Awards general credit for EN; Does not satisfy SoE course requirements
IB-SL6, 73.0BIO 0007Awards general credit for EN; Does not satisfy SoE course requirements

Film

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
IB - HL6, 73.0FMS 10 

French

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP54.0FR 0021 
 40.0FR 0004 
 30.0FR 0003 
SAT770-8004.0FR 0022 
 720-7600.0FR 0021 
 660-7100.0FR 0004 
 590-6500.0FR 0003 
 500-5800.0FR 0002 
 420-4900.0FR 0001 
A-levelA4.0FR 0021 
 B0.0FR 0004 
IB/HL74.0FR 0021FR A Lang&Lit, FR B
 60.0FR 0004FR A Lang&Lit, FR B
 50.0FR 0003FR A Lang&Lit, FR B
IB/SL 0.0 Take Placement Exam
FB12-204.0FR 0122 

German

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP54.0GER 0021 
 40.0GER 0004 
 30.0GER 0003 
SAT770-8004.0GER 0022 
 720-7600.0GER 0021 
 660-7100.0GER 0004 
 600-6500.0GER 0003 
 490-5900.0GER 0002 
 410-4800.0GER 0001 
IB/HL74.0GER 0021GER A Lit&Lang and GER B
 60.0GER 0004GER A Lit&Lang and GER B
 50.0GER 0003GER A Lit&Lang and GER B

Hebrew

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent
SAT770-8004.0HEB 0022
 720-7600.0HEB 0021
 660-7100.0HEB 0004
 600-6500.0HEB 0003
 490-5900.0HEB 0002
 410-4800.0HEB 0001

History

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP4, 53.0HIST APA max of 6.0 Semester Hour Units are awarded
A-levelA, B3.0HIST AC 
IB-HL 6, 73.0HIST AC 

Human Geography

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent
AP4, 53.0ANTH AP

Italian

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP50.0ITAL 0004 
 40.0ITAL 0003 
 30.0ITAL 0002 
SAT770-8004.0ITAL 0022 
 720-7600.0ITAL 0021 
 660-7100.0ITAL 0004 
 590-6500.0ITAL 0003 
 500-5800.0ITAL 0002 
 420-4900.0ITAL 0001 
IB-HL74.0ITAL 0021ITAL A Lit&Lang, ITAL B
 60.0ITAL 0003ITAL A Lit&Lang, ITAL B
IB-SL   Take placement exam

Latin

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent
AP53.0LAT 0003
IB-HL6, 73.0LAT 0003

Mathematics

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP AB54.0MATH 0032 
 44.0MATH 0032No credit for Engineering students.
AP BC58.0MATH 0032 & 0034 
 44.0MATH 0032 
 34.0MATH 0032Rule for A&S, with AB subscore of 4 or 5
Mathematics A-levelA4.0MATH 0034Math 32 for Engineering students.
 B4.0MATH 0032 
IB-HL78.0MATH 0032 & 34Analysis & Approaches Applications & Interpretation
 64.0Math 32Analysis & Approaches Applications & Interpretation

Music

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP50.0N/ASee Department for placement
A-levelA, B3.0MUS ACSee Department for placement
IB-HL6, 73.0MUS ACSee Department for placement

Physics

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP Physics 155.0PHY 0001No credit for Engineering students
 45.0PHY 0001No credit for Engineering students
AP Physics 255.0PHY 0002No credit for Engineering students
AP Physics B55.0PHY 0001No credit for Engineering students
 45.0PHY 0001No credit for Engineering students
AP Physics C (M)55.0PHY 0011Lose credit if PHY 1 is taken
 45.0PHY 0011Lose credit if PHY 1 is taken
AP Physics C (E)55.0PHY 0012 
A-levelA5.0PHY 0002No credit for Engineering students
 B5.0PHY 0001No credit for Engineering students
IB-HL75.0PHY 0002No credit for Engineering students
 65.0PHY 0001No credit for Engineering students

Political Science

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP4, 53.0PS AP

Max of 3 credits and one course equivalent for multiple exams.

Cannot be used toward the major

A-levelA, B3.0PS AC

Max of 3 credits and one course equivalent for multiple exams.

Cannot be used toward the major

IB-HL6, 73.0PS AC

Max of 3 credits and one course equivalent for multiple exams.

Cannot be used toward the major

Psychology

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP4, 53.0PSY 0001 
A-levelA, B3.0PSY 0001 
IB- HL6, 73.0PSY 0001 

Sociology

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent
A-levelA, B3.0SOC 0001
IB-HL6,73.0SOC 0001

Spanish

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent 
AP50.0SPN 0004 
 40.0SPN 0003 
 30.0SPN 0002 
 20.0SPN 0001 
SAT770-8004.0SPN 0022 
 720-7600.0SPN 0021 
 660-7100.0SPN 0004 
 590-6500.0SPN 0003 
 500-5800.0SPN 0002 
 420-4900.0SPN 0001 
IB-HL70.0SPN 0021 SPN A Lang&Lit, SPN A Lit, SPB B
 60.0SPN 0003SPN A Lang&Lit, SPN A Lit, SPB B
 50.0SPN 0002SPN A Lang&Lit, SPN A Lit, SPB B
IB SL6, 70.0SPN 0002SPN A Lang&Lit, SPN A Lit, SPB B
 50.0SPN 0001Take Placement

Statistics

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP4, 53.0MATH 0021
 
Awards general credit for EN; Does not satisfy SoE course requirements
A-levelA, B3.0MATH 0021
 
Awards general credit for EN; Does not satisfy SoE course requirements

Studio Art 

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
AP 4, 54.0SMFA AP 
 
 
A-levelA, B4.0SMFA AC 
IB-HL6, 7 4.0SMFA AC 

Theater

ExamScoreCreditEquivalent
A-levelA, B3.0TPS AC
IB-HL6, 73.0TPS AC

Visual Arts

ExamScoreCreditEquivalentNotes
IB-HL6, 74.0SMFA AC 

How Do I Send My AP, IB, and/or A-Level Scores to the Registrar?

AP Scores

Check if you’ve sent your AP scores to Tufts University

  1. Go to www.collegeboard.org and sign in using your College Board username and password. (See a screenshot of step 1)
  2. Click "AP Scores" at the top of the screen. (See a screenshot of step 2)
  3. Click "Your past score orders" at the top of the screen. (See a screenshot of step 3)
  4. Under "My Scores Sent to Colleges," check to see if "Tufts University" is listed under “Institution.” (See a screenshot of step 4)
  5. If Tufts University is listed, check to make sure a “Send Date” is listed.
  6. If Tufts University is not listed, follow the steps below to send your scores to Tufts.

Send your AP scores to Tufts University

  1. Go to www.collegeboard.org and sign in using your College Board username and password. (See a screenshot of step 1)
  2. Click "AP Scores" at the top of the screen. (See a screenshot of step 2)
  3. Click on “Send Scores to Colleges Now.” (See a screenshot of step 3, sending scores)
  4. A confirmation box will pop up reminding you that there will be a fee associated with sending your scores. Check the box that says “I have read this notice and want to send my score(s) using this service,” and then click "Continue." (See a screenshot of step 4, sending scores)
  5. In the search box, enter Tufts University code "3901," and then click "Continue." (See a screenshot of step 5)
  6. Click the orange plus sign to select Tufts University, and then click "Continue." (See screenshots: orange plus sign"Continue" button)
  7. Choose your "Delivery Speed & Fee" from the drop down menu. Review the information on the page, and then click "Continue." (See a screenshot of step 7)
  8. Review or enter your billing and payment information, and then click "Submit."

Please note: AP scores must be from the College Board in order to be processed by the Registrar for potential Transfer Credit. The Registrar cannot accept your paper records of your AP test scores.

IB Scores

Order details

  1. Visit https://rrs.ibo.org/replacement_order/index.cfm
  2. Under "results requests," select “Request for results to Institutes of higher education.”
  3. Under "transcript related information," select "UNITED STATES" as the institute country, "MASSACHUSETTS" as the institute state, and "TUFTS UNIVERSITY" as the institute.
  4. Click “Add transcript request.” This will add a line reading “Tufts University - UNITED STATES - MASSACHUSETTS - http://www.tufts.edu” under “Your current requests.”
  5. Enter the CAPTCHA text.
  6. Continue onto the next step.

Contact details

  1. Fill in the “Contact details” section with your personal information
  2. Fill in the “IB details” section with the information of the scores you would like to send
  3. Indicate whether or not you require a receipt with your order
  4. Be sure to tick the box which confirms you have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the IB organization
  5. Continue onto the next step.

Confirm details

  1. Confirm the details that you have entered
  2. Continue onto the next step.

Make payment

Enter the information for your means of payment. You may pay with a debit or credit card.

British A-Levels

Request that the accredited General Certificate of Education agency send a copy of your certificate to Student Services:

Dowling Hall
Student Services Center
419 Boston Avenue
Tufts University
Medford, MA 02155

Please note: Arts and Sciences (BA/BS) students can have a maximum of 5 test credits, Arts and Sciences (BFA) students can have a maximum of 1 studio test credit and 2 academic test credits, and Engineering students can have a maximum of 27 Semester-hour units (SHUs).