National Standardized Exams

National Standardized Exams

As you prepare to attend Maricopa Community Colleges, we want to make your educational experience as seamless as possible. Here are seven options to help get placed in the right courses, so you start your educational journey off on the right foot.

To explore the different college equivalency options, click on the links below to discover which ones apply to you:

ACT Proficiency Examination Program

Maricopa Community Colleges may award credit for the American College Testing Proficiency Examination Program (ACT-PEP) based on the scores you earned.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

If you have taken an Advanced Placement (AP) course in high school from the College Board and have taken the Advanced Placement Examination, you may qualify to receive course credit at Maricopa Community Colleges. Scores must be received directly from the College Board before credit is awarded. Changes to exams and scores are determined by the respective Maricopa Instructional Councils or statewide Articulation Task Forces (ATFs).

AP Examination Score Maricopa Community Colleges Equivalency Credit Hours
Art—History 5 or 4 ARH101 and ARH102 6
3 ARH101 or ARH102 3
2-D Art and Design 5 or 4 ART112 3
3-D Art and Design 5 or 4 ART115 3
Drawing 5 or 4 ART111 3
Biology 5 or 4 BIO181 and BIO182 8
3 BIO100 4
Calculus AB (previously Mathematics—Calculus AB) 5, 4, or 3 MAT221 4
Calculus BC (previously Mathematics—Calculus BC) 5 or 4 MAT221 and MAT231 8
3 MAT221 4
Chemistry 4 CHM151 and CHM151LL 4
5 CHM151 and CHM151LL and CHM152 and CHM152LL 8
Chinese Language and Culture (previously Chinese—Language) 5 CHI101 and CHI102 and CHI201 and CHI202 20
4 CHI101 and CHI102 and CHI201 15
3 CHI101 and CHI102 10
Comparative Government and Politics (previously Political Science—Comparative Government and Politics) 5 or 4 POS140 3
Computer Science A 5 or 4 CSC100 or CSC110 3
Computer Science Principles 5 Elective 3
English—Language and Composition 5 or 4 ENG101 3 (and placement into honors composition at Arizona public universities)
English—Literature and Composition 5 or 4 ENG101 3 (and placement into honors composition at Arizona public universities)
Environmental Science 5 or 4 Elective 3
European History 5 or 4 HIS101 and HIS102 6
French—Language and Culture 5, 4, or 3 FRE201 and FRE202 8
German—Language and Culture 3 GER201 and GER202 8
German—Language and Culture 4 GER201 and GER202 and GERELC (3) 11
German—Language and Culture 5 GER201 and GER202 and GERELC (6) 14
Human Geography 5 or 4 GCU102 3
Italian Language and Culture 5 ITA101 and ITA102 and ITA201 and ITA202 16
4 ITA101 and ITA102 and ITA201 12
3 ITA101 and ITA102 8
Japanese Language and Culture (previously Japanese—Language) 5 JPN101 and JPN102 and JPN201 and JPN202 20
4 JPN101 and JPN102 and JPN201 15
3 JPN101 and JPN102 10
Latin (previously Latin—Language) 5 LAT101 and LAT102 and LAT201 and LAT202 16
4 LAT101 and LAT102 and LAT201 12
3 LAT101 and LAT102 8
Macroeconomics 5 or 4 ECN211 3
Microeconomics 5 or 4 ECN212 3
Music Theory (previously Music) 5 or 4 MTC105 and MTC106 4
Physics 1—Algebra-based 5 or 4 PHY111 4
Physics 2—Algebra-based 5 or 4 PHY112 4
Physics C—Electricity and Magnetism 5, 4, or 3 PHY112 4
Physics C—Mechanics 5, 4, or 3 PHY111 4
Precalculus 5, 4, or 3 MAT187 or MAT188 5 or 4
Psychology 5 or 4 PSY101 3
Research 3 or higher Elective 3
Seminar 3 or higher Elective 3
Spanish—Language 3 SPA201 and SPA202 8
Spanish—Language 4 SPA201 and SPA202 and SPAELC (3) 11
Spanish—Language 5 SPA201 and SPA202 and SPAELC (6) 14
Spanish—Literature and Culture 3 SPA201 and SPA202 8
Spanish—Literature and Culture 4 SPA201 and SPA202 and SPAELC (3) 11
Spanish—Literature and Culture 5 SPA201 and SPA202 and SPAELC (6) 14
Statistics 5, 4, or 3 MAT206 3
U.S. Government and Politics (previously Political Science—American Government) 5 or 4 POS110 3
U.S. History (previously History—American) 5 or 4 HIS103 and HIS104 6
World History 5 or 4 HIS111 3

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

If you have taken or plan to take a College Level Examination Program through the College Board, you may receive college credit from Maricopa Community Colleges. Scores must be received directly from the College Board before credit is awarded. The amount of credit awarded, acceptable scores, and equivalent courses are determined by the respective Maricopa Instructional Councils or statewide Articulation Task Forces (ATFs).

Estrella Mountain Community College, Rio Salado College, Paradise Valley Community College, Mesa Community College, and South Mountain Community College are CLEP test sites. For more information on registering for the CLEP examinations, contact the testing centers at these colleges.

CLEP Examination Score Maricopa Community Colleges Equivalency Credit Hours
General
College Composition
Note: Maricopa Community Colleges do not award credit for ENG 102 through CLEP Examination.
50 or higher ENG101 (3) or Elective (3) (and placement into honors composition at universities) 3
Humanities 50 or higher Elective* 6
Natural Sciences 56 or higher Elective 6
53-55 Elective 3
Social Sciences and History 56 or higher Elective 3
Subject
American Government 50 or higher POS110 3
American Literature 50 or higher ENH241* or ENH242 3
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 50 or higher Elective* 3
Biology 50 or higher BIO Elective* 3
Calculus (previously Calculus with Elem Functions) 50 or higher MAT221 4
Chemistry 50 or higher CHM151 (3) and CHM151LL (1)* 4
College Algebra 50 or higher MAT152 3
English Literature 50 or higher Elective* 3
Financial Accounting 50 or higher Elective (students pursuing an AAS at a community college may be able to substitute this exam course to meet an Accounting requirement, but a substitution is not allowed in a transfer degree. Contact the appropriate department at your community college to see if this is an option). 3
French Language, Level 1 (previously French Language) 50-54 FRE101 4
55-61 FRE101 and FRE102 8
French Language, Level 2 (previously French Language) 62-65 FRE101 and FRE102 and FRE201 12
66-80 FRE101 and FRE102 and FRE201 and FRE202 16
German Language, Level 1 (previously German Language) 39-45 GER101 4
46-50 GER101 and GER102 8
German Language, Level 2 (previously German Language) 51-59 GER101 and GER102 and GER201 12
60-80 GER101 and GER102 and GER201 and GER202 16
History of the U.S. I—Early Colonization to 1877 56 or higher HIS103 3
History of the U.S. II—1865 to the Present 56 or higher HIS104 3
Human Growth and Development 50 or higher CFS205 3
Information Systems 50 or higher Elective 3
Intro to Educational Psychology 50 or higher EDU Elective 3
Introductory Business Law 50 or higher Elective 3
Introductory Psychology 50 or higher PSY101 3
Introductory Sociology 50 or higher SOC101 3
Precalculus 50 or higher MAT187 5
Principles of Macroeconomics 50 or higher ECN211 3
Principles of Microeconomics 50 or higher ECN212 3
Spanish Language, Level 1 (previously Spanish Language) 50-54 SPA101 4
55-65 SPA101 and SPA102 8
Spanish Language, Level 2 (previously Spanish Language) 66-67 SPA101 and SPA102 and SPA201 12
68-80 SPA101 and SPA102 and SPA201 and SPA202 16
Spanish with Writing 50-59 SPA101 and SPA102 8
60 or higher SPA101 and SPA102 and SPA201 and SPA202 16
Western Civilization I—Ancient Near East to 1648 56 or higher HIS100 or HIS101 3
Western Civilization II - 1648 to the Present 56 or higher HIS102 3

  *The general studies requirement in natural sciences (SQ and SG) and Literacy and Critical Inquiry (L) are not satisfied by CLEP.

International Baccalaureate Diploma or Certificate (IB)

Did you earn an International Baccalaureate diploma or certificate? You may qualify for college credit as outlined in the table below. Maricopa Community Colleges grants credit for college-level courses only. Scores must be received directly from the institution where the exams were administered before credit is awarded. The amount of credit awarded, the acceptable scores, and the equivalent courses are determined by the respective Maricopa Instructional Councils (ICs) or statewide Articulation Task Forces (ATFs).

IB Examination Score Score Maricopa Community Colleges Equivalency Credit Hours
Biology (HL) 5 or higher BIO181 and BIO182 8
4 BIO100 4
Biology (SL) 5 or higher BIO100 4
4 BIO Elective 3
Business and Management (HL) 5 or higher Elective 3
Business and Management (SL) 4 or higher Elective 3
Chemistry (HL) 5 or higher CHM151 and CHM151LL and CHM152 and CHM152LL 8
4 CHM151 and CHM151LL 4
Chinese B (HL) 4 CHI101 5
5 CHI101 and CHI102 10
6 CHI101 and CHI102 and CHI201 15
7 CHI101 and CHI102 and CHI201 and CHI202 20
Classical Languages (HL) 4 LAT101 4
5 LAT101 and LAT102 8
6 LAT101 and LAT102 and LAT201 12
7 LAT101 and LAT102 and LAT201 and LAT202 16
Computer Science (HL) 5 or higher CSC110(3) or CSC110AA(3) or CSC110AB(4) 3 or 4
Computer Science (SL) 4 or higher Elective 3
Economics (HL) 5 or higher ECN211 and ECN212 6
Environmental Systems and Societies (SL) 5 or higher Elective 3
French B (HL) 4 FRE101 4
5 FRE101 and FRE102 8
6 FRE101 and FRE102 and FRE201 12
7 FRE101 and FRE102 and FRE201 and FRE202 16
Geography (HL *previously Human Geography) 5 or higher GCU102 3
Geography (SL) 4 or higher GCU Elective 3
German B (HL) 4 GER101 4
5 GER101 and GER102 8
6 GER101 and GER102 and GER201 12
7 GER101 and GER102 and GER201 and GER202 16
History—Africa and the Middle East (HL) 5 or higher Elective 3
History—Americas (HL) 5 or higher HIS103 and HIS104 6
4 HIS103 3
History—Europe (HL) 5 or higher HIS101 and HIS102 6
4 HIS101 3
Information Technology in a Global Society (HL) 5 or higher Elective 3
Japanese B (HL) 4 JPN101 5
5 JPN101 and JPN102 10
6 JPN101 and JPN102 and JPN201 15
7 JPN101 and JPN102 and JPN201 and JPN 202 20
Language A: Literature - HL 5 or higher ENG101 3
Language A: Language & Literature - HL 5 or higher ENG101 3
Mathematics—Analysis and Approaches (HL) 5 or higher MAT220 5
Mathematics—Analysis and Approaches (SL) 5 or higher MAT142 3
Mathematics—Applications and Interpretations (HL) 5 or higher MAT142 3
Physics (HL) 6 or higher PHY111 and PHY112 8
5 PHY111 4
Physics (SL) 6 or higher PHY111 4
Psychology (HL) 5 or higher PSY101 3
Social and Cultural Anthropology (HL) 4 or higher ASB102 3
Spanish B (HL) 4 SPA101 4
5 SPA101 and SPA102 8
6 SPA101 and SPA102 and SPA201 12
7 SPA101 and SPA102 and SPA201 and SPA202 16
Theatre (SL) 4 or higher THP298AC 3
Theatre (HL) 4 or higher THP298AC 3
Visual Arts (HL *previously Art/Design) 5 or higher ART111 and ART112 6
4 ART112 3

Cambridge International A and AS Levels Examinations (CIE)

If you’ve taken a Cambridge International A or AS Levels Examination you could receive college credit. Scores must be received directly from Cambridge International before credit is awarded. The amount of credit awarded, the acceptable scores, and the equivalent courses are determined by the respective Maricopa Instructional Councils (ICs) or statewide Articulation Task Forces (ATFs).

CIE Examination Score Maricopa Community Colleges Equivalency Credit Hours
Accounting (A level) E or higher Elective 6
Accounting (AS level) E or higher Elective 3
Art and Design (A level) E or higher ART111 and ART112 6
Art and Design (AS level) E or higher ART111 3
Biology (A level) D or higher BIO181 and BIO182 8
E BIO181 4
Biology (AS level) D or higher BIO100 or BIO Elective 4
E BIO100 4
Biology—Marine Science (A level) D or higher BIO Elective 3
Biology – Marine Science (AS level) D or higher BIO145 4
Business (A level) E or higher Elective 6
Business (AS level) E or higher Elective 3
Chemistry (A level) A CHM151 and CHM151LL and CHM152 and CHM152LL 8
B or C CHM151 and CHM 151LL 4
D or E CHM130 and CHM130LL 4
Chemistry (AS level) D or higher CHM130 and CHM130LL or CHM130AA 4
Chinese (A level) C or higher CHI102 5
Chinese (AS level) C or higher CHI101 5
Drama (A level) C or higher THP298AC 3
Drama (AS level) C or higher THP298AC 3
Economics (A level) D or higher ECN211 and ECN212 6
English Language (A level) E or higher Elective 3
Environmental Management (AS level) D or higher ENV101 4
French (A level) C or higher FRE101 and FRE102 8
French Language (AS level) C or higher FRE101 4
Geography (A level) C or higher Elective 6
Geography (AS level) C or higher Elective 3
German (A level) C or higher GER101 and GER102 8
German Language (AS level) C or higher GER101 4
Information Technology (A level) E or higher Elective 3
Information Technology (AS level) E or higher Elective credit 3
Mathematics (A level) E or higher MAT187 (5) and MAT212 (3) 8
Mathematics (AS level) E or higher MAT152 3
Mathematics—Further (A level) E or higher MAT221 and MAT231 and MAT206 11
Portuguese Language (A level) C or higher POR101 and POR102 10
Portuguese Language (AS level) C or higher POR101 5
Psychology (A level) E or higher PSY101 and PSY Elective 6
Psychology (AS level) E or higher PSY101 3
Spanish (A level) C or higher SPA101 and SPA102 8
Spanish First Language (AS level) C or higher SPA101 4
Spanish Language (AS level) C or higher SPA101 4
Travel and Tourism (A level) E or higher Elective 6
Travel and Tourism (AS level) E or higher Elective 3

DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)

The DSST Credit-by-Exam Program gives you the opportunity to get college credit for learning acquired outside of the classroom. Maricopa Community Colleges may award credit to individuals who meet or exceed the American Council on Education’s recommended scores on the DSST exams. Credit received through DSST is transferable within the Maricopa Community Colleges system but is not necessarily transferable to other colleges and universities. Note: We do not award credit for ENG 102 through DSST examination.

Scores must be received directly from DSST before credit is awarded. The amount of credit awarded, acceptable scores, and equivalent courses are determined by the respective Maricopa Instructional Councils (ICs) or statewide Articulation Task Forces (ATFs).

The Assessment Center at Rio Salado College is a DSST test site. For additional information on registering for DSST examinations, call 480-517-8560.

DSST Examination Score Maricopa Community Colleges Equivalency Credit Hours
A History of the Vietnam War 400 or higher HIS273 3
Art of the Western World 400 or higher ARH101 or ARH102 3
Civil War and Reconstruction 400 or higher Elective 3
Criminal Justice 400 or higher AJS101 3
Environmental Science 400 or higher Elective 3
Foundations of Education 400 or higher EDU221 3
Fundamentals of Cybersecurity 400 or higher Elective 3
Health and Human Development 400 or higher HES100 3
History of the Soviet Union 400 or higher Elective 3
Introduction to Business 400 or higher Elective 3
Introduction to Geography 400 or higher GCU102 3
Introduction to Law Enforcement 400 or higher AJS230 3
Lifespan Developmental Psychology 400 or higher PSY240 3
Organizational Behavior 400 or higher Elective 3
Principles of Finance 400 or higher Elective 3
Principles of Public Speaking 400 or higher COM Elective 3
Principles of Statistics 400 or higher MAT206 3
Substance Abuse 400 or higher HES201 3
Technical Writing 400 or higher ENG111 3

GED Exams

If you’ve taken or plan to take the GED high school equivalency exam, Maricopa Community Colleges may award credit for subject area scores designated as College Ready + by the American Council on Education. Students must submit an ACE Credit recommendation transcript to the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Student Enrollment Services to be awarded credit. The credit awarded and equivalent courses are established by the Maricopa Instructional Councils (ICs).

Test scores are continually reviewed and may be updated at any time. Changes will be noted as they occur.

GED Subject Exam Score Maricopa Community Colleges Equivalency Credit Hours
Mathematical Reasoning 175-200 See Math department chair for course placement See Math department chair
Reasoning through Language Arts 175-200 HUMELC 3
Science 175–200 PHSELC 3
Social Studies 175–200 POSELC 3