AP Credit
Brown AP Credit
Brown uses AP scores for placement and does not award credit toward the degree.
AP is used for
Placement only
Limit on AP credit
None stated on the page
Chart applies to
Not stated on the page
Brown records AP as a placement notation worth 0.0 course credit. It does not count toward the 30 credits needed to graduate.
What each AP exam earns at Brown
Twelve common exams. An exam is left out when Brown’s page does not name it.
| AP exam | Lowest score | What it earns | With a 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 4 | MATH 0090 notation (placement notation, 0.0 course credit) | Same |
| Calculus BC | 3 | MATH 0090 notation (placement notation, 0.0 course credit) | MATH 0090 and 0100 notations (score of 4 or 5) |
| English Language and Composition | None | No credit | |
| English Literature and Composition | None | No credit | |
| United States History | 5 | Students who successfully complete one 1000-level US history course offered by the Brown History department can request one unassigned HIST course notation retroactively | Same |
| Biology | 4 | BIOL 0200 notation | Same |
| Chemistry | 3 | Retroactive placement notation for CHEM 0100 upon successful completion of CHEM 0330 | Score of 4 or 5: can place into CHEM 0330 without taking the Brown Chemistry Placement Exam |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | With a 4 on Physics C Mechanics plus a 5 on Physics C Electricity and Magnetism, and after completing PHYS 0040, 0060, 0160, 0470, 0500, or an appropriate 1000-level physics course at Brown: can request a PHYS 0030 notation retroactively | Score of 5 on Physics C Mechanics (alone) qualifies for the same retroactive PHYS 0030 notation after completing an eligible Brown physics course |
| Computer Science A | None | No credit | |
| Statistics | None | No credit | |
| Psychology | None | No credit | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | Students who successfully complete HISP 0500, 0600, 0650, or a 0700-level course at Brown can request one unassigned HISP course notation retroactively | Same |
“Brown does not award course credit for AP scores.”
Frequently asked questions
Does Brown accept AP credit?
Brown records AP as a placement notation worth 0.0 course credit. It does not count toward the 30 credits needed to graduate.
What AP score do you need at Brown?
The lowest score that earns anything on the non-language exams listed here is a 3. The score needed differs by exam, so check the row for each one.
Read from Brown’s own page and last checked 2026-10-08. Colleges change these charts, and rules can differ by school within a university, so confirm with the official page before you plan around it.
