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Credit by Examination from Standardized Tests
Credit Awarded by Utah State University
Credit by Examination from Standardized Tests
Utah State University will grant college credit for qualifying scores, on a variety of standardized examinations, including Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Standardized Subject Tests (DSST), International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), and New Emerging World Languages (NEWL). Standardized tests will be recorded on the transcript as transfer credit and will receive a CR (credit) grade.
ACT and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Examinations
Students who receive an ACT Math score of 26 or higher, or an SAT Math score equivalent will be awarded 3 credits. This is effective for students who took the ACT exam September 2016 or later. This will be posted as transfer credit with a CR grade and would be listed as ACTM 1XXX (QL) on the transcript. The credits will count toward the 120 credits needed for graduation, but will not count toward the 30 credits in residency at USU.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Advanced Placement examinations are offered at the high school level only. A number of examination areas are available; not all high schools offer all available AP examinations.
Examinations are scored on a one-to-five scale. Students may receive 3 to 10 credits for a composite score of 3, 4, or 5 on any Advanced Placement examination. Earned credits may be applied toward the University Studies requirements, and may also be accepted as equivalent to specific courses. See the Registrar’s Office Credit by Exam page for more information and USU credits awarded.
College-Level Exam Program (CLEP)
The CLEP examinations were designed for undergraduate students who wish to utilize previous knowledge and experience in lieu of required coursework. CLEP is a national program of credit-by-examination, allowing students to obtain recognition for college-level achievement. This privilege is intended to measure information and training gained from practical experience that may be considered the equivalent of the experience and training received by students in an organized course given at the University. Undergraduate credits may be acquired through the CLEP examinations. These credits may be used to fill General Education requirements and may also be accepted as equivalent to specific courses. See the Registrar’s Office Credit by Exam page for more information and USU credit awarded.
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
DSSTs provide an opportunity for people to obtain college credit for what they learned in nontraditional ways. Credits may be acquired through the DSST examinations. These credits may be used to fill General Education requirements, and may also be accepted as equivalent to specific courses. See the Registrar’s Office Credit by Exam page for more information and USU credit awarded.
International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)
USU recognizes the International Baccalaureate program. Each student’s transcript will be evaluated individually, based on the courses completed. USU will award credits for higher-level exams only, with a minimum score of 5. See the Registrar’s Office Credit by Exam page for more information and eligible exams.
New Emerging World Languages (NEWL)
The National Examinations in World Languages (NEWL) are online proficiency exams for language learners of Arabic, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian seeking college placement and/or credit. NEWL examinations are offered at the high school level only. Not all high schools offer all available NEWL examinations.
Developed by American Councils, NEWL® is an online language assessment in four critical languages: Arabic (MSA), Korean, Portuguese (global), and Russian. The exams measure functional language proficiency across four skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking, and writing. Utah State University currently only accepts Portuguese NEWL exams for college credit.
Targeted for traditional foreign language learners and heritage learners, NEWL exams produce AP®-style score reports, which can be used to apply for college credit and/or placement.
Examinations are scored on a one-to-five scale. Students may receive 3 to 10 credits for a composite score of 3, 4, or 5 on any NEWL examination. Earned credits may be applied toward the University Studies requirements, and may also be accepted as equivalent to specific courses. See the Registrar’s Office Credit by Exam page for more information and USU credit awarded.
Placement Tests
English Placement
ACT English and SAT Critical Reading Scores
ACT test or SAT test scores may be used as a placement tool for recommending the level of courses to be taken. Students may not receive college credit for ACT/SAT scores, but those scores may waive a requirement. An ACT English score of 29 or higher, or an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) score of 640 or higher, will waive the ENGL 1010 (CL1) requirement and qualify a student for placement into ENGL 2010 (CL2).
AP English Scores
A score of 3 or higher on the AP English Language exam will satisfy the ENGL 1010 (CL1) requirement and qualify a student for placement into ENGL 2010 (CL2).
CLEP English Scores
A score of 50 or higher on the CLEP College Composition exam will satisfy the ENGL 1010 (CL1) requirement and qualify a student for placement into ENGL 2010 (CL2).
IBO English Scores
A score of 4 or higher on the IBO Higher-Level English A: Language & Literature exam will satisfy the ENGL 1010 (CL1) requirement and qualify a student for placement into ENGL 2010 (CL2).
Math Placement | ALEKS PPL (Preparation, Placement, and Learning)
Current mathematics ACT/SAT scores, Math Placement Exam scores, and Advanced Placement (AP) calculus and statistics scores are used for placement in 1000-level and 2000-level mathematics and statistics courses. A current score is defined as a score from an exam taken within the Math Prerequisite Acceptability Time Limit (MPATL).
Students may satisfy the Math Acceptability Prerequisite Time Limit in several ways:
- A valid math ACT exam score taken within the past 12 months
- A valid math SAT exam score taken within the past 12 months
- Pass a concurrent enrollment course in Math 1050 or Math 1060 within the past 12 months. This only applies to those courses that use Math 1050 and/or Math 1060 as a prerequisite
- A valid Math Placement Exam PPL score taken within the past 12 months for incoming students or a valid Math Placement Exam PPL score taken within the past three successive semesters (including summer semester) for students already enrolled at USU
- A passing grade in the appropriate prerequisite course or courses within the past three semesters including summer semester.
If you have earned any of the following scores/credits sufficient to place you into a math or stats course, within the past one year (three semesters: spring, summer, fall), you can use these as prerequisites and do not need to take the math placement exam:
- A passing grade (C- or higher) in a college-level math course
- A sufficient score on the ACT or SAT math exams
- A sufficient score on an AP Calculus exam
- Credit for the IBO Mathematics exam
Students who are registering for a math class at USU for the first time who have a math ACT score of less than 23 or a math SAT score of less than 540 are required to take the ALEKS Math Placement Exam PPL administered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. A student’s score on the Math Placement Exam will be used to determine his or her placement in appropriate mathematics or statistics course.
Regardless of any previous record, students with an ACT mathematics score of less than 23 are required to take the Math Placement Test administered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. In addition, students who do not meet the prerequisite acceptability time limit requirement must take the Math Placement Test.
Language Placement
Where basic skills in a language have been acquired by means other than college courses, up to 16 lower-division credits may be earned by special examination. Students with skills in a language other than those offered by the department may earn up to 16 pass/fail credits by successfully performing on the Department of World Languages and Cultures examination. Students with skills in a language offered by the Department of World Languages and Cultures may earn credit by successfully performing on an examination or by completing an upper-division (3000-level or above) language course with a grade of B or better. Contact Jasmine Morales (OM 069) at jasmine.morales@usu.edu for more information.
USU International Undergraduate English Requirements
USU requires all undergraduate international students (from countries in which English is not the official language) to demonstrate a high level of English language proficiency. The English language proficiency may be demonstrated by meeting one of the following: a score of at least 71 iBT (Internet-based test) on the TOEFL (or Home Edition) examination; a Michigan English Test score of 52 or higher; Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency) score of 169 or higher; a 6.0 or higher with a minimum of 5.0 on each subscale on the IELTS Academic examination; or Intensive English Language Institute Placement Exam score of at least 146 and at least 31 on the Writing portion of the Exam. The students who score below the threshold scores on the above tests may enroll in the Intensive English Language Institute courses to improve their language skills and as a pathway to the university study.
Notes:
*Scores that are more than two years old at the time the application is complete are not accepted.
**The scores may not be used for granting credit nor for waiver of the communications literacy requirement.
Credit Awarded by Utah State University
Credit by Departmental Examination
Undergraduate matriculated students may challenge a course for credit by taking a departmental examination. Departments will determine if a course is appropriate for challenge; students should contact the instructor and/or department. If a challenge exam is available, the instructor should advise the student as to whether he or she has a reasonable chance of passing. The examination will survey knowledge of the course content and may include papers, projects, portfolios, etc.
Students will be required to pay a course-specific examination fee. Students who pass a departmental examination will receive a CR (credit) grade posted to their transcript for that course. Students will also be required to pay a posting fee. Credits earned through departmental examination cannot be used to meet the minimum USU course requirement.
Credit by Advanced Coursework (Language Credit)
Students who are proficient in a foreign language offered by Utah State University may earn lower-division credit through successfully passing a more advanced course. Applications for these credits should be made in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. In addition to a departmental fee, students will be required to pay a posting fee.
Students who receive credit by advanced coursework will receive a CR (credit) grade posted to their transcript, with a designation that it was earned by advanced coursework. Credits earned through this option cannot be used to meet the minimum USU course requirement and are treated as transfer work.
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