Virtual Advising Center
Undergraduate Education

AP / IB / A-Level Credit in Physics

Students who have qualifying Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or A-Level credit in Physics may receive exemption from one or more UCSD Physics courses. Follow these steps to receive your credit.

For AP/IB Credit:

Step 1: Check the Chart
Check the AP/IB Chart from the General Catalog during the academic year in which you took the physics exam to see the course exemption(s) you are eligible for. Keep in mind that AP/IB physics does not exempt you from ANY physics labs, even if your high school course included a lab component. If you need a physics lab for your major, minor, GEs and/or pre-reqs, you must enroll in the lab, but you do not need to repeat the lecture portion of the class.
Step 2: Send your info
Send a copy of your exam(s) and test score(s) to the Office of Admissions. 2-3 weeks after you've sent this material to Admissions, confirm that Admissions has received the material by checking your Triton Checklist. If the material has not arrived, contact Admissions to discuss next steps. Once you have confirmed that Admissions has received the material, proceed to step 3.
Step 3: Confirm your Academic History Report

8-10 weeks after Admissions has received your material, confirm that all of your exams and test scores have been posted to your Academic History Report. Confirm the following on your Academic History Report before proceeding to step 4:

  • Every physics exam has been posted (if an exam is missing, alert Admissions)
  • Every physics exam score has been accurately posted (if a score is inaccurate, alert Admissions)
  • The "UCSD Approx" column lists the correct UCSD course exemption(s) as per the AP/IB chart (if an exemption is incorrect, alert the Physics Department through VAC - be sure to tell us which exemption you think is incorrect).
Step 4: Confirm your Degree Audit

Confirm the following on your Degree Audit:

  • Department Requirements: That every physics course in the "UCSD Approx" column on your Academic History Report that is eligible to be applied to your major requirements is applying in your degree audit. If not, alert your major department through VAC.
  • College Requirements: That every physics course in the "UCSD Approx" column on your Academic History Report that is eligible to be applied to your college requirements is applying in your degree audit. If not, alert your college through VAC.
  • University Requirements: That every physics course in the "UCSD Approx" column on your Academic History Report that is eligible to be applied to your university requirements is applying in your degree audit. If not, alert your college through VAC.

For A-Level Credit:

Step 1: Check the Excemptions Chart

Check the chart below to see the exemptions you are eligible for based on your syllabus code and then proceed to step 2.

Exemptions by Syllabus Code
Syllabus Code Exempts from
9702 or 7408 PHYS 1A, 1AL, 1B, 1BL, 1C, 1CL
9PH07 PHYS 2A
9646 PHYS 10
2450+2451 PHYS 10
9749 PHYS 10
A420QS PHYS 10
Step 2: Submit A-Level certificate
Send a copy of your A-Level certificate to the Office of Admissions. 2-3 weeks after you've sent this material to Admissions, confirm that Admissions has received the material by checking your Triton Checklist. If the material has not arrived, contact Admissions to discuss next steps. Once you have confirmed that Admissions has received the material, proceed to step 3.
Step 3: Confirm A-Level physics on Academic History Report
8-10 weeks after Admissions has received your material, confirm that your A-Level physics has been posted to your Academic History Report. If not, alert Admissions and get your A-Level physics posted before proceeding to step 4.
Step 4: Submit your Petition
Go to the Petitions page and follow the instructions to petition for the A-Level physics exemptions you are eligible for based on the chart in Step 1. Once you receive confirmation through VAC that your petition has been processed, move on to step 5.
Step 5: Confirm exemptions on Academic History Report

Confirm the following on your Academic History Report and then proceed to step 6.

  • The "UCSD Approx" column lists the exemption you are eligible for based on the chart in step 1.
Step 6: Confirm your Degree Audit

Confirm the following on your Degree Audit:

  • Department Requirements: That every physics course in the "UCSD Approx" column on your Academic History Report that is eligible to be applied to your major requirements is applying in your degree audit. If not, alert your major department through VAC.
  • College Requirements: That every physics course in the "UCSD Approx" column on your Academic History Report that is eligible to be applied to your college requirements is applying in your degree audit. If not, alert your college through VAC.
  • University Requirements: That every physics course in the "UCSD Approx" column on your Academic History Report that is eligible to be applied to your university requirements is applying in your degree audit. If not, alert your college through VAC.