Advanced Standing for Credit by Examination

International students may be eligible for advanced standing credit based on their results for exams such as the A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate (I.B.), the French Baccalaureate, and the German Abitur. The Registrar makes the final decision on the award of transfer credit.

For all of the exams discussed below, general credit toward the degree is awarded. Credit is not really awarded to specific subjects. No department is bound to recognize any of the subjects toward distribution or major requirements if it does not wish to do so, although many do recognize the exams as meeting distribution requirements. If a student does not receive credit for an exam, she may still petition a department for distribution or for entrance into a more advanced course in the subject. If a student receives credit for an exam, she may not repeat the subject at the elementary level at MHC (except in English and economics).

A-Levels (General Certificate of Education)
For A-level exams, Mount Holyoke awards 32 credits if a student does the normal set of three exams or more with grades of A to C. Otherwise, she will receive 8 credits for each individual exam. The college does not award credit for the new "AS" level or O-level exams. Beginning with the class of 2006, 24 credits will be awarded for the normal set of 3 A-Level exams.

International Baccalaureate (I.B.)
The "full I.B. diploma" consists of 3 higher level and 3 subsidiary exams with a total grade of at least 24 required. If a student obtains the "full diploma" with a total of 30 or more, Mount Holyoke will award 32 credits and list all subjects passed with grades of 5 to 7. If a student does a partial diploma or receives a total score for the full diploma below 30, Mount Holyoke will award 8 credits per higher level exam completed with a score of 5 to 7. The college will not award credit for subsidiary exams in such cases. Beginning with the class of 2006, 32 credits will be awarded for students who obtain the "full diploma" with a score of 36 or more. Subjects passes with grades of 6 or 7 will be listed.

French Baccalaureate
Mount Holyoke awards 16 credits for receipt of the French Baccalaureate. The college lists on the MHC transcript only course subjects with a grade of 10 or above.

German Abitur
Mount Holyoke awards 16 credits for the German Abitur. The college lists on the MHC transcript only subjects passed with grades 1-4.

Reclassification Based on Advanced Standing Credit
Upon receipt of an official copy of the exam results, the Registrar will note the amount of credit, distribution, and other requirements met on the student's official transcript. Generally students bring official copies with them in September, and the transcript information is entered at some point during the fall semester. Students who receive 32 credits of advanced standing for their work may accelerate and be reclassified as sophomores at the beginning of their second semester. Reclassification is not done until after the start of the second semester.

Students need to think through carefully the decision to accelerate with advanced standing credit. For those students who have decided upon a major and have done advanced work in that major, completing the MHC program in three years might make good sense. Some students will want to complete their programs in three years for financial reasons. On the other hand, students who are uncertain of their major or who change their majors generally need the full four years to meet all the requirements to graduate.

A formal request for reclassification should be filed with the Registrar. If at a later date the student wishes to be re-classified back to her original class, she must file a petition with the Dean of the College.