CPL: Section 7-Credit by Examination International Baccalaureate (IB)

Credit for Prior Learning Webinar | First Friday of Every Month1, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Click here to register.

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Except for January 2, 2026

Steps to Request an Evaluation of IB Credit

  1. Apply for admission and choose a program of study (declare a major).
  2. Enroll in a credit course.
  3. Request the International Baccalaureate Organization to send your official IB score report to NOVA’s College Records Office. If needed, the mailing address is: NVCC College Records Office, FX-P3 3924 Pender Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.

It takes approximately four to twelve weeks to get credit posted to your record. Updates will be sent to your NOVA student email.

About International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program provides high school students with an opportunity to earn college credit. IB courses, syllabi and exams can exist for two different levels of accomplishment. The Higher Level (HL) syllabus and exam includes material that requires two years of coursework in the chosen subject area. The Standard/Subsidiary Level (SL) syllabus and exam includes material that requires one year of coursework in the chosen subject area. NOVA students who received the appropriate score on IB exams are eligible to earn college-level credit. Please see the table below that denotes the name of the IB Exam, the required score and the corresponding NOVA course and credits. Please note, the accepted NOVA equivalency and the required score for credit may be different depending on which year the student completed an IB exam and when a student submits a request for credit. Faculty review IB equivalencies and adjust CPL policy accordingly on a regular basis.

Business and Hospitality IB Exams

Name of Exam Required Score NOVA Equivalent Credit(s) Earned
Business Management: (Higher Level) 4 or higher BUS 100 3

Language IB Exams

Name of Exam Required Score NOVA Equivalent Credit(s) Earned
Arabic Language B: (Higher Level) 4 ARA 101, ARA 102, and ARA 201 12
Arabic Language B: (Higher Level) 5 or higher ARA 101, ARA 102, ARA 201, and ARA 202 16
Chinese Language B: Mandarin or Cantonese (Higher Level) 4 CHI 201 4
Chinese Language B: Mandarin or Cantonese (Higher Level) 5 or higher CHI 201 and CHI 202 8
English Language A: Literature (Higher Level) 4-5 ENG 111 3
English Language A: Literature (Higher Level) 6-7 ENG 111, ENG 112 6
English Language A: Language and Literature (Higher Level) 4-5 ENG 111 3
English Language A: Language and Literature (Higher Level) 6-7 ENG 111, ENG 112 6
English Language B: (Higher Level) 4-7 ENG 111 3
French Language B: (Higher Level) 4 FRE 101 and FRE 102 8
French Language B: (Higher Level) 5 FRE 101, FRE 102, and FRE 201 11
French Language B: (Higher Level) 6 or higher FRE 101, FRE 102, FRE 201, and FRE 202 14
German Language B: (Higher Level) 4 GER 101 and GER 102 8
German Language B: (Higher Level) 5 GER 101, GER 102, and GER 201 11
German Language B: (Higher Level) 6-7 GER 101, GER 102, GER 201, and GER 202 14
Japanese Language B: (Higher Level) 4 JPN 201 4
Japanese Language B: (Higher Level) 5 or higher JPN 201 and JPN 202 8
Classical Languages: Latin (Higher Level) 4 LAT 201 3
Classical Languages: Latin (Higher Level) 5 or higher LAT 201, LAT 202 6
Russian Language B: (Higher Level) 4 RUS 201 4
Russian Language B: (Higher Level) 5 or higher RUS 201 and RUS 202 8
Spanish Language B: (Higher Level) 4 SPA 101 and SPA 102 8
Spanish Language B: (Higher Level) 5 SPA 101, SPA 102, and SPA 201 11
Spanish Language B: (Higher Level) 6-7 SPA 101, SPA 102, SPA 201, and SPA 202 14

Mathematics and Computer Science

Name of Exam Required Score NOVA Equivalent Credit(s) Earned
Computer Science: Standard Level 5 or higher CSC 222 4
Computer Science: (Higher Level) 4 or higher CSC 222 4
Math Analysis and Approaches (Higher Level) 4 MTH 167 5
Math Analysis and Approaches (Higher Level) 5 or higher MTH 263 4
Math Analysis and Approaches: Standard Level 5 or higher MTH 261 3
Mathematical Studies: Standard Level 5 or higher MTH 111 or MTH 154 According to the student’s program 3
Mathematics: Standard Level 5 or higher MTH 111, MTH 154, or MTH 161 According to student’s program 3
Further Mathematics: (Higher Level) 5 or 6 MTH 263 4
Further Mathematics: (Higher Level) 7 or higher MTH 245 and MTH 263 7
Mathematics: (Higher Level) 5 or 6 MTH 263 4
Mathematics: (Higher Level) 7 or higher MTH 263 and MTH 264 8

Physical and Life Science IB Exams

Name of Exam Required Score NOVA Equivalent Credit(s) Earned
Biology: Standard Level 5 or 6 BIO 101 4
Biology: Standard Level 7 BIO 101 and BIO 102 8
Biology: (Higher Level) 4 or 5 BIO 101 4
Biology: (Higher Level) 6 or 7 BIO 101 and BIO 102 8
Chemistry: Standard Level 4 or 5 CHM 111 4
Chemistry: (Higher Level) 4 or 5 CHM 111 4
Chemistry: (Higher Level) 6 or higher CHM 111 and CHM 112 8
Environmental Systems and Societies: Standard Level 5 or higher ENV 121 4
Physics: Standard Level 5 or higher PHY 201 4
Physics: (Higher Level) 4 PHY 201 4
Physics: (Higher Level) 5 or higher PHY 201 and PHY 202 8

Liberal Arts IB Exams

Name of Exam Required Score NOVA Equivalent Credit(s) Earned
Art History: Standard Level 5 or higher ART 101 3
Philosophy: Standard Level 5 or higher PHI 100 3
Philosophy: (Higher Level) 4 or higher PHI 100 3

Social Science IB Exams

Name of Exam Required Score NOVA Equivalent Credit(s) Earned
Economics: Standard Level 5 or higher ECO 201 3
Economics: (Higher Level) 4 or higher ECO 201 and ECO 202 6
Geography: Standard Level 5 or higher GEO 210 3
Geography: (Higher Level) 4 or higher GEO 220 3
History: Standard Level 5 HIS 111 3
History: Standard Level 6 or higher HIS 111 and HIS 112 6
History in English: (Higher Level) 4 HIS 101 3
History in English: (Higher Level) 5 or higher HIS 101 and HIS 102 6
History of the Americas: (Higher Level) 4 HIS 121 3
History of the Americas: (Higher Level) 5 or higher HIS 121 and HIS 122 6
History of Africa and The Middle East: (Higher Level) 4 HIS 111 3
History of Africa and The Middle East: (Higher Level) 5 or higher HIS 111 and HIS 112 6
History of Asia and Oceania: (Higher Level) 4 HIS 111 3
History of Asia and Oceania: (Higher Level) 5 or higher HIS 111 and HIS 112 6
History of Europe: (Higher Level) 4 HIS 111 3
History of Europe: (Higher Level) 5 or higher HIS 111 and HIS 112 6
Psychology: Standard Level 5 or higher PSY 200 3
Psychology: (Higher Level) 4 or higher PSY 200 3
Sociology: Standard Level 5 or higher SOC 211 3
Sociology: (Higher Level) 4 or higher SOC 211 3

Visual, Performing, and Media Arts IB Exams

Name of Exam Required Score NOVA Equivalent Credit(s) Earned
Visual Arts: Standard Level 5 or higher ART 131 3
Visual Arts: (Higher Level) 4 ART 131 3
Visual Arts: (Higher Level) 5 or higher ART 131 and ART 140 6
Art: (Higher Level) 4 ART 131 3
Art: (Higher Level) 5 or higher ART 131 and ART 132 6
Theater: Standard Level 5 or higher CST 131 3
Film: (Higher Level) 4 or higher CST 151 3
Music: Standard Level 5 or higher MUS 111 4
Music: (Higher Level) 4 MUS 111 4
Music: (Higher Level) 5 or higher MUS 111 and MUS 112 8