New MC AP Comparison Chart

Transfer Advising Update for Students with AP Scores - July 2025

A new Transfer Advising “MC Transfer Advising AP Comparison Chart” has been uploaded on the Montgomery College Transfer Resources Page https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/transfer/transfer-resources.html

Open the section “General Transfer Resources” to see:  AP: Comparison Chart of AP (Advanced Placement) Credits, Montgomery College & Sample Local Schools

Graduating high school seniors have now received their test scores from AP Exams taken in May 2025. 

Highlights of Changes in MC AP Transfer Advising :

1. Montgomery College Now Accepts More AP Scores of 3
   Starting with AP tests taken in May 2022 or later, MC awards more direct course credits for AP scores of 3, following Maryland’s "Transfer with Success" policy. This is a change from the past when MC required a minimum score of 4 or 5 on sixteen out of 41 AP Tests.
2. UMD Still Requires a Score of 4 to give Course Credit for Most AP Tests
   UMD also now accepts more AP scores of 3; however, many tests at UMD still require a score of 4 or 5 to count as direct course credit.  Example, UMD requires a score of 4 to give course credit for PSYC 100, ECON 201, MATH 165, and many other courses; a score of 3 may grant “lower level elective” or “Gen Ed” credit at UMD.
3. Advising Must Consider Major Requirements
   Students transferring to UMD or other selective schools need to know that a score of 3 might not fulfill major-specific course requirements. If a course like PSYC 100 is specifically required for their major, they may need to take it as a class at MC to ensure it transfers for a specific major.
4. AP Credit Policies Differ by School
   Not all colleges accept AP scores the same way or award credit the same for certain AP exams. Advisors and students should review the MC AP Transfer Comparison Chart and check with transfer schools directly, especially if a student is unsure of transfer plans.

Background:

The MD State “Transfer with Success” initiative asked MD public colleges in 2022 to accept AP scores of 3 to streamline the transfer process.  MC has complied and recently updated our acceptance of scores of 3 for all AP tests.  Now MC, along with Towson, Frostburg, UMBC, UMES, UMGC and most other MD public schools, will accept an AP score of 3 as direct course equivalent.  Example:  a score of 3 on the AP Macroeconomics is accepted as a direct equivalent course of ECON 201 Principles of Economics (Macroeconomics) at most MD public colleges.  UMD, our closest and most frequent transfer destination, now also accepts scores of 3, but for the majority of AP tests, UMD continues to require a 4 or higher to accept AP credit as a direct course equivalent, so we need to inform incoming MC students of possible UMD-determined differences to plan accordingly.

Transfer Advising Points for Students with AP Scores

1. Check the Dates:

1. Montgomery College recently updated our AP Acceptance Charts to include scores of 3 for 16 tests where scores of 3 were previously not accepted.  This change applies to all AP Tests taken in May 2022 and after.  It is not retroactive.  For example, a score of 3 in AP Psych for a test taken in May 2021 or earlier will not be granted credit for PSYC 100 at MC. 

2. Incoming freshmen who graduated from high school this June 2025 will have taken AP tests this past May 2025 as seniors, in May 2024 as juniors, and in May 2023 as sophomores, so it is safe to assume that all incoming high school 2025 graduates presenting AP scores this year will follow the MC’s New “2022 and After” MC AP Chart.

2. What is new?
   
   MC’s acceptance of scores of 3 as direct equivalent courses mainly affects students planning to transfer to UMD or those who plan to transfer to highly competitive schools that may require a minimum of 4 for all AP tests. In the case of UMD, in over 30 instances, UMD continues to require a score of 4 or 5 for a direct course equivalency and awards 3 credits of “Lower level elective” or “Gen Ed Distribution credit” for a score of 3 rather than a direct course equivalency. 
   
   Example:  MC previously required a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Psychology test to earn credit for PSYC 100 here at MC.  Now, for AP Psych Tests taken in May 2023 or after, UMD gives 3 credits of a “Lower-level elective” for AP Psych scores of 3 and they continue to require a 4 or 5 to earn the direct equivalent of PSYC 100. 

The MC change to grant PSYC 100 for an AP score of 3 (starting with AP Tests taken in May 2022 or after) means that students transferring to UMD’s Psychology or other majors that specifically require PSYC 100 (such Education, and Information Science) will need to take PSYC 100 as a class at Montgomery College if they want to complete the PSYC 100 course requirement at MC prior to transfer.  However, if a student’s major does not specially require PSYC 100, then UMD will accept the course as a Gen Ed BSSD requirement and there is no need to retake the class for transfer to UMD.

 

3. What do these changes mean for Advising? 

1. Ideally you will review the MC AP Transfer Comparison Chart to understand how an AP score of 3 may require extra planning here at MC if the transfer destination is UMD.  It’s a simplification, but in most cases, a score of 3 will now grant credit for a specific class at MC, and if the class is not needed for the student’s major after transfer, they do not need to retake a course.  If the course fulfills a Gen Ed Requirement but it is not required for the major, UMD and other MD State transfer schools will continue to honor the Maryland State AP Transfer Policy that says if the course was used as a Gen Ed requirement, the student can transfer without being asked to repeat the class as long as the course is not also required for the major.   The example of an AP score of 3 in AP Psychology means that the 3 credits will transfer as a BSSD to UMD, but if the student’s major specifically requires PSYC 100, (examples Psychology, or Education, or Information Science) then they DO have to take the class at MC if they want to transfer with the MAJOR requirement of PSYC 100 completed.

2. There are other cases where MC may grant credit for two courses / 6 credits for a score of 4, while UMD may only grant credit for one course / 3 credits for a score of 4 – examples are AP Histories – all, and AP Languages – all.  Example, MC grants HIST 116 and 117 6 credits for an AP World History score of 4, while UMD will only grant 3 credits/1 course for an AP World History score of 4.  This can affect the number of transfer credits if a student graduates from MC and expects to enroll at UMD with 60 transferable credits.

4. Final Take-Aways

1. Student is interested in transferring to schools other than UMD, or highly competitive schools where all AP scores must be a 4 or higher, or is unsure of transfer plan – send copy of the MC AP Transfer Comparison Chart and advise the student that not all schools accept AP scores in the same way that MC does, so researching how future transfer schools of interest will accept scores is important now even for first-time freshmen.

2. Student is interested in transferring to UMD:  Send student a copy of the MC AP Transfer Comparison Chart and refer to UMD to meet with a UMD Pretransfer Adviser.  Do so with a Starfish Referral marked “TRANSFER_UMD-University of Maryland Pre-Transfer Advising” or send students this link:  go.umd.edu/MC2UMD

 

MC Transfer Advising Updates are provided by Counselor Members of the MC Transfer Resource Committee (TRC) [Germantown:  Barb LaPilusa, Amanda Darr; Rockville:  Jessica Present, Dana Baker; Takoma Park/Silver Spring: Jose Medrano:; and Online Advising - Anne Schleicher]

Advising Transfer Students with AP Advanced Placement Scores

AP Advanced Placement Test Scores are coming soon!  Students will be getting their May 2024 AP tests scores around this first week of July – and coming to us for advising with those scores soon!

The MC AP Comparison Chart for Transfer Students (also found at this link on the MC Transfer Resources for Counselors Page https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/counseling-and-advising/transferresourcesforcounselors.html shows how various transfer schools may accept AP test scores differently.

Some Maryland State schools responded to the MD State Transfer with Success Act by accepting all AP Test scores of 3 retroactively, so an AP test score of 3 is accepted regardless of the year the test was taken.  Examples of schools on the chart are UMBC and UMGC.

The University of Maryland, College Park - UM - accepts AP credits by year the test was taken.  Students may have taken AP tests in 2022 or earlier and 2023 or after, so checking both the AP score and the test date taken is important for UM hopefuls when advising.  UM has revised how they will now accept AP scores of 3 for tests taken in May 2023 and after.  What this means is that if a student has an AP Test score of 3 taken before 2023, UM may not accept the score, even if MC grants credit.  How do you know the date the test was taken?  Students may provide a copy of their unofficial score report, or you can look for the score report filed in Perceptive Content on your desktop (AKA Image Now).

Although UM is now accepting scores of 3 for tests taken May 2023 and after, you can see from the most recent Comparison Chart that UM accepts many scores of 3 as Lower Level Elective credits only; therefore, a score of 4 or 5 is still needed to earn a course equivalency credit.  Example – UM accepts AP Macroeconomics of 3 as a Lower-Level Elective; students still need a score of 4 or 5 to earn credit for ECON 201 at UM. 

For students planning to apply to UM – College Park or Shady Grove, regardless of major, a suggestion is to provide them the link to this chart and strongly advise them to meet early on (even as first-semester freshmen) with a UM Pretransfer Advisor go.umd.edu/MC2UMD to determine how their AP scores will be accepted upon transfer. 

Use the caution that each transfer school may accept AP credits differently so it’s important to check the AP Acceptance chart on every transfer school’s website to see how AP scores will be accepted.  For example, many highly competitive private and out-of-state schools may still require a minimum score of 4 for AP tests. 

Hopefully you can look over the MC AP Comparison Chart to get a feel of how AP scores are granted – and also review the policy for AP scores for Gen Ed courses for Maryland Schools, explained at the bottom of the Chart.  If a student gets Gen Ed course credit from MC for an AP score of 3, other Maryland State Public institutions should consider the Gen Ed category to be completed if the student finishes MC’s General Education Program, and even if the AP credit does not meet the transfer school’s Gen Ed Requirements.  An example is given on the Chart.  

We need to award AP credit to counselors & advisors who are patient enough to learn the basics of AP Score Interpretation!  If you make it to the bottom of this message, send me a thumbs up reaction and I’ll send you your own AP Test Score Interpreter’s Score!

Anne Schleicher, Part-Time Counselor
Montgomery College Online Advising Services

2023 New UMD AP Chart

We wanted to share the link to UMD's new Advanced Placement (AP) exam chart, effective for May 2023 exams: https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc.html#ap.  Credit will now be awarded to scores of "3" or higher on all AP exams, beginning with the May 2023 exams (not retroactive).  The type and number of credits to be awarded are reflected on the chart.

      A score of "3" on all exams listed will at least be awarded 3 lower-level elective credits.  A score of "3" on Biology, Physics, Economics, Human Geography, and U.S. Government will be awarded some type of General Education credit (3-4 credits) but no direct course equivalent.  However, a score of "3" on the Italian Language and Culture exam and Music Theory exam will be awarded directly equivalent course credit.  While they weren't previously awarded any credit, now students receive lower-level elective credit for a score of "3" or higher on the Chinese, Japanese, and Computer Science Principles exams.

 

Best,

Leslie and Yenti

 

Transfer of AP Credits

What Happens When MC Grants AP Credit for a Course but the Transfer Institution Does Not Accept It?

The AP Transfer Policy for Maryland State Schools is shown at the bottom of the MC AP Comparison Chart which is on this page, center column:  https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/counseling-and-advising/transferresourcesforcounselors.html

AP Credit transfer policy to Maryland State Public institutions: If a student satisfies a General Education Requirement with an AP score of 3 (example, a 3 in Environmental Science @ MC fills a 4-credit Lab Science, then the MD transfer institution should consider a Lab Sci. Gen Ed 4 credit requirement to be filled upon transfer, but the student will have to 'make up' those 4 credits w/ transferable elective credits if a score of 3 for AP Env. Sci. is not accepted.  Students may need to work w/ their MD public transfer institutions to ensure that this policy is recognized.

This is a good point to review as it’s complicated AND we see a lot of students planning to transfer to UM where it is often an issue.

“Trouble” AP credits for UM are:

1.      All AP Histories – US, European and World –

a.      MC grants credit for a score of 3, so if you see that a student has AP credit for just one HIST, then that’s a signal that the student got a score of 3 and UM will not accept a 3.

b.      MC also grants credit for TWO HIST’s if the student gets a 4 or 5, but UM only gives credit for ONE HIST with a score of 4 or 5, so for example if the student has Gen Ed Humanities filled with HIST 200 AP and also GEIR HIST 201, then you need to subtract one of those HIST courses from the transfer credit total.

2.      AP Languages – MC accepts a 3 for most World Language AP tests but UM does not accept a 3, only a 4 or 5.  And MC grants 6 credits of SPAN 201 & 202 for example, but UM only grants 3 credits of SPAN 203 for a score of 4 or 5.

3.      AP Government – MC grants credit for a 3 = POLI 101, but UM requires a minimum of a 4

4.      AP Biology – MC accepts a 3 and grants credit for BIOL 101; a score of 4 or 5 grants credit for BIOL 150, so if you see AP scores for BIOL 101 General Biology that indicates a score of 3.

5.      AP Chemistry - MC accepts a 3 and grants credit for CHEM 109/109L Chemistry and Society; a score of 4 or 5 grants credit for CHEM 131 so if you see AP scores for CHEM 109/109L that indicates a 3.

But a score of 3 is fine for these three subjects ONLY at UM:

1.      AP English Language and Composition is fine, MC grants ENGL 101 and UM grants credit for a Lower Level Elective - LLE

2.      AP English Language and Literature – MC grants credit for ENGL 190 Intro to Lit and UM gives credit for a LLE, so this Gen Ed credit does not need to be “replaced”

3.      AP Art History – transfers to UM as ARTT 150

---

Just to put it in other words, if a student has filled a Gen Ed Category with an AP score which will not be accepted by UM, if the student gets the MC General Education Program Completion Stamp on their transcript OR graduates from MC with an AA, AS or AAT, then UM will accept the whole Gen Ed Package as completed as usual but the student will need to “replace” the missing credits from an unaccepted AP score with any transferable ELECTIVE course.   

Example:  Student has AP credit for AP HIST with a score of 3 used to fill a Humanities Distribution, and the student graduates with a total of 60 credits but UM will only accept 57 credits, so any general elective could be taken to replace the missing 3 credits, does NOT have to be a Humanities course.

Should a student pick up the extra 3 “missing” credits prior to transfer? 

a.      One advantage to transferring with 60 transferable credits to UM is that the student is then able to take the needed Advanced Writing course (ENGL 391) in their first semester after transfer, if they come in with less than 60 credits and “make up” the missing credit in the first semester after transfer, then they miss out on having “junior” status and must wait a full semester to take Advanced Writing. 

b.      Parking Lot Permits for commuters are based on the number of credits earned (!) so closer-in parking lot assignments are designated for students with 60 + credits, you can see that here:  https://transportation.umd.edu/parking/students

c.       UM majors at Shady Grove prefer that students enter with 60 credits completed, but this is also not required… Items 1 & 2 above do not apply to Shady Grove, but if the remaining credits still need to be made up, then it could be a stress to add them while at USG where full-time enrollment in 5 classes per semester is typically required and students can’t take 100- or 200-level classes so they would need to take an advanced 300/400 level elective to fill in the credits.

One more thing to consider – Financial Aid @ MC will not cover the additional credits needed to make-up AP credits because those credits may not be not needed for graduation from MC.  So yet another point to be aware of…

How do you keep all of this straight?  Print out the AP Comparison Chart  in color and hang it up or bookmark it on your computer.

Also you can go to the UM Transfer Services Center site at this link:  https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/APGenEd.pdf

This Gen Ed Transfer Policy for Maryland Schools also applies to IB and CLEP credits…  MC accepts most IB scores with a 5, but UM requires an IB score of 6 for many courses.   UM IB Score Chart:  https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc.html#ib

For Private and Out-of-State Schools, search for “AP Credits” on each school’s site.

And, you can refer a student to me for advising if you detect AP or IB questions/issues, I can provide a more detailed look at the situation -  anne.schleicher@montgomerycollege.edu

Anne Schleicher, Counselor (Part-time)

Montgomery College Online Advising Services

www.montgomerycollege.edu/transfer

Transfer of AP/IB Credits to UMD's Gen Ed Program

AP/IB credits & their applicability towards the new General Education program at UMD:

Up to 6 AP exams can be used to fulfill the 8 Distributive Studies areas for General Education. In addition to satisfying these 6 Distributive Studies areas, please note that AP exams can also be used to satisfy the Fundamental Studies requirements but again only 6 courses can be used from AP and IB exams towards the Distributive Studies requirement area for General Education.

*Note: The coordinator of UMD's Transfer Credit Center, Mary Bell, stated that there is not a limit on the number of AP credits that students are allowed to transfer, just a limit in regards to the General Education requirements. 

AP score reminder

Hi all,

Remember if students come in with unofficial AP scores you can see the list of MC course equivalencies here: http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/edu/department2.aspx?id=15634

However, remember that the way AP scores translate into courses at MC is not necessarily the same as the way that they will transfer University of Maryland you can see their list here: http://www.tce.umd.edu/apchart.html