International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit


Background Information

"IB" is the abbreviation for the educational program organized by the International Baccalaureate Organization for students aged 3 to 19. Founded in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland as a nonprofit educational foundation, IB has grown immensely over the past 45 years and now works with over 3,500 schools in 145 countries.

Its Diploma Programme offers a pre-university course of studies which is designed as a comprehensive two-year curriculum, covering the last two years of secondary education. There are currently 870 schools in the United States offering the IB Diploma Program, 32 of which are in the State of Illinois.  Students can choose to earn either a certificate (by studying fewer than six IB courses) or a diploma (by completing the full program).


About the test scores

Both the IB courses and the IB examinations are given at two levels of study. Higher Level (HL) requires 240 hours of instruction, whereas Standard Level (SL) covers 150 hours.

IB test scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 7. Each test score is a combination of grades earned for course work completed in the classroom, which is evaluated by the teacher, and grades earned on final exams, which are evaluated by external examiners.

Illinois accepts test scores from 15 different IB content areas for consideration of course credit. Click here to see current policies. IB tests must be taken prior to enrolling in college-level courses.



sending your transcript

IB transcripts are typically received from the International Baccalaureate Organization in August. Any proficiency credit you earn is immediately posted to your academic record. Click here for a PDF of the IB policies that apply to all students enrolling at the Urbana campus during the 2015-2016 academic year.

However, we do accept authentic IB transcripts throughout the year. If you are expecting IB proficiency credit and do not see it in UI-Integrate, please contact us by phone (217) 244-4437 or email pnp@illinois.edu to see whether your transcript was ever received. We do not accept test results from the student. All transcripts must be sent directly from the IBO to our office. Our address is:

CITL / Measurement & Evaluation
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
505 East Armory Avenue, Room 247 Armory Bldg.
Champaign, IL 61820


Understanding Placement Results and Proficiency Results

Sometimes your IB test results will give you a higher course placement than your online placement test results. If test results from your IB exam and your placement exam generate conflicting placement messages, you may follow the higher placement message. Please discuss your options with your academic advisor.

All new freshmen are REQUIRED to take the ALEKS PPL Math Placement Exam even if you expect to earn IB proficiency credit.

Illinois recognizes the value of the IB Program. Nevertheless, you should be aware that there are times when it is in your best interest to decline the test-based credit and take the actual course that corresponds to the IB credit. The course might better prepare you for the rigors of the next course in the sequence. Consult with your academic advisor, as this decision will often depend on your academic goals.

Contact information

If you have any questions about placement and proficiency testing at Illinois, you may call us during normal business hours at 217-244-4437 or e-mail us at pnp@illinois.edu