International Baccalaureate (IB) Program 2026

For New Students Enrolling in the 2026-2027 Academic Year

• To see IB Credit in your academic record, please run a new DARS report.
• As scores come in, they will be uploaded to the student's academic record and evaluated for course placement and possible academic credit.
• Credit policies get reviewed every year and may change.

For Currently Enrolled Students (Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors)Who Wish to Submit IB Scores Now 

• Policies get reviewed every year and may change.
• The course placement and academic credit policies that were in effect when you first enrolled at Illinois are the ones that apply to you. Please check the archives for your academic year to see whether you will get any credit for your exam score.

Requesting IB Credit 

Most IB test scores are received electronically from the International Baccalaureate Organization in mid-July, but we do accept them throughout the year. Any proficiency credit you earn is immediately posted to your academic record.

If you are expecting credit based on your scores on the IB Higher Level and/or Standard Level exams and you do not see it in your DARS report, you can contact us by phone (217) 244-4437 during business hours or by email pnp@illinois.edu to ask whether your test scores were received. Please provide us with your UIN.

Test results cannot be accepted from the student. If you did not originally request that the official transcript of your exam scores be sent to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, you will have to contact International Baccalaureate and pay a fee to have them sent. As soon as your official test score transcript is received, your test scores will be entered into your UIUC academic record.

By the Way..

Sometimes your IB test results will give you a higher course placement than your 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.

Illinois recognizes the value of the IB Diploma Programme. 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 or might be required by a future graduate school. Consult with your academic advisor, as this decision will often depend on your academic goals.

FAQ: Learn about the law that requires credit be awarded for IB scores of 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Cutoff Scores, Placement Messages, and Credit Policies for 2026-2027

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is committed to supporting our incoming students and ensuring that they have a smooth transition to their higher education studies. The credit policies below apply to all students entering Illinois in Summer 2026, Fall 2026, or Spring 2027. Only scores resulting in credit are shown.

If you do not see the new policies for 2026-2027, please clear out your cache and refresh your browser.

For descriptions of the courses listed in the table below, please see the Courses of Instruction section in the Academic Catalog.

Course numbers listed as 1 - - or 2 - - are considered elective credit within the stated subject area. This is because our campus does not have an equivalent course that corresponds to the AP course. Students can apply elective credit towards their graduation requirements. Students should consult with their academic advisor to determine how this test-based credit may best be used to meet their specific curriculum and program requirements.

To view credit policies for any foreign language, scroll down to "Languages Other Than English."

Questions? Contact "Placement & Proficiency" staff by emailing pnp@illinois.edu or by calling 217-244-4437 during business hours.

Questions? Contact pnp@illinois.edu or call 217-244-4437.

The University of Illinois recognizes the value of the Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. Students should be aware that there are times when it is in their best interest to take the course that corresponds to the AP or IB credit instead of accepting the test-based credit. The course might better prepare you for the rigors of the subsequent course in the sequence. For descriptions of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign courses listed in the table above, please see the Courses of Instruction section in the Academic Catalog. Students are able to consult with their academic advisors during Registration in order to determine how test-based credit may best be used to meet their specific curriculum and program requirements and what will be most appropriate for their individual plan of study.

New undergraduate students who barely miss earning IB proficiency credit and who have not already earned college-level credit in the subject are allowed to take a departmental proficiency exam in math, science, and certain LOTEs if they wish to try to proficiency out of an introductory course.