CEEB Exam - Calculus AB or BC
Scores on the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) determine credit and placement as follows.
BC Exam for non-engineering majors
Students in non-engineering majors with a score of 4 or 5 on the BC exam will receive 8 credits and placement out of Calculus I (MATH 1110) and Calculus II (MATH 1120). They will forfeit 4 credits if they take MATH 1120 or MATH 1910 or 8 credits if they take MATH 1106 or MATH 1110.
BC Exam for engineering majors
Students in engineering majors with a score of 5 on the BC exam will receive 4 credits and placement out of MATH 1910, and they will forfeit those credits if they take MATH 1910. Students with a score of 4 are encouraged to take the Engineering Math Advanced Standing Exam if they believe the score does not fairly reflect their preparation.
AB Exam or AB Subscore
Students in non-engineering majors with a score 4 or 5 on the AB exam will receive 4 credits and placement out of Calculus I (MATH 1110) and will forfeit those credits if they take MATH 1106 or MATH 1110. Students in engineering majors receive no credit.
International Credentials
General Certificate of Education “A” Level Exam (GCE)
Students with a score of A, B, or C will receive 4 credits and placement out of Calculus I (MATH 1110). Engineering students receive no credit. More credit may be obtained by passing a Cornell placement exam during Orientation.
Students who take the A level exam in Singapore will receive an additional 4 credits and placement out of Calculus II (MATH 1120). Engineering students only receive 4 credits and placement out of MATH 1910.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher-Level Exam
Students with a score of 6 or 7 on the higher-level exam will receive 4 credits and placement out of Calculus I (MATH 1110). Engineering students receive no credit. No credit is awarded for the standard-level exam. More credit may be obtained by passing a Cornell placement exam during Orientation.
Other Exams
No credit will be awarded for the French Baccalauréat Examination or the Cambridge Pre-University Examination. Credit may be obtained by passing a Cornell placement exam during Orientation.
Cornell Placement Exams
Cornell placement exams are recommended for: (1) students who have had at least a semester of calculus and have not previously taken a placement exam; (2) students who believe their placement is incorrect; (3) students who are uncertain of their grasp of the material. Students may use the higher of two placement recommendations. A failing score is not recorded on the student’s record.
Mathematics Department Placement Exam
The Mathematics Department Placement Exam is an optional placement exam for non-engineering majors who seek credit for Calculus I (MATH 1110) and/or Calculus II (MATH 1120). The exam is offered twice each academic year, during fall and spring orientation, with no make-up exams. Students who have taken MATH 1110 and/or MATH 1120 during a semester at Cornell and earned a W grade or did not pass with a C- or better are not permitted to take this exam as an alternative means of earning credit. Students who fail this exam once may not take it again.
The spring 2025 exam will be offered in person on Friday, January 17th, 9:00-11:00 a.m. in 251 Malott Hall. Results will be announced over email on or before Tuesday, January 21st. No online exams will be offered.
Please register your intent to take the Spring 2025 Math Department Placement Exam by Wednesday, January 15th at 5 p.m.
If you need credit for MATH 1910 and/or MATH 1920 (multivariable calculus), please register for the Engineering Math Advanced Standing Exam (see below) rather than this exam. Both exams will be offered again during fall orientation in August 2025.
There is no placement exam for linear algebra. Students seeking credit for multivariable calculus may take the MATH 1920 portion of the Engineering Math Advanced Standing Exam.
Engineering Math Advanced Standing Exam
The Engineering Math Advanced Standing Exam is an optional placement exam for any student seeking credit for MATH 1910 and/or MATH 1920, including (but not limited to) Engineering freshmen and transfer students. The exam is offered twice each academic year, during fall and spring orientation, with no make-up exams. Students who have taken MATH 1910 and/or MATH 1920 during a semester at Cornell and earned a W grade or did not pass with a C- or better are not permitted to take this exam as an alternative means of earning credit.
The spring 2025 exam will be offered in person on Friday, January 17th, 9:00-11:00 a.m. in 251 Malott Hall. Results will be announced over email on or before Tuesday, January 21st. No online exams will be offered.
Please register your intent to take the Spring 2025 Engineering Math Advanced Standing Exam by Wednesday, January 15th at 5 p.m.
If you need credit for MATH 1110 and/or MATH 1120 please register for the Math Department Placement Exam (see above) rather than this exam. Both exams will be offered again during fall orientation in August 2025.
There is no placement exam for MATH 2930 (differential equations) or MATH 2940 (linear algebra).
Placement Recommendations
Advanced placement credit makes it possible to start with a more advanced course, but students should not hesitate to forfeit their AP credit and take an earlier course if the advanced course is too difficult.
Students with one semester of AP credit may start with Calculus II (MATH 1120 or MATH 1910) and are encouraged to read First-Year Calculus. MATH 2310 (fall only, not offered 2023-2024) is also an option for students who don't need a second semester of calculus and don't plan to take more advanced math.
Students with two semesters of AP credit may enroll in a linear algebra or multivariable calculus course, such as MATH 2210, MATH 1920, or MATH 2230. MATH 2130 (spring only, not offered 2023-2024) and MATH 2310 (fall only, not offered 2023-2024) are options for students who don't plan to take more advanced math.
MATH 2230-2240 is a challenging (and fun!) sequence that digs into the theoretical underpinnings of calculus and linear algebra. It is taught at a much higher level of mathematical sophistication than MATH 2210-MATH 2220. Students in this sequence invest considerably more time and effort on coursework and are responsible for learning a significant amount of material independently.