Advising AP, IB, GCE Credit

AP, IB and GCE Credit in Biology


AP (Advanced Placement)
AP
Score		 Credit Placement
5 up to 8 credits Placement out of all Introductory Biology (BIOG) courses
4 4 credits Placement out of any 4 credits of introductory courses. Biological Sciences majors and pre-medical students are expected to complete 4 additional Introductory Biology (BIOG) credits
* See below for faculty recommendations on using AP credit and for placement guidelines.
** It is recommended that pre-medical students (non-biology majors) who accept any amount of AP credit take 2 semesters of advanced biological sciences coursework, preferably with laboratory


IB (International Baccalaureate)
IB
Score		 Credit Placement
7 8 credits Placement out of all Introductory Biology (BIOG) courses
6 6 credits Placement out of BIOG 1109-1110 (not recommended sequence for pre-medical students)


GCE (General Certificate of Education)
GCE
Score		 Credit Placement
A or B 8 credits Placement out of all Introductory Biology (BIOG) courses


Recommendations for Using AP Biology Credit for Biology Majors

The Faculty Advisory Committee on Introductory Biology makes the following recommendations regarding AP biology credit:

Students with a score of 4 or 5 should take the first semester of either Introductory Biology course (BIOG 1101-1103 or BIOG 1105) and continue with the second semester if they earn a C+ or lower in the first semester. A student who earns a B- or higher and feels confident in second semester’s subject matter can decide to discontinue with the sequence.


AP Biology Credit Placement

For students who elect not to take the fall semester of Introductory Biology, the following guidelines may be useful:

Exam Scores of 5 -- Biology students with an AP exam score of 5 may elect to accept up to 8 advanced placement credits in biology and be permitted exemption from all introductory biology courses.

Exam Scores of 4 -- Biology students with an AP exam score of 4 will receive 4 advanced-placement credits in biology and must fulfill the introductory biology requirement by taking any combination of 4 credits from Biological Sciences, Lectures and Laboratory (BIOG 1101-1104, 1105-1106, [summer only on Appledore Island] BIOSM 1110). Students who are not Biological Sciences majors but who are completing requirements for application to medical school should also take an additional 4 credits from BIOG 1101-1104 or 1105-1106 or (summer only on Appledore Island) BIOSM 1110.

AP 4 Students: How to Choose which 4 Credits to Take -- Students should choose course work from BIOG 1101-1104 or 1105-1106 to obtain additional instruction in areas in which high-school instruction was lacking or less rigorous. The lecture and laboratory courses are coordinated and will cover the following subjects:

Fall (BIOG 1101 and 1103) Spring (BIOG 1102 and 1104)
* Biochemistry * Genetics
* Cell Biology * Development
* Physiology * Immunology
* Plant Morphology * Invertebrate Diversity
* Neurobiology * Evolution
* Behavior * Ecology


Fall (Bio G 105 includes lab) Spring (Bio G 106 includes lab)
* Biochemistry * Genetics
* Cell Biology * Development
* Physiology * Behavior
* Anatomy * Ecology
    * Evolution
    * Diversity


Examples:

* If you are confident that your background in molecular biology and physiology (or other fall topics) is very strong, but believe you need additional review of genetics, development, ecology, or evolution, you would choose to take the spring semester only.
* If you believe your laboratory skills need reinforcing, you would choose to take the laboratory course (BIOG 1103 & 1104) each semester.
* If you are unsure about your preparation in biology, we strongly recommend taking BIOG 1101 and 1103 (fall) or BIOG 1105. This will give you an opportunity to compare your own background with the level expected here at Cornell and will provide you important instruction in scientific methodology. By taking the fall semester you will be able to decide, based on how much review you needed, whether to take the spring semester or not. (Taking both the fall and spring semester courses would result in forfeiting your advanced-placement credits.)