ND Math Credit Exam

  1. Home ›
  2. First Year & Incoming Students ›
  3. Requirements and Credits ›
  4. Advanced Credit and Placement ›
  5. ND Math Credit Exam

ND Math Credit Exam

This page describes the ND Math Credit Exams. Students may earn Notre Dame course credit via examination by taking an ND Math Credit Exam. There is no fee for taking any of these exams.

What is an ND Math Credit Exam and Who Should Take One?

Notre Dame offers optional ND Math Credit Exams for students who have taken calculus, statistics, or linear algebra and differential equations but do not have Advanced Placement (AP) credit, International Baccalaureate (IB) credit, or pre-matriculation transfer credit for these courses. A student who takes the ND Math Credit Exam and receives a score of 80% or higher earns Notre Dame course credit for the equivalent course.  Please note: It is possible to take more than one exam in appropriate sequential order to earn credit in more than one course, but a student may not attempt a given ND Math Credit Exam more than once.

Notre Dame offers credit exams for the following courses:

  • ACMS 10140: Elements of Statistics
  • MATH 10550: Calculus I (content equivalent to MATH 10350 Calculus A)
  • MATH 10560: Calculus II (content equivalent to MATH 10360 Calculus B)
  • MATH 20550: Calculus III
  • MATH 20580: Introduction to Linear Algebra and Differential Equations

The ND Math Credit Exam is intended for students who feel confident in their knowledge and want to advance more quickly in the math sequence required for their intended college, school, or major. Please note that exams/course credit for the MATH courses must be earned in the appropriate sequential order which means the credit exams for 10550 and 10560 must come before 20550 and the credit exams for 10550 and 10560 must come before 20580. (Credit for MATH 20550 does not need to precede MATH 20580.) Here are some other guidelines to keep in mind:

  • If you took calculus in high school and did not take an AP or IB HL exam but feel prepared to take Calculus II in your first semester, you should take the Calculus I credit exam.
  • If you took calculus in high school but want to take Calculus I in your first semester, you should not take the credit exam.
  • If you already have credit for a course, you should not take the credit exam for that course.

You are not required to take any of these exams. Also, there is no academic harm in taking one of these exams and not passing. If you have already registered for the math or applied math course that you wish to take at Notre Dame, then there is no need to take one of these exams.

ND Math Credit Exam and Equivalent ND Courses

Students who earn an 80% or higher on an ND Math Credit Exam receive Notre Dame credit for the equivalent course and can take the next level math course as appropriate.  Students who pass the exam will have an opportunity to discuss appropriate changes to their semester class schedule with an advisor following the test. Credit from the ND Math Credit Exam, like any other Advanced Credit, cannot be used to satisfy an undergraduate Core Curriculum requirement but may satisfy a college, school, or major requirement.

ND Math Credit Exam Schedule

Here are the details for the next ND Math Credit Exam opportunity:

  • Date:  Friday, August 21, 2026
  • Time: 1:00 PM
  • Location: DeBartolo Hall (in four different classrooms)

If students are unable to attend this examination date, they can still use the registration link below to register and can report their time conflict.   The make-up exam date will be Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 8:00 AM, and the location will be Bond Hall Room 104.

For the credit exams in August at the start of the Fall semester, first-year students will receive residence hall room assignments, detailed move-in information, and instructions to sign-up for an arrival time from Residential Life. Students who register to take the ND Math Credit Exam should sign up for a residence hall arrival time between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM on the Friday of Orientation Weekend.  If you have additional questions about arrival times, please contact Residential Life at residentiallife@nd.edu or call 574.631.5878.

Register for (or Cancel) an ND Math Credit Exam

Advanced registration is closed.   The deadline was 11:59 PM on Monday, August 17th.

Note: If you missed the exam registration deadline, please come to DeBartolo Hall Room 101 on Friday, August 21st at 12:30 PM to register in person.  If you already registered and your plans have changed, you may choose to not attend the administration of the exams.

Please email Chris Temple in the Learning Resource Center at ctemple@nd.edu if you have any questions.

Still have ND Math Credit Exam Questions?

How long is each credit exam? What do I need to bring with me? Can I use a calculator? Find these answers and more on the ND Math Credit Exam FAQ page.