External Challenge Examinations
- American College Testing (ACT)
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP) - CLEP examinations may be taken at Lone Star College–Tomball or area universities. Please contact the LSC-Tomball testing center for more information. Students may resubmit new CLEP foreign language scores for PLA every six months.
- DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
- Computer Adaptive Placement Exam (CAPE) - placement exam for non-native speakers of foreign languages
- Spanish Heritage Learner Exam - placement exam for native speakers of Spanish
- Advanced Placement (AP) by College Board - Advanced Placement exams are offered at area high schools. For specific information on high schools offering this exam call (888) 225-5427 or visit the College Board website.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma exams: International Baccalaureate exams are given at specific high schools. For more information on IB Diplomas go to the International Baccalaureate website. For a list of courses that can be awarded by IB credit, review this document.
External Challenge Exams by Subject
| Subject Area | Examination | LSCS Course | Min. Score |
| Music | IB (SL or HL) | MUSI 1306 | 3 |
| Music Theory | AP College Board | MUSI 1211, 1216 | 4 |
| Studio Art4 | AP College Board | ARTS 1311 OR 1316 | 4 |
| History of Art | AP College Board | ARTS 1303 | 4 |
| Theater Arts | IB (SL or HL) | DRAM 1310 | 3 |
| Visual Arts | IB (SL or HL) | ARTS 1301 OR 1311 OR 1316 |
3 |
Footnotes (Arts & Music)
The following footnotes refer to activities which must take place on campus. Please contact the counseling office for additional information.
4Portfolio review with Lone Star College System faculty required. Students who take the Design-Studio Art exam can apply for credit for ARTS 1311, and those who take Drawing-Studio Art exam can apply for credit for ARTS 1316.
| Subject Area | Examination | LSCS Course | Min. Score |
| Business Law II | DSST | BUSI 2301 | 53 |
| Business & Management | IB | BUSI 1301 | 3 |
| Financial Accounting | CLEP | ACCT 2401 | 52 |
| Principles of Financial Accounting | DSST | ACCT 2401 | 52 |
| Personal Finance | DSST | BUSI 1307 | 430 |
| Principles of Supervision | DSST | BMGT 1301 | 419 |
| Subject Area | Examination | LSCS Course | Min. Score |
| Computer Science A | AP College Board | COSC 1436 and 1437 | 4 |
| Subject Area | Examination | LSCS Course | Min. Score |
| English | IB (SL) | ENGL 1301 & 1302 | 4 |
| English | IB (HL) | ENGL 1301, 1302 & 2332 |
4 |
| English Usage | ACT | ENGL 1301 | 31 |
| English Language & Composition | AP College Board | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| English Literature & Composition | AP College Board | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| American Literature | CLEP | ENGL 2327, 2328 | 46 |
| English Literature | CLEP | ENGL 2322, 2323 | 46 |
| Subject Area | Examination | LSCS Course | Min. Score |
| French | IB (AB) | FREN 1411 | 4 |
| French | IB (B) (SL) | FREN 1411, 1412 | 4 |
| French | IB (B) (HL) | FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 1312 |
4 |
| French Level I 1 |
CLEP | FREN 1411, 1412 | 50 |
| Spanish Level I 1 |
CLEP | SPAN 1411, 1412 | 50 |
| German Level I 1 |
CLEP | GERM 1411, 1412 | 50 |
| French 2 (Upon Completion of FREN 1412) |
F CAPE | FREN 1411 | 277-329 |
| French 2 (Upon Completion of FREN 2311) |
F CAPE | FREN 1411, 1412 | 330-389 |
| French 2 (Upon Completion of FREN 2312) |
F CAPE | FREN 1411, 1412, 2311 | 390-424 |
| Spanish 2 (Upon Completion of SPAN 1412) |
S CAPE | SPAN 1411 | 277-329 |
| Spanish 2 (Upon Completion of SPAN 2311) |
S CAPE | SPAN 1411, 1412 | 330-389 |
| Spanish 2 (Upon Completion of SPAN 2312) |
S CAPE | SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311 | 390-424 |
| German 2 (Upon Completion of GERM 1412) |
G CAPE | GERM 1411 | 277-329 |
| German 2 (Upon Completion of GERM 2311) |
G CAPE | GERM 1411, 1412 | 330-389 |
| German 2 (Upon Completion of GERM 2312) |
G CAPE | GERM 1411, 1412, 2311 | 390-424 |
| German | IB (AB) | GERM 1411 | 4 |
| German | IB (B) (SL) | GERM 1411, 1412 | 4 |
| German | IB (HL) | GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 | 4 |
| Spanish 3 (Upon Completion of SPAN 1412) |
Spanish Heritage Learner Exam | SPAN 1411 | 26-49 |
| Spanish 3 (Upon Completion of SPAN 2311 or 2313) |
Spanish Heritage Learner Exam | SPAN 1411, 1412 | 50-69 |
| Spanish 3 (Upon Completion of SPAN 2311 or 2313) |
Spanish Heritage Learner Exam | SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311 OR 2313 | 70-100 |
| Spanish Language | AP College Board | SPAN 1411, 1412 | 3 |
| Spanish Language | AP College Board | SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311 | 4 |
| Spanish Language | AP College Board | SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 2306 | 5 |
| Spanish | IB (AB) | SPAN 1411 | 4 |
| Spanish | IB (B) (SL) | SPAN 1411, 1412 | 4 |
| Spanish | IB (HL) | SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 |
4 |
| French Language | AP College Board | FREN 1411, 1412 | 3 |
| French Language | AP College Board | FREN 1411, 1412, 2311 | 4 |
| French Language | AP College Board | FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 | 5 |
| German Language | AP College Board | GERM 1411, 1412 | 3 |
| German Language | AP College Board | GERM 1411, 1412, 2311 | 4 |
| German Language | AP College Board | GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 | 5 |
| Italian Language | AP College Board | ITAL 1411, 1412 | 3 |
| Italian Language | AP College Board | ITAL 1411, 1412, 2311 | 4 |
| Italian Language | AP College Board | ITAL 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 |
5 |
| Italian | IB (AB) | ITAL1411 | 4 |
| Italian | IB (B)(SL) | ITAL 1411, 1412 | 4 |
| Italian | IB (HL) | ITAL 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 |
4 |
Footnotes (Foreign Language)
The following footnotes refer to activities which must take place on campus. Please contact the counseling office for additional information.
1 The CLEP score determines maximum possible credit. Effective for students registering for spring 2010: foreign language CLEP tests no longer require additional interview or essay components, and 2000-level foreign language courses are no longer credited through this method of PLA; no fee will be charged to the student for the PLA processing, though students will still need to pay for the CLEP exam; students may resubmit a CLEP score for PLA consideration every 6 months, and advisors need to enter all CLEP PLA applications with scores and dates in iStar.
2 Students are placed according to the score they obtain on the computerized test. Upon completion of the course with a grade of C or better, the student receives credit for the course and can request credit for lower level courses. Effective for students registering for spring 2010: further assessment through interview or essay is no longer required; students will pay $25 for the test, and not for the PLA credit determination; the test fee will be collected regardless of the number of courses credited through PLA; the fee will be waived for dual credit students for the initial assessment; students will be charged $25 for each subsequent test; students may retake the test once a semester, but students currently enrolled in a course may not attempt any PLA once enrolled on official day; any PLA application by CAPE should be entered in iStar with the score and date.
3 A heritage learner of Spanish is someone who achieved a competent level of communicative proficiency in the home. The purpose of the Spanish Heritage Learner Exam is to place students in the appropriate course. The test fee is $25 payable prior to testing and regardless of whether PLA credit is granted later. Upon completion of the course with a grade of C or better, the student receives credit for the course and may request credit for certain lower level courses listed in the table above.
| Subject Area | Examination | LSCS Course | Min. Score |
| Math Usage | ACT | MATH1314 | 28 |
| Mathematical Studies |
IB (SL) | MATH 1332 | 4 |
| Further Mathematics | IB (SL) | MATH 1332 | 4 |
| College Algebra | CLEP | MATH 1314 | 50 |
| Precalculus | CLEP | MATH 2412 | 50 |
| Calculus with Elementary Functions | CLEP | MATH 2413 | 50 |
| Biology | AP College Board | BIOL 1406, 1407 | 4 |
| Math Calculus AB |
AP College Board | MATH 2413 | 3 (AB) |
| Math Calculus BC |
AP College Board | MATH 2413, 2414 | 4 (BC) |
| Math Calculus BC |
AP College Board | MATH 2413 | 3(BC) |
| Mathematics | IB (HL) | MATH 1325 | 4 |
| Statistics | AP College Board | MATH 1342 | 3 |
| Biology | IB (SL) | BIOL 1406 | 4 |
| Biology | IB (HL) | BIOL 1406, 1407 | 4 |
| Chemistry | AP College Board | CHEM 1411, 1412 | 4 |
| Chemistry | IB (SL) | CHEM 1411 | 4 |
| Chemistry | IB (HL) | CHEM 1411, 1412 | 4 |
| Geology | IB (SL) | ENVR 1401 OR GEOL 1405 |
4 |
| Geology | IB (HL) | GEOG 1303 | 4 |
| Philosophy | IB (SL or HL) | PHIL 1301 | 4 |
| Physics | IB (HL) | PHYS 1401 | 4 |
| Subject Area | Examination | LSCS Course | Min. Score |
| Fundamentals of Counseling | DSST | DAAC 1311 | 45 |
| American Government | CLEP | GOVT 2301 | 50 |
| U.S. History I | CLEP | HIST 1301 | 50 |
| U.S. History II | CLEP | HIST 1302 | 50 |
| U.S. History | AP College Board | HIST 1301 OR HIST 1302 |
4 |
| Western Civilization I | CLEP | HIST 2311 | 46 |
| Western Civilization II | CLEP | HIST 2312 | 47 |
| History | IB (SL) | HIST 2312 OR 2322 | 5 |
| History | IB (HL) | HIST 2312 OR 2322 | 4 |
| Lifespan/ Developmental Psychology |
DSST | PSYC 2314 | 46 |
| Macroeconomics | AP College Board | ECON 2301 | 3 |
| Microeconomics | AP College Board | ECON 2302 | 3 |
| Psychology5 | CLEP | PSYC 2301 | 55 |
| Psychology | AP College Board | PSYC 2301 | 3 |
| Psychology | IB (SL) | PSYC 2301 | 5 |
| Psychology | IB (HL) | PSYC 2301 | 4 |
| Social & Cultural Anthropology | IB (HL) | ANTH 2346 | 4 |
| Sociology | CLEP | SOCI 1301 | 53 |
| Statistics5 | CLEP | PSYC 2317 | 50 |
| Substance Abuse | DSST | DAAC 1319 | 400 |
Footnotes (Social & Behavioral Sciences)
The following footnotes refer to activities which must take place on campus. Please contact the counseling office for additional information.
5Lone Star College System Essay required.
