PLA By External Challenge Examinations
Lone Star College has established equivalent course credit for minimum passing scores on nationally-recognized, college entrance and subject exams. Students are responsible for test arrangements and making sure official score reports are sent to Lone Star College. In addition to minimum passing scores, students may be required to complete a course or additional assessment before being eligible for credit.
Students must have an official score report sent to Lone Star College directly from the testing organization to initiate credit. PLA by exam credit is automated for assessments that do not require course completion or additional assessment. With exception of AVANT exams, PLA by exam credit applies to LSC graduation requirements only and will not transfer. Students are highly encouraged to discuss their academic goals with an advisor before registering for an assessment.
LSC accepts score reports for select exams administered through the following organizations:
- ACT
- AVANT - language placement exams must be taken before registering for an LSC foreign language course. Students submit an application for PLA credit after completing the designated placement course with a C or better.
- College Board - AP, CLEP & SAT
- DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
External Challenge Exams by Subject
- Arts & Music
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Subject Area Examination LSC Course Min. Score History of Art AP College Board ARTS 1303 3 Music IB (SL or HL) MUSI 1306 3 Theater Arts IB (SL or HL) DRAM 1310 3 Visual Arts IB (SL or HL) ARTS 1301 or 1311 or 1316 3 - Business
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Subject Area Examination LSC Course Min. Score Financial Accounting CLEP ACCT 2301 52 Principles of Financial Accounting DSST ACCT 2301 52 Principles of Supervision DSST BMGT 1301 419 Business Law II DSST BUSI 2301 53 Business & Management IB BUSI 1301 3 Personal Finance DSST BUSI 1307 430 - Computer Science
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Subject Area Examination LSC Course Min. Score Computer Science A AP College Board COSC 1436 and 1437 3 - English
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Subject Area Examination LSC Course Min. Score English Usage ACT ENGL 1301 31 Writing SAT ENGL 1301 690 English Language & Composition AP College Board ENGL 1301 3 English Literature & Composition AP College Board ENGL 1302 3 English Language IB (SL) ENGL 1301 & 1302 4 English Language IB (HL) ENGL 1301, 1302 and 2332 4 English Literature CLEP ENGL 2322, 2323 46 - Foreign Language
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Subject Area Examination LSC Course Min. Score Arabic AVANT ARAB 1411 2.2-3.5 Arabic AVANT ARAB 1411, 1412 3.6-5.1 Arabic AVANT ARAB 1411, 1412, 2311 5.2-6 Chinese AVANT CHIN 1411 2.2-3.5 Chinese AVANT CHIN 1411, 1412 3.6-5.1 Chinese AVANT CHIN 1411, 1412, 2311 5.1-6 French AVANT FREN 1411 2.2-3.5 French IB FREN 1411 4 French AVANT FREN 1411, 1412 3.6-5.1 French IB (B, SL) FREN 1411, 1412 4 French Level I CLEP FREN 1411, 1412 50 French Language AP College Board FREN 1411, 1412 3 French AVANT FREN 1411, 1412, 2311 5.2-6 French Language AP College Board FREN 1411, 1412, 2311 4 French IB (B, HL) FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 4 French Language AP College Board FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 5 German IB (B, SL) GERM 1411 4 German IB (AB) GERM 1411, 1412 4 German Level I CLEP GERM 1411, 1412 50 German Language AP College Board GERM 1411, 1412 3 German Language AP College Board GERM 1411, 1412, 2311 4 German IB (HL) GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 4 German Language AP College Board GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 5 Italian AVANT ITAL 1411 2.2-3.5 Italian IB (AB) ITAL 1411 4 Italian AVANT ITAL 1411, 1412 3.6 - 5.1 Italian Language AP College Board ITAL 1411, 1412 3 Italian IB (B, SL) ITAL 1411, 1412 4 Italian AVANT ITAL 1411, 1412, 2311 5.2 - 6 Italian Language AP College Board ITAL 1411, 1412, 2311 4 Italian Language AP College Board ITAL 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 5 Italian IB (B, HL) ITAL 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 4 Japanese AVANT JAPN 1411 2.2 - 3.5 Japanese AVANT JAPN 1411, 1412 3.6 - 5.1 Japanese AVANT JAPN 1411, 1412, 2311 5.2 - 6 Spanish AVANT SPAN 1411 2.2-3.5 Spanish IB (AB) SPAN 1411 4 Spanish AVANT SPAN 1411, 1412 3.6 - 5.1 Spanish Language Level I CLEP SPAN 1411, 1412 50 Spanish Language AP College Board SPAN 1411, 1412 3 Spanish IB (B, SL) SPAN 1411, 1412 4 Spanish Level I AVANT SPAN 1411, 1412 & 2311 5.2 - 6 Spanish Language AP College Board SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311 4 Spanish Language AP College Board SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 5 Spanish IB (HL) SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 4 Footnote (Foreign Language)
The AVANT exam is a placement exam only. The student will be eligible to enroll in the appropriate course based on the exam score. Upon successful completion, with a grade of “C” or better, the student will be awarded credit for the completed course and all other lower level courses within that foreign language. This is an automated process by student records and does not require additional action by the advisor. Credit will be awarded within 3 days of posted grades. Please do not request student records to post the grade prior to the 3 day period.
- History
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Subject Area Examination LSC Course Min. Score 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 1302 3 Western Civilization I CLEP HIST 2311 46 Western Civilization II CLEP HIST 2312 47 World History AP College Board HIST 2321 3 History IB (SL) HIST 2321 or 2322 5 History IB (HL) HIST 2321 or 2322 4 - Government
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Subject Area Examination LSC Course Min. Score American Government CLEP GOVT 2305 50 U.S. Government and Politics AP College Board GOVT 2305 3 - Math & Science
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Subject Area Examination LSC Course Min. Score Math Usage ACT MATH 1314 28 Math SAT (prior to 3/5/2016) MATH 1314 640 College Algebra CLEP MATH 1314 50 Mathematics IB (HL) MATH 1325 4 Mathematical Studies IB (SL) MATH 1332 4 Further Mathematics IB (SL) MATH 1332 4 Statistics AP College Board MATH 1342 3 Precalculus CLEP MATH 2412 50 Calculus with Elementary Function CLEP MATH 2413 50 Calculus AB AP College Board MATH 2413 3 Calculus BC AP College Board MATH 2413 3 Calculus BC AP College Board MATH 2413, 2414 4 Biology IB (SL) BIOL 1406 4 Biology AP College Board BIOL 1406, 1407 3 Biology IB (HL) BIOL 1406, 1407 4 Chemistry AP College Board CHEM 1405 3 Chemistry IB (SL) CHEM 1411 4 Chemistry AP College Board CHEM 1411, 1412 4 Chemistry IB (HL) CHEM 1411, 1412 4 Geology IB (SL) ENVR 1401 OR
GEOL 14054 Geography IB (HL) GEOG 1303 4 Physics I AP College Board PHYS 1401 3 Physics C: Mechanics AP College Board PHYS 1401 3 Physics IB (HL) PHYS 1401 4 Physics II AP College Board Physics II PHYS 1402 3 Physics C: Mechanics AP College Board PHYS 1402 3 Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism AP College Board PHYS 1401, 2425 4 Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism AP College Board PHYS 1402, 2426 4 - Social & Behavioral Science
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Subject Area Examination LSC Course Min. Score Fundamentals of Counseling DSST DAAC 1311 45 Substance Abuse DSST DAAC 1319 400 Intro to Psychology CLEP PSYC 2301 551
Psychology AP College Board PSYC 2301 3 Psychology IB (SL) PSYC 2301 5 Psychology IB (HL) PSYC 2301 4 Lifespan/Developmental Psychology DSST PSYC 2314 46 Macroeconomics AP College Board ECON 2301 3 Microeconomics AP College Board ECON 2302 3 Social & Cultural Anthropology IB (HL) ANTH 2346 4 Intro to Philosophy IB (SL or HL) PHIL 1301 4 Intro to Sociology CLEP SOCI 1301 53 Footnotes (Social & Behavioral Sciences)
The following footnote refers to activities which must take place on campus. Please see a campus advisor for further instruction.
1An essay is required to receive credit. Please meet with the department chair to make appropriate arrangements.
