Confused about AP/IB credit

<li>Is credit and unit the same thing</li>
<li>does 30 units = 1 year of college</li>
<li> How come some schools offer 8 credits for a score of 3 on an AP test and 4 for a score or 6 or higher on IB exams</li>
<li> Is it worth applying to an IVY even though I will be getting nil credit for most of my IB test.</li>
<li>USC-I would max out on 32 units and at an IVy i would get 6 max.</li>
</ol>

<p>1 and 2 depend on the university, and 4 depends on you and what kind of college experience you want.</p>

<p>In general, units and credits are used synonymously and on the two most common "credit scales" you would need to earn 32 or 8 credits per year in order to graduate in four years.</p>

<p>I think schools compare the IB or AP curriculum to the curriculum in their
courses. If you've covered the material and shown mastery, you get the credit.Tougher schools (more covered in the curriculum for each class)
may then offer less credit. Schools like MIT may offer very little unless
you pass their test. I find this comforting - the message is "We know what mastery looks like and whether you are demonstrating it."</p>

<p>The concept of mastery is different than working hard in a class, some AP
classes may take a lot of work, and I hear that you write a lot in IB. Still,
in the end, it's what you understand, compared to what the school expects
you to understand that counts.</p>

<p>For example: UPenn offers 1 or 2 C.U for a 5 on a particular exam. Others like the UC's and USC offer 4 units or credits for 3,4,5 or even 8 units for some!</p>

<p>1 credit at UPenn is equivalent to 4 credits at the UC's.</p>

<p>Some ivies use a one class - one credit system, so in effect one credit for them = 4 at another school.</p>

<p>Not only ivies, but yeah.</p>