Advanced Standing and Validation Exams

MIT Physics offers two kind of credit for knowledge demonstrated through exams or for previous work:

  • Advanced Standing credit can be given for successfully passing an exam demonstrating mastery of the material from an MIT course. Current subjects for which Advanced Standing Exams (ASEs) are available are 8.01, 8.02, 8.03, and 8.04.
  • Transfer credit is given for course work completed at another university; a Validation Exam to demonstrate mastery of the material is required for 8.01 or 8.02 transfer credit.

Upcoming Exams Schedule

Note: Due to the increasing use of LLMs, the Physics department no longer offers ASEs online. All exams will now be in-person only.

Summer 2026 Advanced Standing/Validation Exams schedule:

  • All ASEs will be offered in-person only
  • 8.01 August 31st from 8-11AM
  • 8.02 September 2nd from 1:30-4:30PM
  • 8.03 September 8th from 9-12AM
  • 8.04 September 8th from 1-4PM
  • To register for ASEs, see information below.
  • Questions? Contact Michal Holland (holland3@mit.edu)
  • Note: Locations of exams will be sent via email to registered students.

More on Advanced Standing Credit

MIT’s first-level Physics courses in Classical Mechanics (8.01) and Electricity & Magnetism (8.02) provide a rigorous, in-depth study of these topics at a level offered by few other schools. A student who believes that pre-MIT work has prepared the student with strong knowledge of the subject matter in 8.01 and/or 8.02 may take an Advanced Standing Exam.

A passing grade on an MIT Advanced Standing Exam entitles a student to full credit for the subject, as well as placement in the next subject in a sequence. A student may only take an Advanced Standing Exam in a class for which they had never registered nor attended at MIT.

Obtaining Advanced Standing Credit

For January Exams:

All students, including new transfer students:

  • Register for ASEs using the ASE petition form.
  • Be sure to sign the petition yourself and obtain your advisor’s signature, then forward it to Physics Assistant Director Shannon Larkin for instructor signatures.

For August Exams:

Incoming first-year students:

All continuing students and new transfer students:

All students, both exam dates:

  • Read the “What you need to do” section of the MIT Registrar’s Office website on ASEs.
  • After obtaining a signature from your Academic Advisor, and signing the petition yourself, send the petition to physics-undergrad@mit.edu to obtain an instructor signature from Shannon Larkin, Physics Assistant Director.
  • Once you receive your signed form, submit it to the Registrar’s Office (send to records@mit.edu) for verification that you have not previously been enrolled in the class. Forms must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline posted in the Academic Calendar.

Additional information about MIT’s Advanced Standing Exams policy and practice.

Advanced Standing Grading

  • First-semester first year students: P grade for passing the exam; no grade posted for failing the exam.
  • A, B, or C letter grades will appear on your spring term record and transcript for ASEs taken in January. These grades are not included in your GPA calculation.
  • Sophomores, juniors, and seniors (including new transfer students): letter grades will appear on transcript, but not factor into the GPA.
  • A student who fails an advanced standing exam cannot retake it, and should enroll in the appropriate subject.

Accommodations for ASEs / Transfer Validation Exams

In order to be granted extended time, a distraction-free space, or any other needed accommodation for the exams offered, students need to get approval from the Disabilities and Access Services Office (das-student@mit.edu). Students also need to contact the Physics Course Manager at physics-course-manager@mit.edu to coordinate the logistics of the accommodation requested.

Resources to help prepare for the ASEs

More on Transfer Credit

MIT’s first-level Physics courses in Classical Mechanics (8.01) and Electricity & Magnetism (8.02) provide a rigorous, in-depth study of these topics at a level offered by few other schools. A student who has not yet completed the Physics GIRs at MIT may wish to take a course at another college or university (e.g., during a summer session) and apply for transfer credit; students transferring to MIT may have already taken such a course. In order to qualify for MIT credit, the course must:

  • be calculus-based and directed toward science or engineering majors;
  • use a text at a level comparable to that of texts used at MIT (see below);
  • be the equivalent of one MIT term in the number of lecture hours, number of assignments, etc.; have content matching that of 8.01 (Mechanics) or 8.02 (Electricity and Magnetism).

The principal topics usually included in such a course are listed below. Additional information can be found on the individual course websites.

Obtaining transfer credit

To request transfer credit for any Physics subject, consult with Physics Assistant Director of Academic Programs Shannon Larkin, who serves as the Department’s Transfer Credit Examiner and will determine whether the course meets MIT Physics’ standards. Students requesting transfer credit should send:

  • a copy of or link to the official catalog description of the course;
  • a detailed syllabus including the title and author of the textbook and the chapters covered, as well as topics covered week to week;
  • a transcript from the institution where the course was taken (NOTE: a grade of B or better is required to receive transfer credit).

Requesting credit for 8.01 or 8.02:

  • The student must validate the transfer credit by passing an MIT 8.01 or 8.02 Validation Exam. Exams are given during Orientation week prior to the fall term and in the last week of IAP prior to the spring term, or arranged to the mutual convenience of the student and exam administrator. To register for an exam, submit a petition (PDF) to the Academic Programs Office.
  • After passing the Validation Exam, request transfer credit by submitting a Request for Additional Credit (PDF) to the Transfer Credit Examiner.

Requesting credit for courses beyond the GIRs:

  • Based on the materials sent to the Transfer Credit Examiner, a decision will be made on what transfer credit will be awarded; no exam is required for subjects above 8.02. Transfer credit may be in the form of direct credit for a specific MIT Physics subject, if the previous course covers the same curriculum with the same rigor, or may be in the form of units of academic credit, in cases where no analogous MIT course exists.
  • Once credit has been approved, submit a Request for Additional Credit (PDF) to the Transfer Credit Examiner.

Transfer Credit Grading

Transfer credit appears on the transcript with a grade of “S.” Transfer credit entitles the student to placement in the next subject in a sequence.

A student who fails an 8.01 or 8.02 Validation Exam will have no grade noted on the transcript, but may not repeat the exam and must enroll in the MIT course.

Potential Topics for Placement Exams

Physics ASEs and Validation Exams are three-hour, closed-book exams covering calculus-based introductory Classical Mechanics (8.01) or Classical Electromagnetism (8.02). Exams are modelled on final exams in 8.01 and 8.02, with problems based on a selection of the topics listed below. Suggested texts for study include University Physics by Young and Freedman; Physics by Halliday, Resnick and Krane; and Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Serway. Calculators may not be used during these exams; formula sheets are often provided but are not guaranteed.

8.01 Preparation Guides

8.02 Preparation Guides