Does Queen's University accept Economics HL?

💡Expert's Take

“A STRATEGIC WIN – ESPECIALLY FOR COMMERCE

The Good News: Queen's grants the full ECON 110 (6.0 units) credit for a score of 5+. This covers the entire first-year Economics requirement (Micro + Macro).

The Reality Check:

The Math: ECON 110 itself is not calculus-based; it relies on algebra and graphs (similar to IB). Note: If you are an Econ major, you will still need to take MATH 121/126 separately.

The Grading: Do not underestimate this course. It is a high-volume lecture course. While there is no forced curve, exams are designed to distinguish mastery from memorization. It is not an "automatic A."

For Smith Commerce Students:

You have a massive strategic advantage.

The Play: Use this credit to skip ECON 110.

The Win: This frees up 6.0 units of space. You can use this to take non-Commerce electives (like Psychology or Calculus) that are usually hard to fit into a first-year schedule.

For Arts & Science Students:

This credit satisfies your introductory economics requirement or counts as 6.0 units of electives. It is a fantastic way to open up space for a minor or second major.

Verdict:

Score 5: Consider retaking. University exams require a level of application that a "bare pass" in IB might not prepare you for.

Score 6-7: Take the credit. You have mastered the fundamentals. Use the free space to explore other subjects or lighten your workload.”