The exact format and contents of a college transcript are largely left to the university. However, accrediting institutions may impose guidelines on what information should be included or left out. Generally speaking transcripts include the name and course number of all classes in which a student has enrolled as well as the letter grade earned for that class. A transcript will include some amount of "directory information" which could entail the student's full name, address, student ID number and contact information.
Some colleges include on the transcript the results of tests that may be considered for determining a student's testing credit or qualification for certain classes. For example, a student may take a placement exam and test out of the first year of a foreign language and this would be indicated on the transcript along with information about whether college credit was awarded. Some colleges include information about AP tests that the student may have taken while in high school, as college credit may be awarded for such tests. Similarly, the transcript may record credit awarded from taking classes at other schools, such as with transfer students or visiting scholars.
Colleges generally determine autonomously how to denote that a student has withdrawn from a class or if the class was audited (not taken for credit). Some colleges will note a withdrawn class as a "W" if the student ever enrolled in it, others will omit these entries if the class is withdrawn during the first few weeks of class (sometimes known as an "drop/add" period). Audited classes are often included with a designation that they do not contribute to the student's GPA or course credit.
Many colleges calculate the student's cumulative GPA and record this information on the student's transcript. While not all colleges calculate class ranking, some colleges will include on the transcript the student's rank within in his class, for example "50 out of 600".
Colleges are required to submit to a student a copy of his transcript upon request, although a nominal fee may be required. In most cases a college will give the student an "unofficial" transcript, compared to an "official" transcript that is embossed with a seal. Most institutions that request a transcript for review as part of an application require that it be "official." According to federal law, a student has the right to request changes to information on the transcript that he believes to be inaccurate. A college has the right to deny such requests and in these circumstances the student may include an addendum sheet clarifying what he believes to be inaccurate.