While there are ways to keep the costs down, College can still be a big investment of time and money.
Fortunately, there are options to save on college without compromising your education – one of those being the CLEP exam. These exams cover common subject areas that are part of your core curriculum for your degree, helping you earn college credit for the knowledge you already have.
Find out everything you need to know about the CLEP exams, how they can benefit you, and how you should prepare to earn the most credit for your time and money.
What Is the CLEP Exam?
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a series of tests developed and administered by the College Board, which also develops and administers the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
CLEP tests are designed with working adults in mind who want to get credit for their work experience to earn their degree. These exams test knowledge of a variety of core academic subjects, and many colleges will award credit toward a degree for each test you pass.
The subject areas covered by CLEP exams include:
Composition and Literature
Composition and Literature are core subject areas. The current available CLEP exams in this subject include:
- American Literature
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- College Composition
- College Composition Modular
- English Literature
- Humanities
History and Social Sciences
Most degree programs include at least one gen ed course in History or the Social Sciences. The current available exams for these subjects include:
- American Government
- History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877
- History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present
- Human Growth and Development
- Introduction to Educational Psychology
- Introductory Psychology
- Introductory Sociology
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Social Sciences and History
- Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
- Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present
Science and Mathematics
Foundational science courses are often required for non-science degree programs. For science-based degrees, such as nursing, several sciences may be required as core courses or prerequisites. Some of the current available exams in the Sciences include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Natural Sciences
- College Algebra
- Precalculus
- College Mathematics
- Calculus
Business
Business courses may count toward gen ed requirements and give you an opportunity to showcase what you’ve learned through work experience. Some of the current available exams in this subject area include:
- Financial Accounting
- Information Systems
- Introductory Business Law
- Principles of Management
- Principles of Marketing
World Languages
Many colleges require at least one foreign language course as part of the gen ed requirements. The current available CLEP World Languages tests include:
- Spanish Language I and II
- French Language I and II
- German Language I and II
Benefits of Taking the CLEP Exam
Though a wide range of prospective students may be eligible to take the CLEP exams, these tests are designed to assist working adults in earning their degree, completing a previous degree program, or making a career change by offering an opportunity to get credit for knowledge gained through work experience.
The primary benefits of CLEP exams are reducing cost and saving time.
Cost
CLEP exams are typically cheaper than a full college course. Individual exams cost about $93, plus any fees charged by the test center or remote proctoring administration fees. Most colleges and universities have higher costs than that per credit hour – plus three-credit courses – so you can save money by earning credits for one exam and a one-time fee.
There may be additional costs for study guides or prep books, but they’re still lower than the average for a college textbook and course.
Time
Money is important when you’re considering a college degree, but as a working adult, time may be a more precious resource. If you want to earn your degree faster than the traditional college path, CLEP can be a huge help.
Typically, it takes about four years to earn an undergraduate degree, though some students may take a little less or a little more time. If you’re trying to get your degree for a career change or to get a better job, that’s a long time to devote to your education while working.
Depending on what CLEP tests are an option for you and the requirements of your degree program, you can earn a lot of your gen ed credits and get your degree much faster than four years.
Is CLEP Hard to Pass?
CLEP exams cover a broad range of information and can be challenging if you’re not familiar with the subject matter. However, the American Council on Education (ACE) recommends that colleges grant credit for a score of 50 or higher out of 80, but individual schools can have their own credit policies. Colleges may publish the required scores for earning CLEP credit, which can vary from exam to exam.
Most tests are multiple choice and scored by a computer program, though the College Composition and Spanish with Writing exam essays are graded by professors to earn a scaled score.
On CLEP exams, you receive one point for each correct answer. Points aren’t deducted for wrong or skipped answers, however, so you take your best guess.
How Do I Prepare for the CLEP Exam?
Test anxiety is a real thing. It’s a type of performance anxiety that can be triggered by high expectations, previous test experiences, pressure to perform, or a fear of failure.
Worst yet, if you’ve been out of school for a few years, test anxiety or not, taking an exam can be nerve wracking. But no matter how long it's been, proper preparation can be the key to your success.
Here are some tips to prepare for a CLEP exam:
- Purchase an official study guide from the College Board or you look for study guides at your local library.
- Make sure to take any available practice tests to see if you need to study more.
- Use outside resources to learn more about specific subjects. The College Board recommends different sources that may have helpful information.
- Leave yourself enough time to study. Plan at least a few hours a week for four to six weeks leading up to the test date.
You’ve studied hard and understand the material. Here are some tips to help the exam go smoothly:
- Pace yourself and keep an eye on the clock, as these tests are timed.
- Make sure to take your time and read the entire question before filling in your answer.
- If you don’t know the answer, skip it and come back to it.
- Don’t leave any questions blank. Wrong answers aren’t penalized, so make educated guesses.
How Long Should I Study for CLEP?
The general recommendation is to dedicate four to six weeks of study per CLEP exam. It’s best to spend time consistently studying to ensure you retain and recall information, rather than trying to cram right before the test.
How Many Questions Are on a CLEP Exam?
CLEP exams generally have 90-100 questions on each exam, depending on the subject, which must be completed within the 90-minute time limit.
The College Composition Modular exam contains approximately 90 multiple-choice questions that must be answered in 95 minutes. These questions are designed for colleges and universities that want a valid, reliable multiple-choice assessment. Most colleges award credit based on the College Composition Modular exam alone.
Explore Cost-Effective Options for College Credit
CLEP exams are a great way to earn college credit much faster than taking a course – and save money in the process – but they’re not the only ones. If you’re looking for other cost-effective ways to knock out your gen eds and get your degree fast, take a look at Sophia’s online, self-paced gen ed courses designed to transfer. Explore our courses and start your free trial today!
