February 23, 2011

What is CLEP?

A CLEP (College Level Examination Program) test is a multiple-choice (a few have an essay question or two), computer based, 90-120 minute test that can earn you anywhere from 3-12 college credit hours. It was designed for people who have extensive knowledge of a subject outside the classroom and want to get college credit for it instead of sitting through a long, boring class learning something they already know more about than the professor.

However. 

The CLEP is also infinitely useful for
  • High school graduates
  • Homeschoolers
  • Working parents
  • International students coming to the U.S.
  • Military service members 
  • Those who are fluent in French, German, or Spanish and want credit for it 

The test is usually made up of 80-120 questions (depending on the subject). It is scored on a 20/80 scale and the typical required score for passing is 50. For most institutions you will not be awarded a grade for your test, it's just "win or lose," as it were. If you pass, you have just earned the same credits in a few minutes that Joe Smith over there worked an entire semester or two to get!

If you fail a test then it is almost as if it never happened, no record of failure will be kept on your transcript and you'll be able to take it again after 3 months.

And what is the best part of all this?
One test is $80.

You may have to pay a $25-$50 fee to the testing center where you take the CLEP, but the test itself is dirt cheap.

A CLEP test is in one of 33 subject areas:

Business
  • Financial Accounting 3
  • Business Law, Introductory 3
  • Information Systems and Computer Applications 3
  • Management, Principles of 3
  • Marketing, Principles of 3


Composition and Literature
  • American Literature 6
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 6
  • College Composition 6
  • College Composition Modular 3/6
  • English Literature 6
  • Humanities 6


Foreign Languages
  • French Language, Level 1 6
  • French Language, Level 2 12
  • German Language, Level 1 6
  • German Language, Level 2 12
  • Spanish Language, Level 1 6
  • Spanish Language, Level 2 12


History and Social Sciences
  • American Government 3
  • Educational Psychology, Introduction to 3
  • History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 3
  • History of the United States II: 1865 to Present 3
  • Human Growth and Development 3
  • Macroeconomics, Principles of 3
  • Microeconomics, Principles of 3
  • Psychology, Introductory 3
  • Social Sciences and History 6
  • Sociology, Introductory 3
  • Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 3
  • Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present 3


Science and Mathematics
  • Biology 6
  • Calculus 4
  • Chemistry 6
  • College Algebra 3
  • College Mathematics 6
  • Precalculus 3
  • Natural Sciences 6



I'm sure that you can see why I can't wait to get more people excited about CLEPing!