WHAT ARE CLEP EXAMS?
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers 33 subject exams for college credit. The subjects are general education (core) subjects typically offered during the first two years of college. The exam areas include Composition and Literature, World Languages, History and Social Sciences, and Science and Mathematics. The College Board CLEP website has extensive information about their exams.
HOW MANY CREDITS ARE EACH EXAM?
Most of the exams are worth three college credits. Some are six credits. Certain colleges discount the credits for each exam while some bump up the credits on certain exams. My daughter’s college granted her 8 credits for the 6 credit Biology CLEP.
WHAT IS A PASSING SCORE?
These exams are pass/fail. Colleges generally accept a passing score as 50 or higher. Some colleges require higher scores on certain exams. I think it’s safe to say that a score of 50 (based on a raw score) out of approximately 90 questions makes CLEP exams tempting.
HOW ARE CLEP EXAMS SCORED?
Exams are scored using two types of scores. The first is a raw score which provides a point for every question answered correctly. Points are not subtracted for incorrect answers or skipped questions. Then the exam is scored using a scaled score to account for differences between the various copies of the exam. Some versions might have more difficult questions than another. Scaling accounts for these differences. The two scores are used to create a final score.
WHAT ARE CLEP EXAMS LIKE?
The CLEP exams have between 90 and 120 multiple choice questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of the composition and literature exams have optional essay sections. The foreign language exams have listening requirements. The exams are taken on a computer at the testing center. They are graded immediately upon completion of the exam. The student will then be handed a print-out with the score.
HOW MUCH DOES A CLEP EXAM COST?
The cost of a CLEP exam is currently $89. The testing center you choose will have a proctor fee. Our center charges $25.
WHO CAN TAKE CLEP EXAMS?
Anybody who thinks they can pass one of these exams can take one. I’ve had a 12-year-old take one. All of my kids have passed CLEP exams by the age of 13. The ideal student is one who wants to go to college and is willing and motivated to make that happen. He will figure out study schedules and stay on task. Another candidate is an agreeable student with a motivated and organized parent. Read Ideal Candidate for CLEP Testing.
WHERE ARE CLEP EXAMS TAKEN?
These exams are taken at private testing centers and at certain colleges. They can be taken online through the College Board during Covid. The College Board CLEP website has a test site finder.
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR A CLEP EXAM?
There are two steps. Purchase an exam online through the College Board CLEP website. Then schedule an appointment at a local testing center. During Covid, exams could be taken online through the College Board. I hope they continue this option as it was more relaxing to test at home. When I scheduled a child younger than 14, I had to register by mail. This may have changed. Make sure you print off the registration ticket and take it to the testing center. The testing center has no idea which test you are scheduled for until you show the ticket. The College Board CLEP website has a test site finder.
WHAT IS NEEDED ON TEST DAY?
You need two items: the examination registration ticket and a legitimate photo ID. Government school IDs are acceptable. But homeschoolers don’t typically have school ID’s. If your home-schooled child does not have a driver’s license either, you can obtain a non-driver’s photo ID from a local DMV office. See next question. Testing centers have strict rules. Hoodies and electronic devices are prohibited. The administrator provides scrap paper which must be returned after the test. This prevents people from “stealing” questions to share later.
HOW DO I GET A GOVERNMENT ID?
Obtaining a non-driver’s ID at the DMV requires proof of person documents such as a birth certificate, social security card, and proof of residence. Proving the home address is not always easy. A bill, bank statement, tax return, or magazine subscription with the child’s name and address work. If you don’t have any of these, a parent can sign an affidavit at the DMV testifying that the child lives at a particular address.
We live in North Carolina. The DMV in your state might have different requirements. Obtaining one of these ID cards may seem like a hassle, but the ID card will come in handy if your student takes the ACT or SAT test and does not have a driver’s license.
HOW DO YOUR CHOOSE WHICH EXAM TO TAKE?
Many factors go into choosing an exam. See my post Which CLEP Exam When: A Pathway from Middle School to Graduation. See CLEP Difficulty Ranking based on our experiences as middle and high school test takers. If you know which college your student wants to attend read Locating College CLEP Lists and College CLEP Policies.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A CLEP EXAM?
See my posts: Sample CLEP Year, CLEP Prep: Different Study Plans, CLEP Study Materials, Which CLEPs Not to Take, Determining CLEP Readiness, CLEP Prep Bootcamp: The Final Weeks, and CLEP Quick Start.
ARE CLEP EXAMS ACCEPTED AT ALL COLLEGES?
CLEP credits are not universally accepted. Some colleges accept a lot, some a few, and some none. Read Assessing the Limitation of CLEP Credits to help you determine if CLEP testing is going to work for you.
My experience with CLEP testing. I have coached my kids and their friends through 16 different CLEP exams over a period of 8 years. Collectively, they have passed 38 CLEP exams and earned over 156 college credits. I’m still coaching my younger son through his CLEP journey. My high school graduates have received full-ride merit scholarships.
Musing: a period of reflection or thought. As such this post reflects my thoughts, opinions, and experiences on the topic. The choice to home school and the methods you choose are yours to determine.