STUBBORN MYTHS
Certain myths about CLEP exams swirl about the homeschool community. Incorrect information can be a stumbling block to exploring valuable the experiences that studying for CLEP exams can offer. I will address the concerns that I’ve heard using information from my experiences. No doubt, there are other concerns/myths.
MYTH #1: CLEP CREDITS AFFECT THE GPA
I’ve heard people say that colleges assign a “C” for CLEP credits. The truth is CLEP exams are pass or fail. They do not receive letter grades. Colleges grant letter grades for courses taken only at their institute. Each school creates its own transcript. Even the College Board provides a CLEP transcript of its own that can be sent to schools. In our experience, a receiving school did not assign a letter grade or include transfer credits from any source on its own transcript.
I believe this misconception arises for students who are applying to competitive schools like nursing, radiology, or pharmacy that require A’s in their prerequisite courses to get accepted. If a student took a CLEP exam instead of an actual college class for an important prerequisite like biology, perhaps the student’s CLEP credit would be treated “like a C” when comparing candidates for admission. In the case of competitive programs like nursing, radiology, and pharmacy read Which CLEPs Not to Take.
MYTH #2: STUDENTS DON’T ACTUALLY LEARN THE MATERIAL
Based on our experiences, my students have to learn a large amount of material in order to pass a CLEP exam. Whether they learn it over one school year or 1 month, they are still learning the material. I know my kids have learned the material well because they often recall facts years after the exam.
When we spend an entire school year studying a subject, memorizing 1000+ flashcards, and taking multiple practice tests, there’s no doubt that the material was learned. Even for short cram exams, my students put in at least 150 hours of study. As referenced by Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), 150 hours serve as 1 high school credit for most subjects. They may not learn the entire body of college material completely, but they learn more than they would in a high school course.
A concerned parent can improve the experience by extending the study over an entire school year and by adding additional learning resources like videos, papers, and projects. See Sample CLEP Year for ideas on how to turn CLEP study into a high school course. I did this for Biology, Psychology, American Literature, Sociology, US History I, Western Civilization I, and College Algebra.
MYTH #3: A COLLEGE HAS TO ACCEPT ALL CLEP CREDITS WITH AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE
This fact is actually true in North Carolina for students whose credits meet the requirements for its Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA). The CAA is an agreement between NC community colleges and NC public universities in which students who earned an associate degree at the community college can transfer into public university as a junior thereby waiving the general education requirements even if they are different. These credits include CLEP, AP, and Dantes used to achieve the associate degree. Read the official CAA document. Read my post CLEP and NC Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
This is a myth for students who have credits that are not approved by the CAA or for students from states who do not have such an agreement. It’s also a myth for students who transfer into private schools. So it’s a truth for state schools in North Carolina but not necessarily for private schools.
MYTH #4: CLEP CREDITS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR TWO YEARS
I’ve heard many incorrect opinions on how long CLEP credits can be used at colleges. The College Board website states that CLEP credits are good for twenty years. If your student is going to delay college for 20 years, that could present a setback. As always, before accepting so-called facts from others, double check the data yourself before making conclusions. People can be wrong, and rules can change.
See Locating College CLEP Lists and College CLEP Policies.
My experience with CLEPs. I have coached my kids and their friends through 16 different CLEP exams over a period of 9 years. Collectively, they have passed 39 CLEP exams and earned over 159 college credits. I’m still coaching my younger son through his CLEP journey. My high school graduates have received full-ride merit scholarships.