When were CLEP exams invented?
CLEP is an acronym for the College-Level Examination Program. It was invented in 1966 by Educational Testing Service (ETS), which is the same company that administers the TOEFL and TOEIC exams; they are all part of ETS's Computer-Based Testing Division, which is headquartered in Lawrence Township, New Jersey.
The first CLEP examinations were offered in 1970. The program has undergone various name changes since then: College Level Examination Program changed to College Board Advanced Placement Program changed to Advanced Placement Examinations changed to CLEP General Examinations changed back to College Level Examination Program
General info
These are computer-based tests, which scores students based on the number of correct answers in 90 minutes or more. There are 33 score levels for each subject and they can be used to earn college credit.
When taking a CLEP exam, the student is not allowed to use a calculator and all cells need to be filled in unless otherwise stated. Every answer has 4 possible options: A-B-C-D. One letter from every option is needed to get an answer right so if you chose simply 'A' or 'C', it is wrong.
To get full value for the credit, scores are best when all correct answers are selected. Each exam is scored differently, but they range from 6 to 48 points per subject.
Subjects on the CLEP exams:
- College Composition (test code 02)
- College Composition Modular (test code 33)
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature (test code 05)
- College Mathematics (test code 03)
- Precalculus (test code 04)
- Introductory Business Law (test code 06)
- Financial Accounting (test code 08)
- Principles of Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and History & Institutions of the US Economy. Required for an Economics degree at UCF. This exam is only available in the paper format now. University policy states that required subjects for your major must be taken in paper format. (test code 42)
- American Government (test code 09)
- Introduction to Educational Psychology (test code 11)
- College Algebra (test code 10)
- Human Growth & Development (test code 21)
- Introductory Psychology (test code 24)
- Business Law, East Asia (test code 60)
- Western Civilization 1 (test code 57)
- Introduction to Sociology (test code 58)
- Principles of Management (test code 54)
How to prepare for CLEP?
CLEP exams provide sample questions, test information, and study guides. Practice tests and instructions on how to sign up for the exams can be found on CLEP's official website: https://clep.collegeboard.org/
Also, there are Official Study Materials (OSM) for every exam, which come in the form of books and/or CDs or DVDs. Official Study Materials can be found at your local library, through CLEP's OSM website, or you can order them online.
Preparing for exams with an essay can be a daunting task, so it would be a good idea to use online resources. The College Board's official website has a lot of information on CLEP exams and also provides practice tests, which can help you prepare for the exam.
Online videos on YouTube or other websites can also help raise your score. You can find videos on how to solve various problems, study tips and test-taking strategies.
CLEP exams are offered throughout the year at selected colleges and universities as well as through Sylvan Prometric Testing Centers across the country. When you register to take a CLEP exam, you should bring 2 forms of identification: one with your picture on it (examples include IDs, driver license), and one that proves your identity (such as an employee ID or credit card).
How long are the CLEP exams?
CLEP exams are timed; they usually start at 8:30 am and end when all questions on the test have been completed. There is typically a 10-minute break after every 50 minutes of testing or 4 sections, whichever comes first.
So, in general, it takes about 7 hours to complete a CLEP exam.
Process of testing
The test itself may be taken on paper or electronically.
The most common way to take CLEP exams is in computerized form. With this test, all questions are multiple-choice and you must indicate your answer before moving on. These tests are available at many colleges that participate in the program, but not all of them do!
Make sure that they offer CLEP exams before registering for any subjects because if they don't then you'll pay extra money for the course itself which defeats the purpose of CLEP testing.
With both types of testing formats, there is no deduction for wrong answers so choose wisely! If unsure about an answer, choose one option and move on - marks are lost for unanswered questions. The time limits range from 60 to 90 minutes and are set by each institution, not the CLEP exam itself - so you must be familiar with how much time is given before taking any test!
The electronic version is cheaper because you don't have to pay for paper and pencils. Also, there are no proctors required so you have more flexibility with scheduling the exam date and location.
However, some students prefer taking it on paper in case they want to go back over their mistakes at the end of each section - doing this on a computer doesn't give that option. Another drawback of electronic CLEP exams is if your computer malfunctions (not likely) then you can't finish the test until it's fixed!
Once the student enrolls in a college, the credits are sent to their institution. The student may have to meet with an academic advisor before being allowed to use them. There are some restrictions on who can take these tests and students must register for them at least 6 days before they want to take them. Also, they aren't offered every day so be sure to check ahead of time!
When can you know the results?
Usually, the student will receive their scores immediately after finishing the exam. They are sent to the institution they're enrolled in and reliable at any time. However, some colleges have deadlines for receiving CLEP test results so be sure to check ahead of time!
The score is usually mailed within 10 days of taking it but there isn't an exact date that can be given. You just have to wait until then - if not before! If you currently attend a college with CLEP testing centers, you can also get your results from them. Just ask someone on staff how to do this!
You must sign up for every subject separately so every different CLEP exam you take has its own registration fee - which is already included in most study materials! However, students may take as many CLEP tests as they want in one day - there is no limit!
Question types
There are several question types used when taking CLEP exams: multiple choice, single response, matching (similar questions but the answer is given), fill-in-the-blank (only one correct answer), and essay (4/5/6 options). A mix of all of these types will be found on each exam. While you don't have to know everything about a topic to take it, you should be familiar with the subject area.
Scheduling
The test can be taken on the same day as the enrollment or up to one year later –, it doesn't expire after any specific date as most college courses do. If you choose to schedule your exam at a later date (a week or longer) then try to stay away from vacations and special events that might distract you from studying properly.
Deadlines do not change if this happens, but some institutions may give credit for missed exams even if they weren't scheduled exactly on the enrollment date.
If your grades and credits are good enough, you can get a CLEP exam waived! Some colleges allow students to get credit if they have been enrolled in another institution and got at least a C- in a course. This is done on an individual basis so there's no guarantee that your request will be granted.
Scheduling can take some time since each college has its own methods for approving exams and the tests themselves aren't always offered daily. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time before enrolling because cramming won't work - it takes hard studying over a longer period of time to do well on these exams! The more preparation beforehand, the better chance for earning all possible credits without paying extra money.
You may need permission from your academic dean before taking a CLEP exam, although they are usually allowed. If you need to prepare for them beforehand make sure there aren't any problems! It's best to check with the college before enrolling if possible because it could save time and money in the long run.
Take-home exams like these are most often offered during the summer when school is out of session. This makes it easier for students to complete on their own time without interfering with any other courses or classes that they may be taking at the same time.
Price of the exam
The price varies depending on what test you're taking and if it's the computer or paper version. Remember that time is money so choosing a longer exam option isn't always better in terms of cost. Fees for CLEP exams depend on the institution and when they are taken, so be sure to check with them before scheduling your testing date! Some students prefer taking these tests during school breaks if possible because the prices will be lower than when school is in session.
Planning ahead can save you both time and money while also earning credit towards a degree or diploma - using all possible resources wisely helps!
Attend College Fairs at different schools to learn more about opportunities available to each program, including CLEP exams. Even if an elite college doesn't offer them, community colleges may offer an affordable way to test out of certain courses and save money.
Discounts
Many colleges offer discounts when purchasing prep books or online access codes so look into them before deciding what type of CLEP exam to take. Also, ask about practice tests in case you want to do some last-minute studying in advance - these can be beneficial but don't have to be taken before taking the actual CLEP exam.
Exams or courses
There are lots of benefits when using these exams instead of taking courses that you might not care about, especially online ones. These tests are less expensive than regular college classes and take less time which can mean less money spent on tuition fees or even having to take out extra loans!
Also, the more credits you get at once the faster your degree will come so it's a great way to move ahead in school without spending too much time studying.
CLEP exams are offered nearly every day so there's no excuse for not finding one convenient enough - they're always available for students who wish to skip general education requirements or simply gain some credit from prior knowledge.
Some students even find that taking free CLEP exams online can save thousands of dollars each year, not to mention the time involved in studying if they take classes instead!