CLEP Tests
The College-Level Examination Program, or CLEP, is one of the many programs of the College Board (the same organization responsible for the SAT). The CLEP Program consists of 35 separate tests covering multiple subject areas. These exams allow individuals to demonstrate college level achievement, and earn undergraduate college course credit or advanced academic standing. Most colleges and universities grant credit based on the results of the CLEP exams. According to the College Board, 2,900 colleges and universities grant credit or advanced standing based on the results of CLEP Tests. Colleges and universities are free to set their own "passing" scores for these exams, as well as the amount of credit they will grant. For this reason, it is important to check with the college or university of your choice to understand their CLEP policies.
CLEP Test Scores
CLEP tests have a scaled score that falls in a range of 20 to 80. With the exception of the English Composition Exam (with Essay), all scores for the computer-based CLEP Tests should be reported instantly upon completion. At that point in time, you may indicate on-line who you want to receive copies of your scores. In addition, you may use a transcript request form to obtain a copy of your test scores. The English Composition Score is usually mailed about two to three weeks after the test, once the essay has been graded.
CLEP Test Locations, Dates and Times
There are about 1,300 CLEP test centers located on college campuses around the world and throughout the United States. An individual wishing to take a CLEP Exam should first visit the College Board's web site to select a test center, and then contact that test center directly for test dates and times.
The CLEP Exams
Each CLEP exam is 90 minutes long and consists of mainly multiple choice questions. Some exams do include fill-in-the-blank questions. The English Composition test also includes an essay. Some of the other Composition and Literature exams also have an optional essay component. CLEP exams typically cover content that is taught in courses that students would take in their first two years of college.
PLEASE NOTE: The "passing" scores and semester hours earned represent the recommendation of the American Council on Education (ACE). While many colleges and universities may follow the ACE recommendation, all are free to set their own "passing" score, and the amount of credit they will grant. For this reason, it is important to check with the college or university of your choice to understand their CLEP policies.
It should also be noted that the CLEP program has a policy that states that you cannot repeat a specific CLEP exam in a 6 month period.
Following is a summary of the all of the CLEP exams:
Business CLEP Exams
| Test Name | Questions | Minutes | Recommended Score |
Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principles of Accounting | 78 | 90 | 50 | 6 |
| Introductory Business Law | 100 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Information Systems and Computer Applications | 100 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Principles of Management | 100 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Principles of Marketing | 100 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
Composition and Literature
| Test Name | Questions | Minutes | Recommended Score |
Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Literature | 100; Optional Essay |
90 ** |
50 | 6 |
| Analyzing & Interpreting Literature | 80; Optional Essay |
90 ** |
50 | 6 |
| English Composition (without Essay) |
90 | 90 | 50 | 6 |
| English Composition (with Essay) |
50 1 Essay |
45 45 |
50 | 6 |
| English Literature | 95; Optional Essay |
90 ** |
50 | 6 |
| Freshman College Composition | 90 Essay 1 Essay 2 |
90 35/40 50/55 |
50 | 6 |
| Humanities | 140 | 90 | 50 | 6 |
** These essays are graded by the requesting institution (the institution that you are attending or intend to attend that may require the optional essay). There is no indication of how much time is allotted for writing these essays on the College Board Web site.
Foreign Languages
| Test Name | Questions | Minutes | Recommended Score |
Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Language | 120 | 90 | 62 | 12 |
| German Language | 120 | 90 | 63 | 12 |
| Spanish Language | 120 | 90 | 66 | 12 |
History and Social Sciences
| Test Name | Questions | Minutes | Recommended Score |
Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Government | 100 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Educational Psychology, Introduction to | 100 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 |
120 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| History of the United Sates II: 1865 to Present |
120 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Human Growth and Development | 90 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Macroeconomics, Principles of | 80 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Microeconomics, Principles of | 80 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Psychology, Introductory | 95 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Social Sciences and History | 120 | 90 | 50 | 6 |
| Sociology, Introductory | 100 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 |
120 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present |
120 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
Science and Mathematics
| Test Name | Questions | Minutes | Recommended Score |
Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 115 | 90 | 50 | 6 |
| Calculus | 45 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| Chemistry | 75 | 90 | 50 | 6 |
| College Algebra | 60 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| College Algebra-Trigonometry | 63 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
| College Mathematics | 60 | 90 | 50 | 6 |
| Natural Sciences | 120 | 90 | 50 | 6 |
| Trigonometry | 65 | 90 | 50 | 3 |
