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College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

By: Staff Writer

CLEP (College Level Examination Program)is a program designed to give students opportunities to gain college level credit for certain academic fields of study by testing their knowledge through specialized placement tests.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP is the acronym for College Level Examination Program. CLEP is designed for students to achieve college level credit by passing examinations for the appropriate undergraduate college courses. Most colleges and universities offer credit and/or placement for passing CLEP exams offered by the College Board.

CLEP exams consist of a series of multiple-choice questions that are graded on a scale of 20-80. Most colleges and universities consider a score of 50 a passing grade. However, some schools offer more or less credit according to your score and the subject. For example, a score of 50 in Spanish might reward 6 credits to a student while a score of 65 might reward 12 credits. Inquire with a counselor or CLEP specialist at your desired university to find out the scale of credit given for a particular discipline.

As of 2007, CLEP examinations are offered in the following areas:

  • Business

    • Financial Accounting
    • Intro Business Law
    • Information Systems & Computer Applications
    • Principles of Management
    • Principles of Marketing

  • Composition & Literature

    • American Literature
    • Analyzing & Interpreting Literature
    • English Composition
    • English Literature
    • Freshman College Composition
    • Humanities

  • Foreign Languages

    • (Inquire with school for foreign language CLEP exams offered)

  • History & Social Sciences

    • American Government
    • Intro to Educational Psychology
    • History of the United States I, II (Early Colonization to 1877 / 1877 to Present)
    • Human Growth & Development
    • Principles of Macroeconomics
    • Principles of Microeconomics
    • Intro to Psychology
    • Social Sciences & History
    • Intro to Sociology
    • Western Civilization I, II (Ancient Near East to 1648 / 1648 to Present)

  • Science & Mathematics

    • Biology
    • Calculus
    • Chemistry
    • College Algebra
    • College Mathematics
    • Pre-calculus
    • Natural Sciences

There are several advantages by participating in CLEP. You can save time and tuition money for the advanced high school courses, independent study, and development courses that you’ve already completed and move right into the study areas that most interest you upon college entrance.

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