Intro to CLEP Exams #
At their core, CLEP exams serve as an alternate credit mechanism to AP exams and traditional college credit. Unlike AP exams, they are graded on a 20-80 score range, with 50/80 considered a “Pass.” As such, CLEP exams do not provide the same “admissions advantage” as AP exams: their main purpose is credit acceleration for subjects you are already comfortable in. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re in the right place. Here are some possible use cases, even in high school:
- General Education requirements
- Testing out of a pre-requisite like College Composition I
- High school credits for graduation
Looking for an Exam #
First thing’s first: looking into your institution’s CLEP policy. Why take an exam if your college doesn’t accept it for credit? Do a quick search for “[Your institution] CLEP equivalency chart” and see what credit each exam corresponds to. Below is a rough table for the most common exams:
| Exam | Credit | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| College Composition | ENC1101, ENC1102 | 6 |
| College Algebra | MAC1105 | 3 |
| Humanities | HUM1000 | 3 |
| Foreign Language (63/80+) | Two semesters of language | 6-10 |
Getting the Exam Voucher #
On the CollegeBoard website, it says you have to pay a whopping $97. Thankfully, there’s a clean way around it. Make an account over at Modern States.
Once you make the account, click the “Enroll” tab and sign up for the course that corresponds to your exam. All instructional materials are a “did you click the link at all” grade; work your way through the quizzes until the Final Exam unlocks.
CollegeBoard Setup #
Assuming you cleared the Final Exam with a decent grade, it’s time to fill out the “CLEP Voucher Form” that appears thereafter. Check your email (better have put in a real one at signup!) and copy that code they sent you. Head over to your CLEP Portal and enter the code they gave you. That code should be eligible for any exam, regardless of the course. You may opt-in for online, proctored testing or presential exams.
Reporting Scores #
If you didn’t select a college to receive your score, pay CollegeBoard a quick fee to send the scores. After that, send your college’s registrar/transcript office a quick email notifying them, and you are done!