CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests can provide students with excellent opportunities to earn college credit in general or introductory level subjects. After choosing a CLEP exam to take, students need to figure out how to schedule and prepare for their exam. The process for scheduling a CLEP exam is pretty standard across the board, and students have the option to take the exams as often as they like. Each CLEP test requires the same programming procedure. Here are the steps involved:
1. Find out which CLEP exam to take
There are 34 different CLEP tests available, each covering material taught in general or introductory level college courses. Examples of topics covered include history, mathematics, and social science. A student can take as many of these tests as she likes, but each costs $72. Therefore, it is recommended to find out which CLEP tests are truly valuable to a student’s academic pursuits, since each college or university has different CLEP policies and since some tests may cover courses that are not required for a student’s major. The best option is for the student to talk to their college academic advisor and find out which CLEP exams they can take to meet the general education course requirements for the desired degree.
2. Find a CLEP testing center
There are more than 1,300 CLEP test centers located on college and university campuses across the US. Students can visit the College Board website or check with their school’s registrar’s office to find their names, addresses, and phone numbers. from each test center location. Students can then contact the test center directly for information about the registration process and the dates and times available to take a CLEP, as well as to schedule a test appointment.
3. Register for the CLEP test
Through said center, the student must pay the exam fees. Each of the CLEP exams costs $72 and there may be an administrative fee of around $15 required by the testing center. After a student pays the fee, she will receive detailed information about the exam and the time it will be administered. Students must also complete registration forms that request information such as the student’s name and address, the test to be taken, and whether or not the student requires special accommodations for the test.
4. Study for the test
To pass a CLEP, students must have a knowledge of a subject equivalent to the level of knowledge of a student who has already passed a college course in the same subject. Many students may find that they already have the knowledge necessary to earn a credit score on the exam. For example, a business student who has worked as a manager at a fast food restaurant and attended management seminars may already have the knowledge to pass the CLEP Management Principles. Students who have little or no knowledge of a subject can often learn the necessary material through independent study using resources such as study guides, textbooks, and online study programs.
5. Taking the CLEP
At the time of testing, a student will go to the test center for a 90-minute computerized test, and then leave at the end. Although some test centers provide students with a score report immediately after completing the test, it may take up to two weeks for students to get their test results. Due to the potential waiting period to receive a score, it is recommended that students take their CLEP exams well in advance if they are trying to earn last minute college credit. If other CLEP exams are taken, it is simply a matter of repeating the steps above.
