The most common testing product where students can obtain “Credit-by-Exam” and be awarded advanced placement in college is known by the acronym CLEP, which stands for “Co llege-Level Examination Program”. Presently there are 34 subject areas offering CLEP exams for credit. Just how these credits might apply to your degree will depend on the policy of your college regarding transferring credits from another institution or CLEP. Policies vary greatly from one college to another, of the nearly 3,000 colleges which accept CLEP credits, most have a limit of 30 or fewer credits. There are some colleges which are very friendly with the concept of online credit by course or by exam.
Most CLEP exams are multiple choice and are typically easier than corresponding Advanced Placement exams. The grading scale for CLEP exams is 20 to 80 and the passing grade is usually around 50, however each school sets its own standard for awarding credit. State schools and community colleges have generous CLEP credit policies especially for the lower level survey courses.
Here are several target groups which benefit from an aggressive CLEP exam approach.
- High school students who are motivated to matriculate with advanced placement.
- Home schooled students who want to move ahead and demonstrate their mastery of college subjects.
- Working adults who want to work toward a degree, but also save time and money.
- International students who wish to receive credit for course work and life experience.
- Students who wish to receive language skill credit if they are fluent in a language other than English.
- Members of the military who wish to pursue a degree through their education benefits.
If you fit into any of the above categories, you can see how a CLEP exam strategy could save you time and save you money as you pursue your degree. Students wishing to take advantage of CLEP exams should contact the College Board for a list of testing centers. You need to know that each testing center establishes its own schedule. Some schedule only once per semester while others will schedule exams weekly. If CLEP exams are in your future, there are study guides, books and materials online and at the library which is available to help you prepare for the tests.