Tag: CLEP eligibility

How to Get College Credit Through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The average cost of annual tuition in the United States range from $3,131 for community colleges and 29,056 for private four year institutions. In fact, the most expensive university charges $51,008 on tuition fees alone. It’s no wonder a lot of people look for ways around paying huge amounts of money for their degrees. College Level Examination Program or CLEP is one of the options a student has to get that college credit, and there are over 2900 colleges that grant them.

How It Works

Every institution will set a minimum qualifying score for CLEP exams. If you reach the required score, the institution will determine the credits it will award the student. It is commonplace for these institutions to place this information on their CLEP policy, so be sure to read this first.

While each institution may have their own standards and metrics for their CLEP, these are the basic standards. Upon passing the exam, students can be awarded up to 12 credits. There are some colleges that place a limit on the total credits that a student may receive. On the other hand, there are also some that grant exemption, but no degree credits.

Each college have varying qualifying scores for every exam. These scores are commonly published in their general catalog or brochure, indicating the scores that they require in order for the student to earn credits.

No Credits Awarded

There may be certain instances wherein the college will not grant credit for a CLEP exam. The two sample scenarios where this may happen:

  1. If the exam is connected to a course. Some colleges will not credit your CLEP exam if you have already attempted to take a course that is directly related to the exam.
  2. If you have already failed in a similar course. In some cases, the college may even not permit you to take the CLEP exam for that particular course.

Retaking the Exam

Students are allowed to repeat a CLEP exam given that six months have already passed since the first one. Retaking the exam before the six months has passed could mean a forfeit of test fees and results.

Before you even start studying for your exam, you first have to check the institution CLEP standards. Find out what credits can be earned, and other factors that may affect the test, the results and credit that you may receive.

CLEP for Soldiers

The military lifestyle is unfortunately not flexible. It is almost impossible to earn a degree to either get the skills needed to excel in the Army or to become an officer, or to make the transition to the civilian career world much easier. Fortunately, CLEP or the College Level Exam Program, exists for military personnel to get a college degree while they serve and without even enrolling in a class.

CLEP allows soldiers to earn credit for undergraduate college courses through testing rather than classwork. CLEP exams are accepted for college credit in nearly three thousand schools across the U.S. including a number of online schools. Since CLEP exams are designed to replace full-blown courses for college credit, if you pass an exam, participating colleges will likely accept those credits.

Most tests are designed to replace ones-semester courses, but some correspond to full-year or two-year courses. There are two categories for the CLEP Examinations: General and Subject. The general examinations cover broader areas while subject exams are much more specific. The exams are either conducted online or on paper depending on whether the taker register to take the exam at a DANTES test center, an on-base education, or a college campus test center.

The DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education) funds the CLEP exams for eligible military service members and civilian employees. All active-duty and reserve military personnel, regardless of branch are eligible for DANTES funded CLEP. Although, anyone can take the CLEP, just not the DANTES funded CLEP exams.

Inactive and veteran service members are unfortunately not eligible for the DANTES funded CLEP, though their education benefits can help them pay for college classes.

CLEP exams are always free for soldiers who report to on-base and DANTES test centers while college testing centers require a small registration fee. Still, you can work toward a meaningful civilian career.

Advantages of CLEP

CLEP is a good way to earn a college credit saving you time and money.  Having a good score on the CLEP test enables you to earn college credit for any course without really needing to spend some time and cash to sign-up and finish it. It offers a superior opportunity to receive credit for things you already know, stuff you learned through on-the-job training, internships, or perhaps personal study.

One of the advantages of CLEP is that students don’t have to spend money on subjects that they don’t need. It helps you to save money by not having to pay the schooling and also the miscellaneous for the subjects that were credited by the CLEP. Students that earn college credit through CLEP exams can graduate in 3 years rather than four, or finish a whole semester early than students who take the traditional classes. That’s an additional year or semester, which gives you more opportunity to earn more courses.

You may also jump straight ahead to higher-level courses if you are able to pass through the required CLEP exams to satisfy your lower-level needs. By doing this, you will not have to spend your time re-learning material when you may be investing that very same time learning something new. You don’t have to spend an hour attending a class you already know. Using CLEP exams to obtain credit for opening courses provides you with a good amount of time to enroll in the courses you really wish to take. This advantage of CLEP exams can make your time and effort in college more meaningful.

 

About your CLEP Examination Scores

Taking the CLEP exam requires a lot of preparation and focus. There are some who finish and pass without any hustle or retake. However, there are those who don’t pass or score below credit minimum. It’s necessary to know how the scoring works in order to make good test taking strategies for yourself.

Most of the questions are multiple choice. These questions are reviewed and checked by the computer. The essay portions are graded by English professors from different colleges who are specifically picked by the College Board. The score you receive from the essay will be combined with your score on the multiple choice portion. It will then appear as a scaled score in the report.

You’ll notice that there are portions of the exam that are optional. Most of them are essays and are required by specific colleges. The college or university that requires the question will personally check the answers, rather than the College Board.

On the multiple choice questions, you will get one point for each correct answer. When your answer is wrong for a certain item, it will not be deducted from your total score, as well as the unanswered items. It is important to answer every item to get a chance of getting a correct answer than leaving it blank and get no chance. Your totaled scaled score will be shown on your score report. Your score will be in between 20 and 80. If you register for a CLEP exam online, you can name the college or certifying agency that you desire to receive your CLEP test scores. You don’t have to pay for your transcript request; the payment will be included in your exam fee.

Humanities in CLEP

The humanities subject includes numerous subjects, including history, literature, music and art. For those who have a humanities background, you might want to go ahead and take the CLEP test. Passing the CLEP, also called the college-level examination program, provides you with the chance to earn as much as six college credits, which might apply toward your degree. Understanding how to pass this test may reduce the number of classes you have to take throughout your college career.

The initial step in planning for that test is to be aware what the exam entails. The humanities CLEP test covers music, art and literature. You will have to know and find out the works of specific authors and be aware of the qualities of their writing. In addition, you will have to know the specific types of poetry along with other writings. The exam will ask you questions made to test out your general understanding of certain artists, pieces of art and also the history surrounding these, along with other subjects within the humanities. You may even have to identify works of art, sculptures along with other artworks. The exam includes 140 questions that you’ll want to accomplish within 1 hour 30 minutes.

Knowing you’ll go ahead and take the CLEP humanities test later on, spend some time reading through a number of works. Concentrate on classics and popular modern works. You will have to read poetry, plays, short tales, books and nonfiction works to have a good start. When you don’t have time to read a number of works, you might want to study books that provide an introduction to subjects in the humanities. You might not have just as much success using the test just like you browse the works themselves; however, this may give a better approach in studying when time is a concern.

To organize, you need to listen and focus on a number of music styles that will help you get ready for the exam. Review music styles and ideas, and acquaint yourself with a number of artists. You might request buddies or relatives to listening to a bit of music so that you can practice determining the composer or song. Make flash cards with questions regarding artists and composers. Just like other parts of the humanities, you will need to study a number of visual arts. This can include works of art, sculptures and designs of architecture. You must also know the concepts behind film and dance, in addition to being capable of identifying specific good examples. Make yourself familiar with the method and your good to take the exam. The technique is to be familiar with the common, significant and noteworthy details related to humanities.

Homeschool CLEP Preparation

The CLEP exam is a good way to earn credits depending on the knowledge of the student in certain subjects. You can take it by applying and getting a schedule for the exam. However, the homeschool CLEP has become a well known option nowadays, as more homeschooled kids as well as their parents, uncover what an effective way it is. CLEP is among the most accessible credit-by-examination choices for generating college credits. You are able to save considerable time and cash by putting your children to a fast-track to graduation.

It is very easy to integrate the CLEP to the home schooling program of your child. You just have to equip your child with higher study guides and preparation materials. These should detail exactly what the exams cover, give sample questions, and supply tips about planning and creating a training program. All exams possess a multiple-choice section, although some also provide an essay section. Home schoolers simply must see a nearby senior high school or college that provides the tests and bring them there. CLEP exams are offered year-round, meaning that you could homeschool CLEP subjects without notice, instead of arranging your studying around a specific exam date. You have to pay the college the needed costs at the time of the test.

The CLEP college credits of your child are very simple to record on homeschool transcripts. For every test passed with a score of 50 and above, you can record one high school credit. It is not necessary to count the hours spent on studying, since you can base the time credit earned on the student’s accomplishment on the examination. Indeed, homeschool college credits are easy to accomplish when you do a homeschool CLEP exam, it is worth the try.

CLEP Basic Questions

If you’re looking to go to college to finish your degree in a field that you already have some experience in, you might want to check into the CLEP, or College-Level Examination Program.  This is an exam-for-credits program that is run by the College Board, the same company that designed and provides the SAT’s and the AP’s.  By successfully testing out of training that you are already acquainted with, you can save a lot of both cash and time on your degree.

1.  Who are they for?  The CLEPs are usually recommended for learners with some real-world experience in the subject they are being tested on.  Army members, those who have served internships and those who have developed on-the-job skills make strong applicants for getting credits through exams.  It’s essential to know beforehand that the assessments are usually identified as being pretty challenging, so you’ll want to ensure that you have an excellent knowledge of the subject, or you’ll end up wasting cash on the test and then having to take the course anyway.

2. How much do they cost?  Each test is $80, obviously more affordable than a college course, but it can add up if you’re trying to test out of a lot of topics.  While the CLEPs are definitely a less expensive choice than a conventional college course, this is certainly not a simple way out of college sessions.  If you don’t have a strong knowledge on the subject, it’s probably not suggested to try testing out of something that is required knowledge in your field.

3.  What colleges and universities accept them?  While the College Board indicates that CLEP credits are approved by some 2,900 colleges and universities, it might be of interest to note that there are about 4,600 degree-granting organizations in the U.S., which means there is a very excellent possibility that your university won’t take these credits.  Many of the top U.S. educational organizations have ceased getting these credits completely and many more have put a limit on the number of credits that you can get in this way. The best way is to check out your college or university’s web page and look for details on Credit-by-Examination.  If they don’t have it posted, you can get in touch with the registrar’s office and they should be able to help you.

CLEP Preparation Steps

The College Level Examination Program is an arm of College Board, which provides a way for speeding up the completion of college courses. Based on the institution’s guidelines, CLEP assessments can help learners generate college credits or postpone certain specifications if they have already designed proficiencies in certain subject areas.

Here are some steps to adhere to help guide your approach.

1. Check out the CLEP website – Now that you have read through the CLEP website, it’s a chance to find out which test(s) you should take. On the home-page of the CLEP website, there is a “Search Institutions” bar. Do this! There are 33 CLEP assessments available, but each college/university has a different approval policy. You do not want to take a test that will not be accepted by your college/university. Instead of getting the test, save the $80 and put it to good use elsewhere.

2. Verify your facts – It is not sensible to make presumptions about college policy based on third party information. Now that you are equipped with some baseline details, cross reference it with your institution’s course catalog and double check the registrar’s office to make sure the details found on CLEP web page is up to date.

3. Get ready for the test – When taking CLEP assessments, it’s important to plan in advance. It does not appear sensible to get $80 and not know what you are getting into. The College Board provides several 100 % free resources, many of which can be found in the internet.

4. Sign-up for the test – Registering for a CLEP test is probably the most convenient part of the process.

Not every college will promote their CLEP policy where it is readily available. CLEP tests can help learners facilitate their course completion, which could result in less income for the college, a fact that some organizations would like to cover up. CLEP tests can also be an affordable solution to taking summer classes, but it all depends on the college’s policy.

CLEP Tests

Every university student goes through times where life is beyond stressful and preparation seems to be limitless. Fortunately, there is a way to cut down your to-do list during the term. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a group of standardized assessments designed by the College Board. These assessments allow students to take college-level examinations with the chance of “CLEP-ing” out of getting a semester’s worth of a particular class. Students can take CLEP tests at most community colleges. Each test costs around $100, which is much less costly than getting a class for a complete term at a private college. They are also much simpler than investing 15 weeks seated through a class.

CLEP tests are pass-or-fail and you have a chance to study before getting the examinations. “I only tested for four times for Humanities; it was worth it because I do not have to take Imagination In Culture,” sophomore Garret Todd said. CLEP assessments usually cover pre-reqs and primary classes such as basic math and Writing in Culture. They also cover some electives. “I heard about it through buddies,” senior Joshua Kauzlarich said. “I researched it and heard I could really reduce my schedule for my last term. Not only that, but I could save a reasonable sum of cash.” Taking CLEP assessments allows students to reduce expenses and reduce their university load considerably.

“Next term I only have Wednesday and Friday sessions,” Todd said. He took two CLEP assessments, Humanities and Analyzing & Interpreting Literary works, for six credits each. Kauzlarich took the Humanities test as well. “CLEP assessments are excellent because they provide you a chance to reduce your course load as well as offer a probability to obtain extra credits and graduate early,” sophomore Bieber Geerts said. Geerts says he plans on taking CLEP assessments because they are a much better substitute to a regular term of a basic course. Kauzlarich said he would suggest other students to look into getting CLEP assessments as well and that he would have taken advantage of them early in his college stint, but he is too far into his educational plant to exchange any more credits over from CLEP assessments.

CLEP Exams Coverage

CLEP stands for College Level Examination Program. This method consists of consistent assessments of college-level proficiency in a range of subject matter. Many universities in the United States grant course credit to learners who make high enough scores on CLEP exams. High-achieving kids are typically the heaviest users of the CLEP program, but it can be very useful for older learners who have accumulated information through their job, learners who are house trained and even international learners. The price of a CLEP examination is generally far less than the price of getting an equivalent college level course.

Students who are house trained must often demonstrate to universities and colleges that they achieved a level of proficiency in certain subjects despite not having joined a traditional university. This is sometimes true even if the college student does well on the SAT or ACT. Picking a CLEP test for each core topic is a fantastic way for house trained learners to show their skills and information while simultaneously earning college credit. Just because you haven’t been in high school for several years doesn’t mean you have stopped studying. Many adults returning to school successfully generate college credit through CLEP exams. This is a huge way to save your time and effort when it comes to seeking a degree and at an average price of $80 per CLEP test, it’s a big cash saving as well. If you’re an adult who has continued studying on your own or for employment or other purposes, it is definitely worth your time and effort to check out CLEP eligibility.

The price of higher education and studying has risen much faster than the rate of inflation and many learners graduate with lots of cash in education and studying loan debt. When you consider that the common college degree costs around $700, compared to around $80 for the common CLEP examination, it’s easy to see how valuable this program is. Don’t think that CLEP is only for kids. People from every walk of life can benefit from the program. It is a fantastic way to get your degree quicker and to reduce costs on the price of your education and studying.