CLEP | Distance Learning Systems (DLSI)

Why High Schools Should Focus on Credit by Exam

What is “credit by exam,” such as CLEP, DSST, and AP? It represents a test one can take and earn college credits at participating universities. Some examinations can be taken at any age, while others have some age limitations. Here’s why credit by exam should be the focus on a high school?

Reduce College debt – This is the #1 reason we are concentrating on getting college credit without taking college classes! If we can pay $100 per examination, each being worth either three or six credits, it significantly reduces down the cost of a university education.

Pose a challenge – Since an honor student generally has done quite well in school, she is used to placing in 50% effort. This is a risky habit to pick up and giving her the task of passing a college level examination helps her step up her game.

Reduce the period of time in college – The earlier he or she can get started in “real life,” the more experience he or she can have as he or she gets to her primary adulthood. As a 30 year old, he or she could have ten years experience in a given field rather than six or eight. Decreasing the period of time in college also decreases some of the contact with the insane college lifestyle, in which many teenagers leave their principles for what seems fun and interesting in the moment.

Take a course once – There are many programs that a student would rather not do, such as Literature. Some students dislike literature with a passion and it’s definitely the topic in which they nag the most about things getting done. Now, does the student want to do literature once in high school, or have to do it again in college? If the student passes the examination, then he or she will not have to finish that same course in college. It’s a win-win situation!

College Level Examination Program News

Though learners are given the opportunity to earn credit before college, some credits might not be transferable to Northwest. The College Level Examination Program provides many different choices for learners to get credit without getting a formal course. Students at Northwest are permitted to take these assessments for certain subjects detailed in the yearly catalog. There are several programs provided that learners can test out of, a few examples being American Government, financial accounting, college algebra and western civilization.

“In the catalog, there are certain scores we need,” said Tamera Grow, associate director of admissions. “These (in the catalog) are the ones that have been analyzed in the past by our teachers. It reveals the ranking that is required to get the credit for the classes that are here.” There are no specifications learners need to fulfill to take this test. Freshmen through seniors are able to test out of programs using College Level Examination Program. However, though many learners think this program is a simple and fast way to generate credit, some programs detailed in the catalog as having the test-out choice are not approved at all at Northwest.

“If a college student had another (subject), we could have it analyzed,” Grow said. “I think this is a traditional record of what has been done in the past. I have not gone through all College Level Examination Program choices in the last few years to say ‘OK, this is the one that we should do.’ I have just kind of left it up, but if we got a demand, I could look at it.” Each test costs learners $100, said Beth Mason, assessment office administrator. Of that, $80 goes to the CLEP examining company and the other $20 invested on the 90 minute test is kept by Northwest. Students may not have obtained credit for certain subjects at Northwest for a few reasons: They could have not scored well enough for the Northwest specifications, or the individual departments at Northwest may not think the credit is worthy of passing.

Taking Dantes Credit by Examinations

Dante’s Credit by Examinations, CLEP and Excelsior examinations Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Financed for active duty, National Guard members, and Reserves which means they are basically 100% free. The DANTES credit by examination is a nationally-recognized credit-by-examination program that most universities agree to for credit towards a degree plan. One tremendous benefit is to soldiers who may be separated from military bases such as recruiters who can still take these examinations for 100 % free at private testing facilities. Any military college student with an accepted degree plan should be able to use these examinations towards their degree plan provide the subject suits into their accepted degree plan. There are 38 Dantes credit by examinations and these can be taken at a base education center or at an approved off base computer testing center.

Step 1. Find and Schedule – Once a testing center is located, they must be contacted to confirm examining procedures and scheduling for military learners. Dante’s examinations are developed to analyze proficiency in various college-degree course materials.

Step 2. Obtain Fact Sheet – There a few strategies to pass a Dante’s that utilize the actual test construction to ensure a passing grade. The examinations are developed based on a summary from subject experts and the questions are examined for reliability centered on a subject’s understanding of that particular topic.

Step 3. Get Book(s) – The next phase in using the simple fact sheet is to analyze the section known as Sources for study Material, because this is where the guides used to design the test questions originate from.

Step 4. Make Flashcards – Purchase a set of flashcards. Using the evaluation Fact Sheet, each term listed on the simple fact sheet summary should be put on a flashcard. Using the evaluation Principles of Counseling as an example, this would lead to a minimum of 34 flashcards.

Step 5. Use Your Resources – Some examinations are normally easier than others because learners have current understanding of the test topic information. A good example would be the Army MOS 31B or military police.

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.

Speeding Up the College Completion Process

The common college student is no longer the 18- to 24-year-olds that completed secondary school and instantly went on to college. The present scholars are a different lot and include army veterans, stay-at-home moms, business men and others. Those that are not part of the young set are regarded “non-traditional students” or individuals that generally attend sessions on a part-time basis. Going to greater education part-time is often the only option for returning students. The procedure can take the better part of a decade to finish, placing stress on weddings, family members and businesses along the way.

Here is how you can speed up the college completion process:

1. Check out CLEP. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) may make it possible for learners to take examinations to confirm expertise in certain subjects. If accepted by a college, College Level Examination Program examinations can help learners quickly obtain credits that will count toward graduating. Before you take a CLEP examination, you need to find out your college’s CLEP plan.

2. Prior classes may transfer. If you have been out of college for years, credits you have taken previously may still be transferrable. There are deadlines and credit limits that colleges and universities allow, but that “Modern European History” or “Health Science Foundations” programs you took decades ago may depend toward your present degree.

3. Remain on target. One of the annoying things that scholars must deal with are those programs that cannot count toward their degree. Typically, this happens when learners change degrees, perhaps shifting from Chemistry to Business Management. Some programs may count as electives while others will not. Clearly, you need to know what degree you want to engage in and stay on track at all times.

4. Take web based programs. Even if you attend college in person, you may be able to complement your programs by taking classes on the web too. On the internet programs generally allow learners to work at their own rate, allowing them to obtain credit as they finish each course.

5. Get the good grades. No matter your pace of study, you need to get high grades in every class. That meaning of “good” is generally a “B” or better. Getting at least a “C” can be appropriate too, but if you get a “D” grade, you may not be able to transfer that course to another school if you have to.

Credit by Examination Options

While attending college is now standard. In the past, you were privileged to attend a university. Today, however, most kids are expected to at least study at a community college. Even grownups are feeling the pressure to acquire higher education and return to college. Unfortunately, traditional college isn’t an option for everyone. High tuition, work schedules and family life often make it hard to begin or resume college. Thankfully, there are alternatives! Credit by examination is one alternative that many teens and grownups are starting to take seriously. Here are your credit by exam options.

You are probably acquainted with some CBEs already, like the AP analyze or CLEP examinations. But now, there are more than 30 new credit-bearing tests, as well as additional choices like the PLA, and non-credit keeping tests that can help you land a job.

Excelsior College Exams have been around for more than 40 years. And compared with CLEP and DSST tests, your ECE ranking comes from a domestically approved college, Excelsior College. Even better, more than 2500 universities agree to Excelsior College Exams for credit ranking.
You’ve obtained abilities and information in your life and on the job. Why not generate credit for what you already know? The PLA allows you to convert the information you’ve obtained in the real world through tasks, social and military involvement, helping out, separate research and even interests into college credit. A Prior Learning Assessment is more than just a test. It’s a process that universities use to assess what you’ve discovered outside the class room for the objective of giving educational credit. And there is not just one type of PLA. You can choose different kinds of PLA to fit your style and your price range.
Are you looking for a way to show prospective companies that you’ve got what it takes to succeed? Then we think you will be enthusiastic about the CLA+. It’s a computer-administered, open-ended examination developed to confirm how powerful your critical thinking, systematic reasoning, problem-solving, studying and ability as a copywriter are.

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.

College Credit By Exam

The most popular examinations provided by credit by exam companies fall into the type of “general education and learning,” enabling learners to get credit for subjects such as college geometry and calculus or English composition and literature by passing standardized examinations, rather than participating a brick-and-mortar 101 class.

Between these significant players and other credit by exam resources, there are actually a variety of core/introductory, course-distribution and even significant need programs that learners can check off by passing an examination vs. seated through the comparative course at the school in which they are enrolled. Given that examination prices are a portion of educational costs, credit by exam is an attractive choice for learners looking to reduce costs by finishing a four-year degree program in just three years or less. And universities are starting to work with learners enthusiastic about discovering solutions to four years of tuition-paid registration as a means to bring down the increasing cost of higher education.

Students considering this choice should keep in mind that CLEP and other college equivalence examinations are much like a complicated final examination that comes at the end of a well-taught course. So, learners need to get ready (ideally by actually studying the content vs. just cramming) through separate study or registration in an online classroom. In theory, one could get an entire degree by just taking examinations (with some companies providing to help you get around your way through the thicket of who provides and who allows what with respect to college credit). But, credit by exam does illustrate an opening for getting more MOOC classes associated with authentic college credit (presuming some advanced MOOC company, examination designer or other business owner can find a way to make this a practical option).

College Level Examination Program Advantages

As learners look for ways to make education more affordable, there is an obvious chance that learners and their parents seem unacquainted with, the College Level Examination Program, or CLEP assessments. These assessments allow learners to be able to test out of up to 33 college level programs. That can convert to up to 45 units. Many of these programs such as chemistry, calculus, geometry, history and humanities, are required by almost all colleges and universities and some trade schools. These are programs that college-bound learners should already be taking in high school. Students who are doing well in these topics in secondary school should be able to successfully pass these programs, with little or no training, if they just study hard while in high school, but training and practice assessments are available.

The price of a unit of study at Northern State University is $133 per unit for citizens, so a three-unit class would cost about $400, not keeping track of the guides and various other fees. The CLEP examination costs $80. The big advantages come when you take enough CLEP examinations to equal a term or more of college tuition. For each term of classes you could miss at NSU, you would save their approximately $12,363, if you live at home, or the more likely $18,821 if you live on campus. Because NSU is one of the more cost-friendly colleges, you would save even more if you choose more expensive universities. As they say on the College Level Examination Program website, “you do the math.”

Within a 200-mile distance of Aberdeen, the site identifies 32 organizations that agree to CLEP examinations. Regionally, they include NSU and Presentation College. South Dakota State University, University of Sioux Falls, Dakota State University and Augustana also agree to these assessments. Even Lake Area Tech allows them. If you are looking outside the state, more than 2,900 universities and colleges accept these examinations. Another real benefit comes in time. Every term, the college student can “CLEP out of” is a term they could be making profits and getting real-life experience. Real education happens when you interact with what you have learned in the class room with actual life problems.

College Composition CLEP

The College Composition CLEP examination analyzes ability as a writer trained in most first-year college composition programs. Hopefully this is restorative work for your student; motivate him to make his ability as a writer before he goes into college. Learners who successfully pass this examination will earn 6 college credits and save themselves 16 weeks of class time. But be sure to always check your individual college’s CLEP policy for variations in the number of credits granted and their CLEP course equivalency graph.

The College Composition CLEP examination contains 50 multiple-choice questions (50 minutes) and two timed essays (70 minutes). The first essay is based on the student’s own experience, studying or findings. The second article, according to the College Board, will require applicants to make a position by building an argument in which they synthesize information from two offered resources, which they must report. The Official CLEP Study Guide is a helpful source, offering sample articles and reviewing recommendations. Preparing for this examination will also help students get ready for other future articles such as those for consistent examinations (ACT/SAT), grants, and college entrance essays. It’s a win-win strategy to education, making the most use of his time.

In writing an essay, do not just avoid generalizations but make your composing more illustrative. “I stepped up to the counter and requested to talk with a manager.” Change it to: “I swaggered up to the counter and asked to talk with a manager.” Two terms modified, but the image colored is entirely different. “After including the substance to the little package, vapor started to come out the top.” It can be enhanced to: “After pouring sulfuric acid into the beaker, vapor started billowing out the top.” This one provides more detail, uses less terms and makes a vivid image. Use Adjectives and Adverbs occasionally. “I was incredibly exhausted and my feet were very painful after finishing the complicated exercise.” How about: “I completed the 10-mile run exhausted and with cramped feet.” Use better nouns and verbs, not just toss in more adverbs and adjectives.