Tag: College Composition CLEP

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.

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.