Tag: College Level Examination Program

Everything you need to know about Credit by examination

Credit by Examination grants students to have credits towards earning an associate, bachelor’s degree in college. Students take specific type of examinations that are needed in their chosen field of study. These type examinations test a student’s knowledge about the particular subject of choice. Testing sites all around America sponsor Advanced Placement (AP) exams and the College Level Examination Program or CLEP that are conducted several times within the year.

A lot of college schools accepts the credits earned by the Credit by Examination program as transfer credits. Many adult students opt to take Advanced Placement Courses such as a credit by exam to save time in earning a four-year degree. A lot students earn a maximum of 40 credits included in a degree program through this type of testing.

Who is qualified to take these type of examination?

Adult student employees often take this type of exam. High school students can also take this test and earn college credit to prepare them from general education requirements that can be transferred to many colleges and universities around the country. Individuals who are not currently enrolled in any school has also the chance to take this kind of exam. This is a great opportunity for people to make up the credits lost while he or she was not enrolled.

How can person benefit from a credit by exam?

One noticeable advantage of these Advanced Placement Courses is it allows students to saves thousands of dollars from earning a college degree. It also save a student time to finish a degree program. These type examinations also aid adult post graduate students who have already earned a degree with their career growth. They can get continuous educational credits for a graduate degree that are often times basic requirement in position appraisal and employment promotions.

Great Reasons To Take Distance Education

Education is an important qualifications needed to practice a specific career. Although earning your formal education requires personal efforts, some education programs permit students to be not physically around during classes. This kind of educational programs are often referred to as Distance education or e-learning. This kind of education is not new yet the popularity if this type of program reach its peak in the recent years because of the development of modern technologies particularly the internet.

The number of institutions offering distance learning education today has risen. More and more students earn their formal education thru schools that offer distance education. There are a lot of reason why some individuals choose this kind of educational program. Here are the top reasons why many students consider mode of education.

Flexibility of time

People who don’t have the luxury of time are more likely to take distance education programs. Enrolling in this kind of education allows a student to learn and study lessons within their time availability. They won’t have to adjust to pre-chosen and fixed class schedules. Most people that are currently employed take this educational opportunity to improve their qualification on a particular job position. Busy working people have the chance to earn advance subjects in Psychology and mathematics right in the comfort of their home.

Allows a person to study in their own comfort zone

Students with very low self-esteem and are afraid to be in a school community will be given a chance to get a formal education and get a career.  People also have a higher chance to excel in academics if they are within their comfort zones. Students can focus on learning and studying their lesson when they are in their most preferred environment.   Distance education grants people an opportunity to get a formal education from their location without spending time and resources for traveling.

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.

The Benefits of College-Level Examination Program

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is also known as testing out or credit by examination.  This program is a shortcut to earning a college credit without paying the College for a course. Once you graduate from high school, you can take the examination of a specific course that you are familiar with. With enough preparation, you may get a good score and get the credit out of it.

The CLEP examination can be used to build up dual credit, which means that you can credit a course in high school as well as in college. The exam can shorten the years of study necessary to finish a college degree, while allowing you to take other courses. Since your subjects are credited, it can save you money in earning a college degree, given that the CLEP exams are cheaper than registering for a college class. The CLEP will help you determine the College that fits to your abilities and needs. It may also help you determine the degree or course you must take in college.

When you have a good score for basic skills classes like mathematics and English, you are no longer required to take it in college. Through your preparation, your study skills will be developed, you will learn new things and you will be prepared for college level examination. It will also give you the chance to experience the college environment. It will also allow you to review current social issues and controversies by studying social sciences which will update you on the current events.

CLEP credits are widely accepted by more than 2,900 colleges.  The examinations are 90 minutes long; usually in multiple choice formats. Some tests have essay questions usually required by specific colleges.  There are other credit-by-examination programs in the country like DANTES.  It is important to check whether your preferred college accepts and allows credits to be transferred from any testing source.

 

About the CLEP Exam

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) was developed by the College Board, and is the most widely used credit-by-examination program. It is available at more than 2,900 colleges and universities. After passing any of the 34 CLEP exams, you can accomplish your college and career goals in nursing. The program is very helpful because it requires a smaller amount of money compared to paying the whole college course fees.

There are many organizations that offer courses for preparation of CLEP and DSST exams. They provide helpful online study guides that give you the content to prepare for CLEP test. The content of these guides has been focused and is easy to follow. It assists students to prepare for exams without pressuring them too much. The College Board also publishes study guides containing sample tests for all exams. These sample tests are important because they are in similar form with the actual exam.

There is a specially designed CLEP Testing phase in which one can take 4 course tests in one month with a 100% pass rate. This equals to 24 college credits. The main advantages of CLEP exams for a student are to save money that is approx $21,600 per student and also save time. Taking the necessary preparation is needed to pass the CLEP exam. Make sure you are fully equipped with knowledge and some techniques before the examination.

 

Credit by Examination and Home Schooled Students

If you’ve ever considered how a homeschooler can graduate from secondary school and college at the same time, it is probably because they combined home school with earning college credit by examinations. CLEP examinations, DSST examinations and AP examinations can be used to accelerate through high school and college. There are three basic types of examinations used to earn college credit while home school learners at the secondary school stage. These are the same programs used by learners attending a physical high school as well.

1. The CLEP (College Level Examination Program) was designed by the College Board to allow scholars to gain credit for prior experience or knowledge. There are 33 examinations available that range from three to six credits per test. More than 2900 approved colleges and universities agree to these assessments as credit for classes, allowing learners to skip starting programs and get to the meat of their program. Home schoolers can take CLEP examinations at local colleges and universities.

2. DSST examinations (formerly known as DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) were initially designed for the army and allowed servicemen to speed up their education while serving in the military. While these assessments are free for the army, citizens may also use these examinations instead of attending a traditional college class. Over 1200 schools agree to the 38 DSST examinations as credit for classes at their schools. Home schoolers and High School students are drawn to DSST examinations as they cover common topic like Astronomy, Personal Finance, and Introduction to World Religions that learners are likely to have some information about and may have to take as a core subject in college. Students must take the credit by examination at a university that provides the test.

3. AP programs with examinations are designed by the College Board and used widely in public schools to award high school learners with college credits. AP exams are often taken in the Spring as part of an official AP (Advanced Placement) class; however, home schoolers can still participate through independent study. You will also need to arrange to take the AP credit by examination at a college in your area that takes part in the AP program.

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.

College Level Examination Program Test Taking Tips Part 2

Don’t let the test taking get the best of you. Sometimes taking a test can save you time and money. The CLEP (College Level Evaluation Program) examination has been the most commonly efficient credit-by-examination system and is approved by over 2,900 universities. CLEP allows you to take an exam to earn higher education credits without taking the course, enabling you to save lots of money. Here are some easy tips that will help you stay relaxed and successfully pass your College Level Examination Program test:

 

  • Read the entire question, including the multiple choice answers before putting down your answer. Instructions typically tell you to choose the best answer. Study all the answers before you choose one, even if the first or second answer option looks appropriate to you.
  • Pace yourself and keep an eye on the time. Always make sure you are not going to fast or too slow. The common duration of answering the questions should be about 30-45 seconds. You should have answered at least 50 percent of the questions in a section when half of the time for that section has passed.
  • Don’t spend a lot of your energy and effort on any one question. If you don’t know the answer after you’ve considered it briefly, go on to the next question. Mark the question so you can come back to it later.
  • Any answer is better than no answer. Do not leave a question empty. There are no penalties for wrong answers. If you can recognize apparent wrong answers, you have improved your possibilities of answering it properly.
  • Don’t waste your time. Most students’ spend by reading too much into the question by looking for faults in query terminology or styles in appropriate answers. CLEP places significant amounts of effort into creating legitimate, efficient and reasonable examinations.

Credit by Examination and Advanced Placement Credit

Advanced Placement Credit: A qualified person who has taken school level work in high school may get academic credit. Examinations used to determine advanced placement are the Advanced Placement Test of the College Entrance Examination Board and The Achievement Tests in English Composition and Intermediate Mathematics (Level 1). A last determination of credit is made after results have been assessed by the college.

credit_by_examinationCredit by Examination: College credits are generally earned through participation in scheduled classes. Then again, a few courses permit credit by examination. A student at presently enrolled, who presents satisfactory proof that he or she is qualified in a specific subject may get credits for a course by an examination (“challenge examination”) approved by the proper instructional department or through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Satisfactory proof may be and not restricted to, work experience, non-credit courses, course work taken at non-authorized establishments, or military courses. Such exams include:

  • College Board Advanced Placement (AP)
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
  • College Board Achievement Test (ACH)
  • Scholastic Aptitude Subject Test II (SAS)
  • Defense Language Institute (DLI)
  • American College Testing Proficiency Examination Program (PEP)
  • (DANTES)
  • GRU Departmental Examinations (DEPT)

A student may take challenge examinations before enlisting, yet will usually get credits for courses tested just after successfully finishing six semester hours. Courses in which a learner is or has been enlisted may not be tested and courses which require demonstration and provision of skills (useful, lab sciences and courses requiring field work or execution, for instance) may be tested just with the authorization of the director of the office offering the course. There is usually a $5 per credit hour charge for departmental “challenge” exams.