CLEP, College Level Examination Program, offers 34 different exams that allow students to demonstrate college-level proficiency in subjects such as foreign language, social sciences, science, and history. Effective July 1, 2009, each CLEP (College Level Exam Program) exam will cost $72 to take. This new price is only a slight increase from the current exam fee of $70. In spite of the increased price of taking a CLEP test, these college-level exams continue to provide an excellent way for college students to drastically decrease their undergraduate tuition bill.
CLEP exams generally cover material taught in classes that undergraduate students take in the first two years of college. CLEP exams are 90 minutes long and most exams are computerized and multiple choice. Each satisfactory CLEP score can result in three to 12 credits. Generally, colleges accepting CLEP grant students the same number of credits for a satisfactory CLEP test scores as the student would earn by passing the same course. For example United States History I is typically a three credit hour course; so, a student can earn three credits by taking the United States History I CLEP test. Over 2,900 colleges and universities grant credits to students who achieve satisfactory CLEP test scores and each of these learning institution has its own policies regarding CLEP exams. Students interested in taking CLEP tests should first talk to their academic advisor or their educational service officers.
Academic advisors are an excellent resource for students who are interested in taking CLEP tests. Academic advisors at colleges and universities accepting CLEP are able to give students information about which CLEP tests they can take in order to meet certain course requirements, how to prepare for CLEP exams, and how to locate a testing center and register to take an exam. With over 1,300 CLEP test centers located across the U.S. and abroad, students are likely to find a testing center within driving distance.
Educational Service Officers (ESOs) offer educational advice and guidance to U.S. active duty and reserve military personnel. ESOs are a valuable resource to the enlisted military personnel who are trying to earn a college degree while in the military. The ESOs can offer guidance concerning various academic paths, obtaining college credits for military experience, and how to utilize CLEP exams toward a college degree. In addition to general advice, ESOs can often offer specific advice, such as testing center locations, information about the registration process, and guidance on preparing for an exam.
In addition to gaining valuable information about CLEP from their ESOs or academic advisors, students will find that their peers who have taken CLEP exams are also excellent resources. Students' peers can give first hand tips on how to best prepare for a CLEP test and how to fully utilize the potential cost savings to be gained from CLEP. Even as the CLEP exam fee slightly increases, students continue to utilize this amazing educational program to save hundreds or thousands of dollars in tuition expenses, save time, lighten semester course load, move on to exciting degree specific courses, and even graduate sooner
About US: Although the
CLEP tests are similar to AP tests in some ways, there are no requirements that a student take a certain course prior to taking a
CLEP test. This is advantageous for those students who have been out of high school for an extended period of time or those who did not take AP classes. In addition, students who have failed an AP exam can still earn college credits by passing the correlating CLEP exam.
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