Last Updated on September 23, 2021 by BookScouter

CLEP tests are an underrated tool to bypass some of the basic courses needed for many college degrees, saving students money and time. Figuring out the CLEP process and debating whether or not it’s the right time to take one can be confusing, especially when starting college as there are a million other things on your mind. To prevent this headache, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to taking CLEP tests with super useful tips and tricks on everything like when to take the tests or how can a CLEP exam save students time and money.

By the end of this article, you will be an expert on how to receive college credit for less than $200! That’s right- CLEP tests are an inexpensive way to get course credit (Sometimes you can take this exam for FREE! More details about the $0 CLEP exam at the end of the article). This is an immensely worthwhile option that is not taken advantage of enough, so keep reading for all the valuable information. 

What does CLEP stand for?

CLEP stands for the College-Level Examination Program and offers 34 different exams that when successfully passed, award you with college credit for the corresponding introductory-level class. CLEP is part of CollegeBoard, the same organization used for AP tests and the SAT. This makes registering easy as the same account can be used if you already have one. The timed tests (90-120 minutes) are multiple-choice and are taken on computers at testing centers nationwide year-round. A great feature of the exams is that your score is given instantaneously upon completion, sparing them weeks of nerves spent waiting on the results to come in.

When is the best time to take CLEP tests?

Before college, I was under the impression that CLEP tests could solely be taken before freshman year and after that, I was kind of locked-in to taking classes at the college itself. This is far from the truth. While we tend to receive the most information about CLEP tests when enrolling in college for the first time, do not feel pressure to get all of them out of the way during the summer before your freshman year. For one, the months between high school graduation and freshman year are incredibly stressful, with a deluge of information and tasks related to moving and enrolling consuming your time. The last thing you want to do is fret overtaking a handful of tests. Also, CLEP tests can only be retaken after a three-month waiting period, so it is imperative to ensure good timing in order to not have to prolong your CLEP exams further due to a necessary retake.

There are some instances when it is preferable to take them before starting college, however.

1. The test subject is one from a high school class.

A huge misconception about CLEP tests is that since you receive college credit for them, they are automatically infinitely harder and contain more information than a high school class on the same topic. Absolutely false: Intro to Microeconomics is Intro to Microeconomics. The information does not change substantially across level of education. Thus, if you took a psychology class in high school and did not take the AP exam to receive credit, I would recommend taking it soon after graduating while the information is still fresh in your mind. It will probably feel like a retread of your final in the class, to be honest. Thus, it makes a lot of sense to go ahead and get it out of the way, lock in the credit, and avoid sitting through a semester of the exact same information you already know in a class of 500 students. Taking it earlier in the summer will also be less stressful than waiting until right before starting college when other tasks become more pertinent.

2. The CLEP test will satisfy a prerequisite.

The other instance is if you want to take care of a prerequisite course that can be satisfied with CLEP credit. This way you can move forward with some of the courses in your major’s track earlier. Only take these CLEP tests if you feel confident enough to jump into the next course in the track after bypassing the introduction course. For some majors, it might be better to start with the introduction course at the university- especially if it has been a few years since you’ve studied the subject- to get a refresh of the information while also acclimating to the teaching style of the department.

For anything else, I would suggest waiting at least one semester to gauge which type of courses might be better to take in person rather than Clepping. 

The best time to fit a CLEP test in? Winter break. Most universities give students a whole month off during this time and other than family gatherings and trips, most people don’t have much going on. With more free time, this is the perfect opportunity to spend a few days preparing for and taking a CLEP exam. The testing centers are still open during this period, so by waiting for a less busy time of year, you can focus solely on the CLEP test without worrying about other classwork. This will ensure a clear mind and the best score possible.

Where can I take these tests?

Most universities have testing centers on or near campus that administer the CLEP exams. The tests are all offered electronically via computers. Make sure to schedule your exam time at least a few days out or sooner to ensure there is an open timeslot for you to take the exam (schedule this earlier if your nearest testing center is often busy). The other nice thing about having your test set for a scheduled time is that it provides a temporal motivator for your studying. Nothing beats procrastination better than a deadline. Find your nearest testing center here.

What subjects/classes should I take the CLEP test for?

There is not a definitive answer for which CLEP tests should be taken as opposed to taking the actual class as every student and university is different. I will share my personal experience with the tests, however. As a linguistics major, I still had to take a natural science course in order to graduate. As someone who does not find science all that interesting, I did not want to sit through an entire semester of Biology. Thus, I turned to CLEP. Even though I hadn’t taken Biology since freshman year of high school, I thought it would be better to study for a brief period before the test rather than suffer through a semester on the topic, so CLEP seemed like a good option for me. I ended up waiting for a winter break, spending a week studying using the techniques detailed below, and fortunately passing the exam.

My second CLEP exam was for Microeconomics. I had taken a very in-depth Macroeconomics course the semester before that ended up covering a lot of the content on the Microeconomics exam as well. Thus, it made sense to go ahead and take the CLEP exam soon after the semester ended to avoid wasting a semester essentially learning the same material. I took this exam the week after spring-semester classes finished during the summer, which is another great time to focus on taking the exam when your schedule is a bit freer.

Before deciding, weigh the pros and cons of either taking the CLEP exam or taking the class. Learn more about each exam and its breadth before registering. After registering on CLEP’s website for a specific exam, you have six months before the registration expires. This provides some leeway on when to schedule your time slot with the testing center.

How much credit do you receive for a test?

This depends on the collegiate institution. Use the School Policy Search tool offered by CollegeBoard to see exactly how much credit each exam will earn at your institution or speak with your academic advisor or college’s registrar. Most exams reward you with three hours of credit, with some offering even more.

What score is needed to pass?

Each collegiate institution can set their own score requirements, while CollegeBoard recommends 50 be taken as a passing score on a scale from 20 to 80. As can be seen, nothing close to a perfect score is expected nor required. Make sure that you list your university when registering to take the test, as you get one free score-send after completing the test. However, if you wait until later, it will cost you around $20 to send the score report to your college.

CLEP Test Preparation Explained

Yes, you should study for CLEP tests. The extent of studying depends on your familiarity and experience with the subject. These tests are unique in that they cover a specifically defined range of subject matter unlike the ACT and SAT, which require long-term practice rather than memorization. Getting ahold of the official CLEP study guide or other study book will provide an overview of everything on the test along with sample questions that will likely appear on the exam, albeit with slightly different wording. Of course, if the subject is one you have taken in high school, you will most likely not need to study as much as if the subject is completely new. Either way, we recommend studying to help you achieve a passing score. 

Other than the official CLEP study guide, the best study tool for CLEP exams is the selection of online study courses offered by Modern States. This organization is a “non-profit dedicated to making a high-quality college education free of cost and accessible to any person who seeks one.” They do this by offering free online courses that can lead to exam vouchers (more on this below). The courses are very user-friendly and consist of a mix of videos, readings, and quizzes. The courses can also be taken out of order if there are certain topics you want to go over first before going back and reviewing topics you already are comfortable with. Most courses are geared to last six weeks with four to six hours of time spent per week. This can, of course, be consolidated into shorter time periods when more time is spent per day working on the course. You can set your own pace based on your personal schedule. This brief course video provides an overview of the entire program.

Finally, the million-dollar question: how can a CLEP exam save students time and money? Here are some of the options to consider when you want to take the exam for free!

Can I take a CLEP test for free?

The aforementioned Modern States gets huge kudos from me and other college students with a tight budget for the immensely helpful program they offer. Called the Freshman Year for Free program, Modern States offers free online study courses- which will obviously be extremely helpful in studying for the exam itself- and when completed, they will supply you with a CLEP exam voucher. This voucher covers the $89 registration fee for each CLEP test. You just have to attach a screenshot showing that you completed the online course. It’s a win-win: a free course to study directly for the CLEP exam that rewards you with a voucher for completing the course.

On top of that, they will also reimburse you for your testing center fee (usually ranging from $30-$50)! Pay at the testing center and keep your receipt to send into Modern States afterward. They will then send you a reimbursement check to cover the charge. Therefore, both fees associated with taking a CLEP exam are completely waived after completing the respective Modern States course, saving you between $120-150! This program is tremendously helpful to college students by helping you avoid yet another testing fee. Definitely take advantage of this incredible resource.

Overall, CLEP exams help students skip over introductory courses that cover information that has been already learned. Hopefully, this compilation of CLEP information proves helpful when deciding whether or not to take an exam and how to do so. With the fee waivers supplied by Modern States, the financial risk associated with an exam is fortunately alleviated. Therefore, a CLEP exam is definitely worth a try when either a class will be redundant based on previous knowledge or you’d rather not spend a semester taking a course that doesn’t directly apply to your major or interest you. For further information, visit the main website for CLEP or Modern States to read more about how to use CLEP exams to your benefit on the path toward graduation.

This article was written by BookScouter contributor Parker Stubhar.

Parker Strubhar is a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma and currently resides and works in Washington D.C. He is also a freelance writer. Business inquiries can be directed to parkerstrubhar20@gmail.com.