CLEP Tests
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams are college-level tests that anyone can take to earn credit toward a college degree.
BRIEF SUMMARY
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams are college-level tests that anyone can take to earn credit toward a college degree. High school students who excel in a particular subject and are planning to go to college should consider taking a CLEP exam. Like AP scores, a passing CLEP score can earn a student 3 or more credits at many colleges and universities across the country. More than 2,900 schools grant credit for CLEP. (College Board, https://parents.collegeboard.org/college-board-programs/clep)
KEY POINTS
- Anyone can earn college credit through CLEP, whether they’re in high school or already in college.
- There are 34 CLEP exams in 5 subject areas.
- There are CLEP exams for topics that aren’t offered in AP.
- CLEP exams are especially useful if a student’s school doesn’t offer AP courses, or if there’s no AP Exam in the subject the student wants to take.
- Test centers may be located in high schools, on college campus, at independent testing organizations, and on military bases.
- CLEP exams are available year-round.
RESOURCES
SHARED WISDOM
- CELL: Lunch & Learn Series on 4/10/23: Pur
due’s Fast Start Program (using CLEP Testing). Here is the Recording of Lunch and Learn Session. - Purdue: College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests are administered by the Purdue Testing Center year-round by appointment. All CLEP exams are 90 minutes long, but appointments are set for two hours to allow for administrative time. Here is the website that shows which CLEP tests you can take, the score needed, and the class it fulfills at Purdue. https://www.purdue.
edu/testingcenter/tests/CLEP. php. Here is the website that shows which AP test Purdue accepts, the score needed, and the class it fulfills. https://www. admissions.purdue.edu/ transfercredit/collegeboardap. php?_ga=2.30414073.717804855. 1612881602-1936795165. 1612881602 - If your students have access to numerous AP options that can fit into their schedules, CLEP is likely not a great route to go, but there could be exceptions based on class seat limitations or summer learning opportunities.
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