College-Level Examination Program
CLEP Exam Practice 2025
The College-Level Examination Program or CLEP 2025 are tests that are designed to give non-traditional students the chance to show that they have the academic capabilities to be successful in college. It can also help those already in college to be given an opportunity to study certain courses. By having a passing score on the CLEP examination, candidates will earn three or more college credits.
According to Peterson’s Master the CLEP, the exams are beneficial alternatives to earning college credits and bypassing some college classes.
It will allow students or candidates the opportunity to advance to a higher academic level and even earn degrees as early as possible. It is also efficient and less costly.
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Format and Content Outline
The College Board sponsors CLEP. There are 34 exams which mostly contain multiple-choice type questions. College faculties across the nation develop these tests. Most universities also make use of this credit-by-exam program for years.
Furthermore, CLEP tests are divided into 5 categories: Composition and Literature, World Languages, History and Social Sciences, Science and Math, and Business.
| What is College Level Examination Program? | CLEP is a credit-by-examination program that allows students to earn college credit by demonstrating knowledge through standardized tests, accepted by over 2,900 colleges nationwide. |
| What does CLEP stand for? | CLEP stands for College Level Examination Program, a testing service offered by the College Board that provides college credit through examination. |
| How does CLEP work? | Students register for and take exams in various subjects, earning scores that colleges may accept for credit, potentially saving time and thousands in tuition costs. |
| Who can take CLEP exams? | Anyone can take CLEP exams including high school students, college students, adult learners, military members, and professionals seeking to earn college credit. |
| How many CLEP exams are available? | There are 34 different CLEP exams covering five subject areas: Business, Composition and Literature, World Languages, History and Social Sciences, and Science and Mathematics. |
| What is the format of CLEP exams? | Most CLEP exams consist of multiple-choice questions taken on a computer, with some including essays or fill-in questions depending on the subject. |
| How long are CLEP exams? | Most CLEP exams are 90 minutes long, though some like College Composition take 120 minutes including time for essay writing portions. |
| What subjects can I test in? | CLEP covers introductory courses including English, Math, Sciences, History, Psychology, Business, Foreign Languages, and many other college-level subjects. |
| How do I register for CLEP? | Register online at the College Board website by creating an account, selecting your exam, paying fees, and scheduling at an approved test center. |
| Where can I take CLEP exams? | CLEP exams are offered at over 2,000 test centers nationwide including colleges, universities, and military bases throughout the United States. |
| What is the cost of CLEP exams? | Each CLEP exam costs $93 plus any administrative fees charged by the test center, typically ranging from $15-30 per exam. |
| Can I take CLEP exams online? | Yes, remote proctored CLEP exams are available through Proctortrack for eligible test-takers with proper equipment and testing environment. |
| What is a passing CLEP score? | The American Council on Education recommends a score of 50 or higher on the 20-80 scale, though individual colleges set their own requirements. |
| What is the CLEP score range? | CLEP scores range from 20 to 80 points, with most colleges granting credit for scores of 50 or above. |
| How many credits can I earn? | Each CLEP exam typically awards 3-12 semester hours depending on the subject, with language exams potentially earning up to 12 credits. |
| When are CLEP scores available? | Multiple-choice scores appear immediately after testing, while exams with essays take 2-3 weeks for complete scoring and reporting. |
| How should I study for CLEP? | Use official CLEP study guides, Modern States free courses, practice tests, and subject-specific textbooks for comprehensive exam preparation. |
| How difficult are CLEP exams? | Difficulty varies by subject and your background knowledge, with pass rates averaging 50-80% depending on the specific exam taken. |
| Which CLEP exam is easiest? | Generally easier exams include Analyzing Literature, College Composition Modular, Introductory Sociology, and Introductory Psychology for most students. |
| Can I retake CLEP exams? | Yes, you can retake CLEP exams after a three-month waiting period, with no limit on total attempts allowed. |
| CLEP Exams | Section Topics | Number of Questions | Time Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition and Literature | American Literature | 100 questions 2 Optional Essays |
90 minutes |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 80 questions 2 Optional Essays |
98 minutes 90 minutes |
|
| College Composition | 50 questions 2 Mandatory Essays |
50 minutes 70 minutes |
|
| College Composition Modular | 90 questions 2 Optional Essays |
90 minutes 70 minutes |
|
| English Literature | 95 questions 2 Optional Essays |
90 minutes 95 minutes |
|
| Humanities | 140 questions | 90 minutes | |
| World Languages | French Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 121 questions | 90 minutes |
| German Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 121 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Spanish with Writing: Levels 1 and 2 | 100 questions 2 Writing Tasks |
80 minutes 30 minutes |
|
| History and Social Sciences | American Government | 100 questions | 90 minutes |
| History of the United States I | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| History of the United States II | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Human Growth and Development | 90 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Introductory Psychology | 95 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Introductory Sociology | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 80 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 80 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Social Sciences and History | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Science and Mathematics | Biology | 115 questions | 90 minutes |
| Calculus | 44 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Chemistry | 75 questions | 90 minutes | |
| College Algebra | 60 questions | 90 minutes | |
| College Mathematics | 60 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Natural Sciences | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Precalculus | 48 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Business | Financial Accounting | 75 questions | 90 minutes |
| Information Systems | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Introductory Business Law | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Principles of Management | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Principles of Marketing | 100 questions | 90 minutes |
Composition and Literature are tests about American and British Literature. It also covers some composition and is divided into 5 topics.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| American Literature | This topic covers American prose and poetry from colonial times to the present. It tests the candidates’ knowledge of literary works. |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP | This topic covers passages from American and British Literature. It tests the candidates’ knowledge of poetry, nonfiction, drama, and fiction. |
| College Composition and College Composition Modular | These topics determine whether the candidates have writing skills such as argumentation, research, and analysis. The materials covered are those that are taught in first-year college composition courses. |
| CLEP English Literature | This topic assesses the candidates’ knowledge of British literature courses at the college level. They must know literary terms such as personification, similes, and such. |
| Humanities CLEP | This topic has broad coverage because it contains questions about art, music, dance, theater, and other performing arts. |
World languages are tests about three languages: French, German and Spanish. Each of them also has two levels, depending on the comprehension level of the candidates. The French language test determines whether the examinee completed two or three semesters of college French language study. The German language is the same as that of the French test. The CLEP Spanish Language test, on the other hand, assesses whether the candidates have completed one or two years of Spanish language study. The Spanish with Writing test also determines whether they have the necessary reading, writing, and listening skills.
History and Social Sciences are tests about Economics, History, and Psychology. It is also divided into 12 section topics.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| CLEP American Government | This topic covers material about the civil and political processes and the American government. |
| History of the United States I | This topic covers material about the United States history during the early colonization to the end of Reconstruction. |
| History of the United States II | This topic covers material about the United States history during the end of the Civil War and up to the present. |
| CLEP Human Growth and Development | This topic covers material about subjects concerning human development. It must be related to physical, social and cognitive development. |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology CLEP | This topic covers material about child growth and development, teaching methods, learning, and cognition, among others. |
| Introductory Psychology CLEP | This topic covers material regarding the various principles of CLEP psychology. |
| Introductory Sociology CLEP | This topic covers material such as social stratification, patterns, and processes. It also tests the candidates about their knowledge of theoretical approaches that are utilized by sociologists. |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | This topic covers material about aggregate supply and demand. It also determines the knowledge of fiscal policy tools. |
| Principles of Microeconomics | This topic covers material about principles of economics regarding consumers and businesses. |
| CLEP Social Sciences and History | This topic covers a lot of things, from geography, economics to history, it requires candidates to have sufficient general education in many areas. |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 | This topic covers material about Ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East, the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation. |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present | This topic covers material about the history of Europe from the mid-seventeenth century through the period of the post-Second World War. |
The Science and Mathematics category is a series of tests about math and the different science subjects at the college level. They usually require the candidates to have completed at least one semester or one year of CLEP study for the following courses: CLEP College Algebra, Biology, Calculus, and Chemistry. For College Mathematics, it covers material that is usually taught in college courses for non-mathematics majors. This is the same also for the Natural Sciences because it covers topics for non-science majors. Lastly, for Precalculus, the candidates must have knowledge of functions and their properties.
The Business category is a series of tests that cover different disciplines in the business. There are 5 section topics:
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Financial Accounting | This topic covers material that was taught in a course about introduction to CLEP financial accounting. |
| CLEP Information Systems | This topic covers material that was taught in a course about intro-level business. |
| CLEP Introductory Business Law | This topic covers material about the functions of contracts in American business law. It assesses the candidates’ knowledge of the legal system and the history and sources of American law, among others. |
| Principles of Management CLEP | This topic covers material that was taught in management courses. It determines the capability of the candidates when it comes to knowing human resources and other aspects of management. |
| Principles of Marketing CLEP | This topic covers material about the importance of CLEP marketing in society and knowledge of consumer and organizational markets. |
What is the scoring for the CLEP Exams?
There are two ways to get your CLEP scores. The first is to get the raw score which is the number of questions that the candidate has answered correctly. The second is to convert the raw score into a scaled score with ranges from 20 to 80.
For essays that were written for the College Composition test, they will be graded by college English professors selected by the College Board. While for the optional essays, they will be graded by the colleges that required them.
What are some tips for passing a CLEP test?
Based on Peterson’s Master the CLEP, there are a number of ways in which you can prepare for the CLEP tests. Here’s CLEP preparation:
Create a plan and don’t get distracted.
Time is very valuable when it comes to taking these kinds of exams. It requires your ultimate focus because, without it, you’ll get stuck trying to cram everything in just a few days. You need to estimate how much work you should focus on certain topics. You should study wisely and not just study half-heartedly.
Look for the most comfortable place to study.
This might seem inconsequential to you, but being in a good environment will do wonders for your mind. You’ll feel at ease and you won’t feel stressed out. You will also find it easier to absorb a lot of information since you’ll be able to maintain your focus.
Know what type of exam you are taking.
Don’t just face it head-on blindly. It would be advantageous for you if you took the time to research the kind of CLEP test you are taking. There are at least 34 exams, so it might be better to know first hand what you are challenging.
Review all of your study materials.
There are a lot of subjects to cover, so retaining everything you studied might be difficult. That is why you have to review it. There would be no point in studying all of those lessons when you can’t even remember. You should make use of notes so you can easily review them. You can also take CLEP practice exams such as CLEP Spanish practice tests, Biology CLEP practice tests, Social Sciences, English CLEP test and History practice tests, etc. There are also 2025 CLEP official study guides (like CLEP Biology study guide), CLEP exam study guide, other CLEP study guides and free CLEP prep or free CLEP test preparation that you can use. All of these are efficient ways to prepare for the test.
CLEP Official Study Guide PDF
The biology test covers molecular and cellular biology, organismal biology, and population biology. Students can earn college credit in biology without attending a class by taking the CLEP Biology exam. The questions will put your knowledge of how information is analyzed and conclusions drawn to the test. If you’re looking for free CLEP biology practice test PDF, college composition CLEP study guide PDF, or 2025 CLEP official study guide PDF free, you’ve come to the right place. To determine where you stand on the exam, we recommend taking the CLEP Biology Practice Test.
CLEP Questions and Answers
Not all colleges accept CLEP credits. Over 2,900 institutions nationwide accept CLEP, but policies vary significantly. Always check with your target college's registrar about their CLEP policy, minimum scores, and accepted exams before testing.
You cannot earn an entire degree through CLEP alone. Most colleges allow 30-60 CLEP credits maximum and require residency credits earned at their institution. CLEP helps accelerate degree completion by bypassing introductory courses.
CLEP credits don't expire, and College Board maintains scores for 20 years. However, some colleges may have time limits on accepting transfer credits or require recent scores. Military DANTES funding expires after 180 days.
If you fail a CLEP exam, you can retake it after three months. Failed scores won't appear on transcripts sent to colleges unless you choose to send them. You must pay the full exam fee for each retake.
CLEP can save thousands in tuition costs. At $93 per exam versus hundreds or thousands per college course, passing CLEP exams offers significant savings. Consider test preparation time and your likelihood of passing when evaluating cost-effectiveness.
Yes, high school students can take CLEP exams. While most colleges require enrollment before granting credit, taking CLEP demonstrates college readiness. Check prospective colleges' policies about CLEP credits earned before enrollment.
Multiple-choice scores display immediately after exam completion. Exams with essays take 2-3 weeks for full scoring. Official transcripts can be sent to colleges within one business day through your College Board account.
CLEP credits typically don't impact GPA since most colleges award pass/fail credit rather than letter grades. You earn credit hours toward graduation without affecting your grade point average, making CLEP risk-free for GPA.
Calculator policies vary by exam. Some math and science exams provide on-screen scientific calculators for specific questions. Personal calculators aren't permitted. College Mathematics includes a calculator, while College Algebra typically doesn't.
Military members receive free CLEP exams through DANTES funding, saving the $93 fee per test. Many military education offices offer free study materials and testing on base. Veterans can use GI Bill benefits at CLEP-accepting colleges.