In this day and age, the idea of sitting behind a desk for four straight years (and taking out student loans) to earn your college credits is a thing of the past. More and more students are finding ways to work towards a degree beyond the traditional classroom. Taking CLEP exams is a smart way to achieve your educational goals. You’ve probably heard people talk about “CLEPPING out” of a class. What exactly does that mean?
CLEP stands for the College Level Examination Program. Created and administered through the College Board, these standardized tests cover thirty-six subjects and they allow students to earn credits without actually taking the class. You might be wondering, “How do I prepare for CLEP exams?” Study.com is the perfect place to do this! (Thanks to Study.com for sponsoring this post!)
Here’s why Study.com is a great choice for CLEP exam prep:
- You’ll be studying the material you need to specifically pass CLEP exams
- You’ll enjoy in-depth videos, created by educational experts
- Study at your own pace and at times that are convenient for you
- Self-guided program is easy to follow, even for high schoolers who want to earn credits early
- You can take practice quizzes to see what topics you’re solid on—and what areas you need to improve
- You get a personalized study plan to help you maximize your score.
Click here to see a full list of the all the study guides available.
And now, here’s an example of what you can expect after signing up.
In college, I majored in history, so the first CLEP study guide I checked out at Study.com was History of the United States. I arrived at this overview screen after selecting my course. It tells me how many lessons are in the prep course, and how long each will take.
The video narrator/teacher speaks very clearly and explains concepts in a simple, conversational style, with plenty of graphics to enhance the lessons. After you watch the video lesson, you can take a quiz to test your retention. If you missed any questions, you have the option of watching a video explanation of the right answer.
I highly recommend taking some brief notes during the video lesson. You can go over these before trying the quiz.
After going through the video lessons and quizzes, try your hand at a practice test. They are designed to familiarize you with actual CLEP exams you’ll be taking.
After the test, you can take a look at your areas of weakness and strength. This tells you exactly which material you should cover again, saving you even more time.
Different colleges have different requirements for a passing CLEP score, so be sure you contact them to find out what’s expected before the exam.
Exactly how much can you save by taking a CLEP exam instead of enrolling in the traditional way? It could be anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars! In-state tuition for a typical state college in my area is over $5,000 with a course load of 12 to 18 credits. If my teenage son opted to CLEP out of six courses (i.e. 18 credits), it would cost about $460 for the testing fees, plus $39.99 per month at Study.com. At the end of the year, he will have spent about $940 instead of $5,000.
And don’t forget other hidden money savings like textbook fees, room and board and transportation. Whether you’re part-time or full-time, any student of any age can benefit from CLEP study guides and exams!
And Study.com is not just for CLEP preparation, either. You can also use the site to improve your grades and get ready for other standard tests and exams.
Before starting any CLEP preparation program, always make sure to find out what your college accepts for credit. If you have a high schooler who’s interested in scoring some early credits, check with the admissions office at each prospective schools on his list.
To get ready for a CLEP exam, there are also some FREE resources you can tap into like a trusted teacher, the local library, or friends and family members with college experience. But nothing can replace a customized CLEP preparation program like Study.com offers!
This would have been useful had I known about it before I got my degree.
Wow!! This sounds so helpful!! If I want to recertify as a teacher, I would need to take a few credit hours. I wonder if this would apply. This sounds like a great way to get ahead and save some money!! I need to look more into this for my hubby too!
There’s a good chance that you could use the CLEP program, Ashley! If the time comes, just check with your prospective school and see if they will give class credits for CLEP exams. Most colleges do! ~Anne
amazing tips and helpful ideas.. Thank you Anne!
This is very informative for my daughter which I will pass along to her. She is due with her first child in April and is taking time off from college courses. She is a vet tech and now going back to earn her bachelors degree in marine biology.
This is a great post. Very informative and lots of good information. CLEP sounds like great option for high schoolers who have a light load because most their credits to graduate have been completed and they can easily take on an extra load by getting a jump start with college credits.
Great information! Thank you
I’ve never heard of this. Thanks! This is great info for down the road when I’m ready to get back into the teaching field and need to renew my licensure.
I had some friends who clep out of some classes, I was wondering how they did that, thanks for the info.