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Clarifying CLEP


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OK, here is what I think I have gathered so far regarding CLEP...

 

1. A high school student can take CLEP exams.

2. Even freshman high schoolers can take CLEP exams.

3. You simply register at a university near you to take the CLEP exam.

4. CollegeBoard keeps a transcript of the CLEP exam that have been taken.

5. When you apply to a college you ask the College Board to send the CLEP scores you want considered.

6. The school the child attends may or may not accept CLEP, but all the ones I have looked at so far do accept them, at least they do today.

7. The limit of credit-by-exam credits is usually limited to 30.

8. I don't have to get a college to hold the scores, because CollegeBoard does that. Right? I know this is a repreat point, but I am trying to figure our the benefit of CollegePrep services, and this is where I am a bit confused.

 

OK, what am I missing?

Thanks,

Josie

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What I don't understand is why more homeschoolers aren't using them to validate mommy grades. Is it b/c they are not as favorably looked upon as AP or CC grades even though they are accepted by many colleges?

 

I get the impression they are a lot easier than AP and for someone looking to save $$$ when it comes time to college this might be one way to go.

 

Laura

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What I don't understand is why more homeschoolers aren't using them to validate mommy grades. Is it b/c they are not as favorably looked upon as AP or CC grades even though they are accepted by many colleges?

 

I get the impression they are a lot easier than AP and for someone looking to save $$$ when it comes time to college this might be one way to go.

 

Laura

 

Exactly. Colleges know that they are easier. Now it may not matter depending on where you want to go. But I prefer AP and cc grades to CLEPs.

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I get the impression they are a lot easier than AP and for someone looking to save $$$ when it comes time to college this might be one way to go.

 

I agree. Not every kid can do well on AP tests. I think CLEP is a good alternative if the college they'll be attending accepts them. My DD may take one or two AP tests, but I don't plan on loading her down with AP classes, so I'm looking at CLEP for some things. The college she wants to attend does accept them. If that changes, we'll adjust.

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I'm not to that point yet, but my thought is that I plan to have DD take the CLEP exam for basically anything she can take one in-not because I expect her to get college credit for them, but because it WOULD validate that she's at least had a decent high school course in the subject. Unless things change, I think CLEP is cheaper than the other options-and if they give some college credit, that doesn't seem like a bad thing.

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One thing you might want to do if you have not already done so is check the websites of the colleges your child is considering to look at what specific CLEPs they will give credit for and does it meet a specific requirements. Some colleges accept CLEPs but then you look at the breakdown the credits are "general" credits which for most students aren't worth a lot. Also, they may not give credit for some of the more entry level CLEPs. And, you may want to compare what credit they grant for AP.

 

It is really going to depend on the student. For some students the APs offer more depth of learning and a better chance to develop some specific skills in essay writing and so forth. They typical lead to more credit per test than the CLEPs and they carry more weight for admissions.

 

Of course the good thing about homeschooling is that you get to decide what is best for your student. You can always do a combination of the two as well.

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I work at a CLEP test center and I just want to make sure that you realize not all universities are authorized to deliver the CLEP exams. There is a search function on CLEP's/CollegeBoard's website so that you can find test centers closest to your location. You would still need to call and get information because there are almost always mistakes posted on the website. The biggest question seems to be if anyone can test at the test center or is it "limited" to just their students.

 

Another note, I understand that there are more universities that accept AP scores over CLEP scores. CLEP will always be the little brother to AP. The purpose of CLEP is to allow students to take exams which measure their knowledge in a variety of subject matter areas. Most of the universities who grant CLEP credit (or allow for placement out of college coursework) are considering the exams that would fall under a "general ed" category.

 

We have quite a growing group of homeschool teens who take both the CLEP exams and the DSST exams. I believe the youngest is 14. These students are "banking" their credit until they know where they will attend college. These families like the idea of being able to take these exams any time of the year without being forced to study the AP coursework. AP testers have to wait until May to take their exams and then have to wait a couple of months before getting their score.

 

Yes, College Board retains the scores for 20 years. Even if scores are sent to a university, you can always contact College Board to send the official transcript of scores to a different university at a later time.

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Baylor probably doesn't accept the Freshman Comp CLEP exam because that exam is no longer offered. The current Language & Composition exams are: College Composition, College Composition Modular, American Literature, English Literature, and Analyzing & Interpreting Literature. The first one is the only of these exams that has mandatory essays built into the exam. The other 4 exams offer optional essays which are not considered in your CLEP score (which reflects the multiple-choice section only). The optional, handwritten essays are like another exam with I believe an additional (or separate, depending on how you plan your testing time) 90 minutes given as time to compose and write the essays.

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Baylor probably doesn't accept the Freshman Comp CLEP exam because that exam is no longer offered. The current Language & Composition exams are: College Composition, College Composition Modular, American Literature, English Literature, and Analyzing & Interpreting Literature. The first one is the only of these exams that has mandatory essays built into the exam. The other 4 exams offer optional essays which are not considered in your CLEP score (which reflects the multiple-choice section only). The optional, handwritten essays are like another exam with I believe an additional (or separate, depending on how you plan your testing time) 90 minutes given as time to compose and write the essays.

Ok, so I called it the wrong name. THERE IS NO CLEP CREDIT FOR FRESHMAN COMP no matter what you call the test. They don't list any credit available for any exam for that class.

 

The table below indicates the exams that have been approved for receiving credit at Baylor and the minimum scores required. CLEP exams are administered by appointment only. To schedule a testing date at Baylor University, contact the Office of Institutional Research and Testing Services at 254-710-2061. Note that the number of credit hours for each Baylor course is denoted by the second digit of the course number. Therefore, Political Science 1305 is a 3-hour course, while Biology 1401 is a 4-hour course.

 

 

CLEP Exam

 

 

 

Accepted Scores

 

 

 

Baylor Course

 

 

American Government

 

50-80

 

 

Political Science 1305

American Literature

 

60-80

 

 

English 2304

College Level French Language

 

58-62

 

 

French 2310

College Level French Language

 

63-80

 

 

French 2310 & 2320

College Level German Language

 

58-62

 

 

German 2310

College Level German Language

 

63-80

 

 

German 2310 & 2320

College Level Spanish Language

 

58-62

 

 

Spanish 2310

College Level Spanish Language

 

63-80

 

 

Spanish 2310 & 2320

English Literature

 

60-80

 

 

English 2301

Biology

 

50-80

 

 

Biology 1401

Chemistry

 

50-80

 

 

Chemistry 1300-1100 or Chemistry 1301-1101

History of the U.S. I*

 

54-80*

 

 

History 2365

History of the U.S. II*

 

54-80*

 

 

History 2366

Introductory Sociology

 

55-80

 

 

Sociology 1305

Principles of Macroeconomics

 

54-80

 

 

Economics 2307

Principles of Microeconomics

 

54-80

 

 

Economics 2306

 

*Note changes for students entering Baylor in Fall 2006 and later: The History department will no longer accept the "History of the US" exams. (If you were a Baylor student prior to Fall 2006 you are eligible to take the exam.)

Edited by choirfarm
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Ok, so I called it the wrong name. THERE IS NO CLEP CREDIT FOR FRESHMAN COMP no matter what you call the test. They don't list any credit available for any exam for that class.

 

You didn't call it the wrong name. You assumed there was a freshman comp clep and there isn't. So what? There are lots of CLEP that AP are not offered for either. It's about options.

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Baylor probably doesn't accept the Freshman Comp CLEP exam because that exam is no longer offered. The current Language & Composition exams are: College Composition, College Composition Modular, American Literature, English Literature, and Analyzing & Interpreting Literature. The first one is the only of these exams that has mandatory essays built into the exam. The other 4 exams offer optional essays which are not considered in your CLEP score (which reflects the multiple-choice section only). The optional, handwritten essays are like another exam with I believe an additional (or separate, depending on how you plan your testing time) 90 minutes given as time to compose and write the essays.

 

Dd was planning to study over Christmas break to take a CLEP as a college sophomore and test out of English 1302. (She wants to take those hours in something she wants to study.) Her college's website says:

 

College Composition with EssasyENGL 1301

50

 

 

Analysis and Interp. Of LiteratureENGL 1302

50

 

 

English LiteratureENGL 2302

50

 

 

American Literature ENGL 2303

50

 

 

(* English - All CLEP exams for English credit MUST include an essay component. Additionally, CLEPâ s College Composition Modular is not accepted at HSU.)

And yes, that typo is from their website. ; )

 

So, Buckeye, she should plan on an multiple choice exam, and then a separate essay?

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Valerie, if their course equivalencies are current, then yes, she would need to complete the handwritten essay component along with the multiple-choice. There will be an additional fee for ordering the essay, and it is possible that the test center might charge another registration fee if your daughter returns on a separate date to do the essay. Realize that the multiple-choice section is 90 minutes and then the essays are 90 minutes.

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Another note, I understand that there are more universities that accept AP scores over CLEP scores. CLEP will always be the little brother to AP. The purpose of CLEP is to allow students to take exams which measure their knowledge in a variety of subject matter areas. Most of the universities who grant CLEP credit (or allow for placement out of college coursework) are considering the exams that would fall under a "general ed" category.

 

 

Tyring to further clarify things here...

 

Please help me undertand the "general ed" terminology. Does that mean that the credits and/or course will count for electives, but not for the students major?

 

Also, I undersatand that CLEP is the little brother to AP. Does it really matter if you aren't trying to get in Harvard? I am having a hard time justifying AP if the school accepts CLEP with the grade you earned and it gets you the credit for the class. CLEP is more convenient because it can be taken whenever. The student still gets placed in an advanced class. It still validates grades. Help me think of reasons to go the AP route if I don't care about the prestige factor of the AP. I know that many states are know requiring AP exams to earn a college-bound diploma...dont' EVEN get me started on how STUPID I think that is, but I can't see where it will really matter in a state school or most private schools. Am I completely bonkers in my thinking on this?

 

Thanks,

Josie

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OK, here is what I think I have gathered so far regarding CLEP...

 

1. A high school student can take CLEP exams.

2. Even freshman high schoolers can take CLEP exams.

3. You simply register at a university near you to take the CLEP exam.

4. CollegeBoard keeps a transcript of the CLEP exam that have been taken.

5. When you apply to a college you ask the College Board to send the CLEP scores you want considered.

6. The school the child attends may or may not accept CLEP, but all the ones I have looked at so far do accept them, at least they do today.

7. The limit of credit-by-exam credits is usually limited to 30.

8. I don't have to get a college to hold the scores, because CollegeBoard does that. Right? I know this is a repreat point, but I am trying to figure our the benefit of CollegePrep services, and this is where I am a bit confused.

 

OK, what am I missing?

Thanks,

Josie

 

My favorite subject - CLEP tests! I don't know why they are such a secret!! They are an awesome option for us homeschooling families.

 

On point #1, anyone can take CLEP exams at any age - even you as you study along with your kids!

 

On point #3, there are even a few high schools that offer them. In our area, they are offered at a Christian K-12 School.

 

On point #7, each institution sets the number of CLEP credits they accept. This is because the college wants your tuition money, and they don't make any money on classes passed by CLEP exams. Colleges such as Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak State College, and Excelsior College will accept a lot more CLEP credits, and you can almost do your entire degree with them ... and you may be able to do the remaining courses needed online and save a TON of money.

 

On point #8, CollegeBoard holds the scores for you for 20 years.

 

I also would like to know what the real purpose and advantage of CollegePrep and CollegePlus are from someone who has used one or the other.

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Tyring to further clarify things here...

 

Please help me undertand the "general ed" terminology. Does that mean that the credits and/or course will count for electives, but not for the students major?

 

Also, I undersatand that CLEP is the little brother to AP. Does it really matter if you aren't trying to get in Harvard? I am having a hard time justifying AP if the school accepts CLEP with the grade you earned and it gets you the credit for the class. CLEP is more convenient because it can be taken whenever. The student still gets placed in an advanced class. It still validates grades. Help me think of reasons to go the AP route if I don't care about the prestige factor of the AP. I know that many states are know requiring AP exams to earn a college-bound diploma...dont' EVEN get me started on how STUPID I think that is, but I can't see where it will really matter in a state school or most private schools. Am I completely bonkers in my thinking on this?

 

Thanks,

Josie

 

Where is might matter is:

If a college holds the opinion that AP results are superior to CLEP

and

They are trying to measure students with lots of AP vs students with some of each vs students with lots of CLEP

 

I'm not talking about what they will give college credit for. That is a different question that involves the specific college as well as major. It also depends on if the student is even wanting to take the validation credit.

 

I'm only talking about how they weight the value of the CLEP exam scores for the purpose of admissions. And it doesn't have to just be a matter of applying to the ivy league. For example, some folks in Texas have posted in the past about how the policy to admit the top % of every high school class has really limited the slots available to students just beyond that cut off (or homeschoolers, who don't fall into that category at all).

 

I'm not saying that CLEP is bad. I honestly don't have enough info to say that. I'm just not sure what emotive label those exams hold for an admissions office. It sounds like a good topic of conversation for college visits and college fairs.

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Josie, I understand your confusion with the phrase "general ed" though I think someone who actually works in a college admissions office would be the best to clear up the issue. I have seen some colleges list that they will grant # college credits for a passing CLEP score, but that they will aware 0 credits toward general ed. I have also seen some who will state outright that earning a passing score on a CLEP exam will allow you to "test out" of their required course, but it will not earn you any credit towards the total needed for graduation.

 

If I understand correctly, this last one means that your student will not be required to take these general classes required by the major, but will allow the student to then focus on taking other classes they would enjoy more -- whether this mean more classes tied in with their major or classes that would allow them to double major.

 

This is a strong lesson in checking out the CLEP policy at every university that states they "accept" or "grant credit for" passing CLEP exams.

 

I think colleges look at AP courses/exams as an indication that the student took something truly challenging -- it is a course designed to be completed over the course of a school year with the "final" exam towards the end (in the early part of May). I truly have never understood how College Board can set this date in stone for everyone in the USA as some schools started their school year in different parts of August and others do not start until after Labor Day -- truly a difference of weeks in instruction.

 

CLEP exams were designed as an alternative way for learners of all ages to prove to colleges that they have learned the material, whether this was during their latter years of high school, through independent study due to an interest, through work, etc.

 

Josie, I personally don't believe APs should be required by anyone. There are so many students who attend high school and are nowhere near prepared to take an AP course (plus they don't have the desire to). But that same student may have taken, for instance, their basic math classes throughout high school to get through algebra. Might they be able to pass the CLEP Algebra exam and test out of the basic math required course at most every university? It is quite possible. Remember, that a passing score of 50 is equivalent to earning a low 'C'.

 

Hearts4Homeschooling, I'm not sure I understand your point about #3 where you say that "high schools offer them" and that a local Christian K-12 school also did. CLEPs are not courses, they are an exam. Yes, if someone wanted to they could instruct their own child (or a group of children) in the coursework covered on a specific CLEP exam. But that exam has to be delivered at an authorized test center. I have not heard of any test center operating out of a high school, public or private.

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OK, here is what I think I have gathered so far regarding CLEP...

 

1. A high school student can take CLEP exams. True

 

2. Even freshman high schoolers can take CLEP exams. Also true. But there really is no advantage to taking them that early since they can be taken at any time of the year.

 

3. You simply register at a university near you to take the CLEP exam. Community Colleges also offer them in their testing centers.

 

4. CollegeBoard keeps a transcript of the CLEP exam that have been taken. True.

 

5. When you apply to a college you ask the College Board to send the CLEP scores you want considered. I don't know that this is necessary. I don't know that CLEP exams are all that impressive for the purposes of admissions. I would save the money and send the scores for the purposes of credit or placement once the student is admitted. My daughter passed three CLEP exams, but we simply noted the scores on her transcript. I figured if anyone wanted the official scores, they could ask. no one did.

 

6. The school the child attends may or may not accept CLEP, but all the ones I have looked at so far do accept them, at least they do today. Each school sets their own cutoff score. My 17yo is taking classes at the community college. She hasn't officially graduated high school. She took the English 101 CLEP because it's a gatekeeper course for some other courses she was interested in. But she won't get credit for her CLEP at the University she will attend until she sits for the University-specific timed essay. On a similar note, a passing score for Calculus is 15 points higher at the University than it was for the community college. She made the cutoff, but it was possible for her to be granted credit at the first institution, go on to take Calc II, and then have to take Calc I or retake the CLEP the following year.

 

7. The limit of credit-by-exam credits is usually limited to 30.

 

8. I don't have to get a college to hold the scores, because CollegeBoard does that. Right? I know this is a repreat point, but I am trying to figure our the benefit of CollegePrep services, and this is where I am a bit confused. I've never heard of this :confused: It sounds a little scammy.

 

 

Barb

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the college wants your tuition money, and they don't make any money on classes passed by CLEP exams.

 

This is true. Larger universities are more likely to grant credit for CLEP scores and AP tests because their entry classes are already over-full. They'd rather not have you taking up the seat if you've nailed the material.

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Hearts4Homeschooling, I'm not sure I understand your point about #3 where you say that "high schools offer them" and that a local Christian K-12 school also did. CLEPs are not courses, they are an exam. Yes, if someone wanted to they could instruct their own child (or a group of children) in the coursework covered on a specific CLEP exam. But that exam has to be delivered at an authorized test center. I have not heard of any test center operating out of a high school, public or private.

 

Yes, there truly are a few high schools that offer CLEP exams. The CLEP exams are offered in Marysville, Washington at Grace Academy, a private Christian K-12 school. The school is licensed by The College Board to be a test center. My son took a CLEP test there this past August {and passed!}

 

You can find test locations at this site: http://clep.collegeboard.org/search/test-centers

 

You can visit Grace Academy's website: http://www.graceacademy.net/page.aspx?id=59259 It says there that Grace Academy is one of a handful of high schools in the country that is allowed to administer CLEP tests.

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Josie, I forgot that you had asked about CollegePlus. I have not dealt with CollegePrep, but our test center has quite a bit of business from the local CollegePlus organization. This is not a scam. It is completely up to the families, but this organization helps to guide the students through the preparation and testing process. They have been in business for some time and are up-to-date with what is accepted at the Big 3 (especially Thomas Edison which seems like their favorite). A mentor is assigned to each client -- sort of a support person who is a good sounding board and encourager -- and a person who has already gone through the process. If you don't want to deal with all the details, then maybe that $3000+ fee they charge would be worth it to you. When you count how much the CLEP and DSST exams save in the long-run, you still come out ahead of others who will attend a brick & mortar university.

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I am a former college Registrar and I would like to address CLEP tests as they applied to the small private college in which I worked.

 

CLEP tests were not considered at all by the admissions department. They took the scores out of the file, gave them to me to interpret which classes the student did not have to take due to the scores, and then passed the results to the student. There was no formal evaluation for those results for admission, unlike AP classes, high school GPA, ACT, and SAT results. Even for homeschooled students, GPA carried more weight than CLEP in admissions, although AP, ACT, and SAT were better still.

 

We accepted results for general ed classes, meaning those classes which all students had to take, regardless of major. Typically these were 100-200 level classes.

 

I also wanted to mention that there may be a nominal fee for accepting CLEP classes to be put on the college transcript. At my college it was $30 per course.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Answers submitted into your original post:

OK, here is what I think I have gathered so far regarding CLEP...

 

1. A high school student can take CLEP exams. -- No upper or lower age limits --

2. Even freshman high schoolers can take CLEP exams. -- yes! --

3. You simply register at a university near you to take the CLEP exam. -- 2900 accept CLEP exams, but that is not related to who is a testing site. Check the CollegeBoard site, pop in your zip code and find your closest testing location --

4. CollegeBoard keeps a transcript of the CLEP exam that have been taken. -- on file for 20 years --

5. When you apply to a college you ask the College Board to send the CLEP scores you want considered. -- yes, all scores you request on one transcript for $20 --

6. The school the child attends may or may not accept CLEP, but all the ones I have looked at so far do accept them, at least they do today. -- CLEP is a widely accepted credit-by-exam program. Another is DSST offered by Prometric www.GetCollegeCredit.com --

7. The limit of credit-by-exam credits is usually limited to 30. -- There is no "usually". Each college sets their standards of "transfer" credits, for some that is 30, others it is upwards of 90 --

8. I don't have to get a college to hold the scores, because CollegeBoard does that. Right? I know this is a repreat point, but I am trying to figure our the benefit of CollegePrep services, and this is where I am a bit confused. -- Not sure if you mean College Plus? A Christian Coaching service. But you are right, you can do this on your own. I have several free resources listed at www.CreditsBeforeCollege.com (Disclaimer, I do charge for local workshops, but site users navigate and learn directly from the resources I list).

 

OK, what am I missing?

Thanks,

Josie

-- Cheri

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I just want to comment on the English Comp/Freshman Comp/College Comp (whatever you call it). In our experience with the colleges we've worked with, it is nearly impossible to get that Freshman comp credit through CLEP--even if the college says they give it, even if your dc scores very very high on the multiple choice portion, even if your dc write well enough to get an 11 on the SAT essay, even if the university in question gave your dc a full scholarship based in part on a timed essay. English departments seems to like to fail them on the essay. This isn't just our experience; we've heard it from advisors and others.

 

My advice is to skip the College Comp CLEP. Take a cc or correpondence course, or take the AP's instead. Or just plan to take Freshman comp at the college their attending.

 

That's my one caveat. Otherwise, we love using CLEPs here. Using them has given my college dc a lot of flexibility.

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CLEP tests were not considered at all by the admissions department. They took the scores out of the file, gave them to me to interpret which classes the student did not have to take due to the scores, and then passed the results to the student. There was no formal evaluation for those results for admission, unlike AP classes, high school GPA, ACT, and SAT results. Even for homeschooled students, GPA carried more weight than CLEP in admissions, although AP, ACT, and SAT were better still.

 

 

:iagree:Thank you for this well-worded clarification. This is how we've come to understand them over the past several years.

 

For us CLEPs have been useful for two purposes. 1) Gaining college credit. 2) Motivating high school boys to study.

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