College Level Examination Program
From Conservapedia
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP)[1] is an alternate pathway to bypass and test out of lower division coursework at participating universities. Instead of taking an introductory course, students with sufficient CLEP scores are either able to take a higher level course or, in the case of general education (GE) requirements, do not need to take the GE course. Through programs like CLEP, students are able to accelerate their college education at a fraction of the cost and insure their graduation in four years or less.
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CLEP v. AP
As a standardized test is used to award credit, CLEP is similar to another College Board program, Advanced Placement (AP). However, unlike AP, there is no course targeted towards preparation for the exam. The rigorous coursework of AP and test restrictions, coupled with its high school focus, has led to charges of elitism. Since the AP work isn't geared towards other age groups, it disenfranchises a significant portion of the population. Also, because AP testing occurs at public schools, homeschoolers may be unable to sit the test. The exclusiveness of the AP program is directly contrasted by the inclusiveness of the CLEP program. CLEP testing occurs at colleges and happens monthly, as opposed to annually. Due to the greater access of CLEP sites, more people are able to take the tests, making the CLEP an attractive option.
Another difference is subject breadth. With 34 CLEP subjects and 31 AP subjects, both tests have a similar number of subjects. As opposed to AP subjects, CLEP subjects branch out beyond core GE areas and cover a broader spectrum of academic departments.
Recognition
Thousands of colleges recognize this program, but their rules for granting credit vary widely. Some colleges do not recognize this program so it is important to check first prior to investing the time and money in this examination. But even if your preferred college does not accept this as credit, it can look very good on an application, particularly by a homeschool student who may have relatively little classwork information.
Testing
CLEP testing occurs around once a month at participating college sites and military bases. Most exams are 90 minutes, with a few exceptions. Also, unlike AP exams, the vast majority of subject tests are completely multiple choice, making it easier to score higher. The base fee for a test is $72 (as of 2009) with an additional $10 charge if the exam has a writing section. As part of the military's focus on education, there is no charge to servicemembers interested in taking CLEP exams. Testing centers are also allowed to collect a fee to cover the costs of test administration. While the College Board recommends that the administrative charge be around $15, each center has the discretionary authority to set its own administrative charge.
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