Changes

The '''College Level Examination Program''' (CLEP)<ref>http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html</ref> 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.  

The '''College Level Examination Program''' (CLEP)<ref>http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html</ref> 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 ensure their graduation in four years or less.

Through programs like CLEP, students are able to accelerate their college education at a fraction of the cost and ensure their graduation in four years or less.

The cost of a CLEP exam is only $87 and is the same regardless of the subject matter.  It can be taken conveniently at any one of thousands of testing centers, and is available online at those centers throughout the year.  This exam is free for military personnel who are eligible for DANTES funding.

The cost of a CLEP exam is only $87 and is the same regardless of the subject matter.  It can be taken conveniently at any one of thousands of testing centers, and is available online at those centers throughout the year.  This exam is free for military personnel who are eligible for DANTES funding.

== Subjects Available ==

== Subjects Available ==

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. Unlike the SAT exams, no points are deducted for incorrect answers on a CLEP exam, '''''so a student should provide an answer to every question even if it requires guessing'''''.

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. Unlike the SAT exams, no points are deducted for incorrect answers on a CLEP exam, '''''so a student should provide an answer to every question even if it requires guessing'''''.

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 service members or veterans for taking CLEP exams'''''<ref>Reimbursement is available if any fees are charged by a testing center.  See the CLEP website for details.</ref> and many bases have on site testing facilities. 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.

The base fee for a test is $85 (as of 2019) with an additional charge if the exam has a writing section. As part of the military's focus on education, '''''there is no charge to service members or veterans for taking CLEP exams'''''<ref>Reimbursement is available if any fees are charged by a testing center.  See the CLEP website for details.</ref> and many bases have on site testing facilities. 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.

A student can control who sees his score in two ways.  First, if the exam goes so poorly that a student doubts he passed and wants to cancel his score, then '''''he should notify the administrator before the end of the exam time period and refuse to complete it for scoring.'''''<ref>http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/scores.html</ref>  Once the student completes the exam and receives a score, then the score becomes part of a permanent CLEP transcript and cannot be canceled.  The student, however, can still control who receives his CLEP transcript, and can send a copy of his transcript only to the colleges that he selects.  Since CLEP scores are typically used to obtain credit rather than obtaining admission, a failing CLEP score would typically be ignored without any adverse consequences.

A student can control who sees his score in two ways.  First, if the exam goes so poorly that a student doubts he passed and wants to cancel his score, then '''''he should notify the administrator before the end of the exam time period and refuse to complete it for scoring.'''''<ref>http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/scores.html</ref>  Once the student completes the exam and receives a score, then the score becomes part of a permanent CLEP transcript and cannot be canceled.  The student, however, can still control who receives his CLEP transcript, and can send a copy of his transcript only to the colleges that he selects.  Since CLEP scores are typically used to obtain credit rather than obtaining admission, a failing CLEP score would typically be ignored without any adverse consequences.

==CLEP v. AP==

==CLEP v. AP==

The biggest difference between CLEP and AP exam is that there is less [[liberal]] bias in CLEP exams.  AP exams are preferred by the top, most liberal universities, and perhaps because of that some AP exams suffer from significant bias.  In the math and science fields, however, bias is less of an issue.

The biggest difference between CLEP and AP exam is that there is less [[liberal]] bias in CLEP exams.  AP exams are preferred by the top, most liberal universities, and perhaps because of that some AP exams suffer from significant bias.  AP exams have essay portions which are susceptible to grading bias depending on who happens to grade a particular exam, which CLEP exams are entirely multiple choice.  In the math and science fields, however, bias is less of an issue.

CLEP exams are also far more affordable and accessible than AP exams are.

CLEP exams are also far more affordable and accessible than AP exams are.

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Harvard University]]

*[[Harvard University]]

*[[University]]

*[[University]]