The 2009-2010 college year is quickly approaching! Incoming freshman are about to step into a new life, full of independence, new friends, challenging coursework, and important life decisions. If they have not already done so, many of these college freshmen will soon declare a major and meet with an academic advisor to map out a plan of the coursework required to achieve the desired degree. Many first year college students are overwhelmed by the number of courses they must take each semester and the total number of courses they must take in order to graduate.
Students are often unaware that many colleges and universities allow students to obtain credits without taking the actual college course. CLEP, College Level Examination Program, is a series of 34 exams that assess students’ knowledge of material covered in courses that students typically take in the first two years of college. In order to obtain a qualifying score on a CLEP, students must demonstrate that they have knowledge of the subject that is equivalent to that of a student who has passed the course. Examples of CLEP exam subjects include business, history, social sciences, composition, and literature. While most qualifying CLEP scores will result in three to six credits, high scores on a few exams can result in as many as 12 credits. Most CLEP exams are computerized, 90 minute tests that contain between 80 and 110 multiple choice questions. The $72 fee to take a CLEP test represents a huge savings compared to the hundreds or even thousands of dollars in tuition associated with each college course. With the potential time and cost saving benefits of CLEP tests, students are often eager to take these exams.
Some students may find that they already possess knowledge of a subject and can take a CLEP exam with little or no additional studying. For example students who took honors and AP (advanced placement) classes in high school, might already have college level knowledge of a subject. Other students may have acquired college level knowledge of a subject through cultural experiences, student exchange programs, or work internships. These students can use their existing knowledge when taking CLEP tests and avoid having to take college courses that cover material they already know.
Not all students already have the knowledge required to earn a qualifying CLEP test score. Lack of existing knowledge of a subject should not hinder students from taking advantage of the many benefits of CLEP. Motivated students can often quickly learn the material they need to know to take the CLEP in as little as a few days or weeks. Students can prepare for CLEP tests using methods such as college textbooks, CLEP test study guides, practice CLEP exams, CD’s and DVD’s, and online CLEP test preparation systems.
While each preparation method has pros and cons, online CLEP preparation methods provide distinct advantages for many students. Most online CLEP prep systems take the important material found in textbooks and study guides and present the material in a question-based learning method. This format allows students to quickly learn essential information without having to memorize endless material from study guides and textbooks. In addition, online CLEP test methods are affordable and allow students to study on their own schedule from any computer with Internet access. One online CLEP test preparation website, www.SpeedyPrep.com, even has a feature that tracks each student’s studying progress, allows students to pinpoint areas needing additional study, and informs the student when he or she is ready to take and pass the CLEP test. With so many ways to prepare for a CLEP test, students should consider their available resources, learning needs, and learning style when choosing a preparation method.
Taking even one CLEP test and earning three credit hours can be highly beneficial to an incoming college freshman or any college student. With over 2,900 colleges and universities accepting credits earned through CLEP, incoming college freshmen, as well as college students in other stages of their undergraduate degree, can use this amazing program to save money on expensive tuition, lighten their course load during one or more semesters, skip general and introductory courses, and even graduate sooner.