Study For the CLEP Exam
CLEP study and earning college credit through the College Level Examination Program is one of the most effective ways to fight the out-of-control spiral of college costs in the US and get a head start on your degree. Preparing for the CLEP exam requires self-discipline and intrinsic motivation – it’s something one must do on one’s own – but the savings in terms of time and money makes the effort spent on preparation well worthwhile.
What Exactly is CLEP?
CLEP presents an opportunity to earn college credits by taking an examination that measures one’s knowledge and mastery of a given subject area. Successful completion of a CLEP test can result in earning up to five credits in a single morning for as little as $25 per credit. Consider that tuition at an average state college or university now costs around $350 per credit – for which you’ll have to sit through several hours of lecture and complete hours of reading from extravagantly-priced textbooks as well as pass at least two major exams and write at least one research paper – and the savings become apparent. By passing a CLEP exam, you’ll bypass all that and save up to 95% on your educational costs.
What Can I Accomplish?
A CLEP test is essentially a standardized test of the variety that has been around for decades; the major difference is that each CLEP test focuses on one particular subject.
CLEP focuses on lower division courses that one would typically take during his/her freshman or sophomore year or at a junior college. Not all colleges offer every CLEP exam that is available. In order to determine which CLEP offerings are available in your area, you should contact the registrar at the nearest college; a high school counselor can also get this information for you.
How Can I Get Ready?
CLEP study materials are available in print form and on the World Wide Web in digital formats. These materials usually include sample questions of the type you are likely to encounter on the actual CLEP; in fact, it’s not a bad idea to go through the sample exams a few times in order to bone up on your test taking skills.
When you start in on your clep study, keep in mind that you have to be smarter than it is; such standardized tests measure your ability to take tests as much as anything else. Strategies employed on other standardized tests will be applicable here as well. Pace yourself over the course of your CLEP study; avoid “cramming” the night before, show up well-rested with a high-protein breakfast under your belt, and you’ll be well on your way to earning those discount college credits!
