What if you could finish a college course before you even set foot on a university campus and do it for a fraction of the cost? Virginia Beach City Public Schools are now participating in a College-Level Examination Program (also known as the CLEP Exam). CLEP exams allow students to earn college credit without taking the course, recognizing knowledge they may already have. CLEP exams can also be taken if a student previously chooses not to take an AP exam while taking a class, but later decide they want to try for that credit. There are 34 multiple-choice CLEP exams across five academic fields, and they each cost $97 per exam.
“CLEP exams have many benefits, including cost savings, time efficiency, and the ability to earn college credit,” said Guidance Counselor Mr. Bryan Everett.
Students have the opportunity to take these exams at no cost by completing free Modern States modules. These are offered year-round, and any student is encouraged to take them with or without having taken AP and Dual Enrollment classes.
Caption: Screenshot provided by: (Tierra Adams) By logging into the college board and clicking “My CLEP” It can lead you to your registration, upcoming exams, your scores and study materials.
CLEP, Advanced Placement (AP), and Dual Enrollment (DE) are three different paths leading to the same destination: college credit.
Dual Enrollment offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a college curriculum; for instance, Salem provides opportunities in Dual English, Dual Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow, and the recently established Dual VA/U.S. History. Students get the Tidewater Community Collage curriculum (and are technically TCC students), receiving the content in the high school classroom and receive college credit upon successful (C or higher) completion of the course.
AP classes are similar, but are contingent upon receiving a “passing score” on the AP exam. AP classes are regulated by the College Board instead of a specific college.
CLEP exams allow students to demonstrate proficiency in the “Core 34,” which focuses on foundational college freshman-year requirements such as Algebra, Psychology, and History.
“These opportunities help students earn college credits to advance their education at a more rapid pace, plus they are less expensive options [than AP] to earn college credit,” said Gifted Resource Teacher Mrs. Kelly Lepowski. “The CLEP exams with the highest pass percentages are: Spanish Language at 91%, College Composition without essay at 83%, College Composition with essay at 81%, and Introductory Sociology at 80%.”
While AP and Dual Enrollment are popular paths to college credit, they aren’t for everyone. These options require a year-long classroom commitment, and your credit often depends on your consistent performance over months of study. In these settings, you have a teacher to guide you through the material every day. In contrast, the CLEP exam is a self-service option. There is no required class; your success depends entirely on your own independent study and what you have learned on your own and/or in past classes. It trades the support of a classroom for the speed of a 90-minute exam.
“I would recommend researching if your [college or university] accepts CLEP credits and for which exams,” said senior Alvin Oba. “I plan on taking the Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Calculus, Chemistry, US History 1, US History 2, Spanish, French, US Government, Biology, and Psychology CLEP exams.”
Talk to Mrs. Lepowski or Mr. Everett for questions or help on the CLEP exams.
Link to CLEP Test Scheduling Request Form: https://forms.gle/FAWukK1gZvEd6GNb8
Link to enrolling in Modern States, getting your voucher, & registering for the exam: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EPAaw7lc6CwNLHXJvWQk25ahTrxl5OlIa9PaSij6Zs4/edit?usp=sharing
