CLEP Language additional credits?

[Ideas]

Could someone take a language CLEP and score enough for 6 credits, and later take the same CLEP again? Say over a year later, the person thinks they can score better, and enough for 12 credits? I would assume the schools would allow it, but does College Board? I think this is a good option for people studying a language.

[quigongene]

The site says 3 months and doesn't mention pass or fail...

https://clep.collegeboard.org/help-for-students

[Ideas]

The site says 3 months and doesn't mention pass or fail...

https://clep.collegeboard.org/help-for-students

I wondered if there was anything different about passing but still trying for a better score. I guess not.

[burbuja0512]

So, two thoughts come up regarding testing strategy based on the fact that a re-testing may not be possible:

1) Wait until the end of your testing to test out of a language, allowing more time for continual study. Make sure language is the last CLEP you do to allow maximum study time.

2) Hurry up and get the darn test over with. If you don't get all the credits, you can find another way to make them up.



So even though Spanish was my highest score by far, I still thought that the listening portion was challenging. I tend to go with option #2 because it's really hard to learn a language. It took me 6 years of living in Mexico to speak fluently. I would say that if someone is trying to study a language quickly to improve a CLEP, it might take more time than studying for a comparable test that doesn't involve language studies.

So from a time management perspective, it's better to just rush through it and lose quickly on the language CLEP. But if you're just wanting to get more credit on the CLEP and are going to be studying the language anyhow, then why not take approach #1? It is possible to learn a language while you're studying. (I had to learn Portuguese during grad school, but it was hell, but if I can do it, anyone can.. I just wouldn't recommend it!)

[Ideas]

Yeah, good point about getting the additional credits elsewhere. I agree. In this case I would be getting the easier credits first (if I can even score that high) and trying to pass the higher level later as a personal challenge. But I probably don't have the time for that anyway. I was curious too, because if I were still doing my first degree, I would want to know.

[Yenisei]

Although burbuja's advice should be followed, I easily passed the German CLEP (12 credits) without any formal study when I was stationed there (and I didn't have any prior knowledge before getting stationed there). They are just not that difficult since you don't have to actually say anything. Get a CLEP prep book for the sample questions.

[Ideas]

Although burbuja's advice should be followed, I easily passed the German CLEP (12 credits) without any formal study when I was stationed there (and I didn't have any prior knowledge before getting stationed there). They are just not that difficult since you don't have to actually say anything. Get a CLEP prep book for the sample questions.

Wow. Makes sense that it's easier since you don't have to say anything, but I feel it's hard since the speakers go faster.

Maybe you're good with languages? Was it your third language or later? Have you learned any since then? 

How long had you been stationed there?

[Yenisei]

I'm OK with languages (already knew some Spanish and French, but not fluently) and I think I had been there less than a year, although I did have a lot of contact with the locals. It's been a long time since I took this CLEP, but my memory is that they didn't talk as fast on the recording as I was used to hearing native speakers converse in real life who weren't deliberately speaking slower in order to help me gain confidence.

Since then I learned some Portuguese and Arabic (now the latter is a difficult language).

[dfrecore]

CLEP's are no longer 12cr, the highest score now only gets you 9cr. None are UL. I would say that for 3 extra credits, it's not worth it.

You'd be much better off doing the ACTFL exam(s). They cost less, are worth more, and can even get you UL credits if you score high enough.

[Ideas]

Not in my case. CLEP is free and I'll be in the area. I'm doing it "for fun".

ACTFL is a nice option otherwise!

I think CLEP speakers are kind of fast, but I'll practice.