Online Degrees and CLEP and DSST Exam Prep Discussion
Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - Printable Version

+- Online Degrees and CLEP and DSST Exam Prep Discussion (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb)
+-- Forum: Main Category (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Forum-Main-Category)
+--- Forum: General Education-Related Discussion (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Forum-General-Education-Related-Discussion)
+--- Thread: Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? (/Thread-Possible-to-combine-CLEP-General-with-similar-CLEP-specific-subject-tests)

Pages: 1 2

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - Liam77 - 08-31-2011

Hi Everyone,

Thanks to Instacert for this very cool forum. I'm a high school senior but thinking of taking a few months off to do CLEP tests using Instacert.

Anyway, my question is... I like the CLEP General Exams, like Natural Science etc., because I think I'd be good at them and they seem widely accepted.

BUT... what do schools do about someone who takes both a general and specific CLEP exam if there seems to be some overlap? I.E.:

Natural Science + CLEP Chemistry and/or Biology
Social Science + CLEP American History and/or Western Civ
Math + CLEP Calculus, etc...

Does anyone have experience doing a general plus a similar specific subject CLEP and getting credit for both? (Outside the "big 3" schools that is.)

I can't find specific policies at the schools I'm interested in where they wouldn't accept both together, I'm just curious how it works.

I'd like to start with the general tests and see where I can go from there.

Thanks so much in advance.

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - bkahuna - 08-31-2011

If the school does take the General Exam (note many DO NOT take these) and they take the specific exam you will get credit for both w/o duplication issues.


However, its best to consult your specific school's credit by exam guide as the definitive source. All of these policies vary slightly, from exactly what exams count for what and how many exam credits they're even willing to accept.

For instance, Excelsior takes every CLEP/DSST/UExcel/ECE exam, no limit on credits. Arizona State will take 60 CLEP credits and does not take the General exams. U of New Mexico takes credits via CLEP and DSST, but only if you have less than 26 hours of completed coursework.

Even within a University system like University of Texas, the policies are different for the Austin campus, Dallas Campus and Arlington Campus.

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - Liam77 - 08-31-2011

Thanks. Sounds like a big mess. I'm curious though, since I thought the General tests were the most commonly taken, I assumed they were also the most commonly accepted. Not true?

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - SandraNC - 08-31-2011

I've found that the general exams are less likely to be accepted than the subject exams at our state schools.

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - cookderosa - 08-31-2011

Liam77 Wrote:Thanks. Sounds like a big mess. I'm curious though, since I thought the General tests were the most commonly taken, I assumed they were also the most commonly accepted. Not true?


First, it's not a big mess.
Second, take everything you can.
Third, there is no guarantee- if your school offers AP tests (same company) you'll encounter the same thing. Many schools accept AP. Many schools accept CLEP. Many schools accept some CLEP/AP. Many schools have their own score cut off. Many schools cap your CLEP/AP credit at x number of credits. So what? Test anyway.

There is NO OVERLAP if you stay within a brand. For instance, if it's CLEP, then any/all of their tests can stand alone. Sometimes the study material overlaps, but not the credit duplication. So, college math is not calculus, etc. When you start mixing brands (CLEP/AP/DSST/etc.) then you can run into overlap. For instance, College Algebra in CLEP is going to overlap (not count) if you also take College Algebra through DSST. AP Calc duplicates CLEP Calc, etc. That said, dozens of us here can help you avoid duplication, so even if you do many tests in many brands, it's not confusing or complected. You'll get sound advice.

I don't know your motive for testing, whether it's to get a head start, to save money, to save time, or just because taking intro courses can be tedious and annoying, or maybe you know someone else who has tested. In any event, I'll go with money as a motive Smile

Here's how you can give yourself a $10,000 CLEP "scholarship" of sorts:

Your state university charges $300 per credit for tuition (figure $100 for the book) So, lets estimate a typical 3 credit course plus the book will cost $1000. If you take the 5 CLEPs you discussed above (all general CLEPS worth 6 credits each) you'll accomplish 30 credits, which is equal to ONE YEAR of college. Those CLEPs cost you $80 each ($400) instead of $10,000

I can't guarantee you that every college you apply to will always accept all of your tests, but I can guarantee you that it's easier to pass 5 CLEPs than get someone to give you a $10,000 scholarship!

So, test. Take as many as you can. Use free library books and online resources. Invest that $80 over and over again. When next year comes, you can analyze and compare colleges (and their CLEP policy) to get you the best deal you can. Use this year, you're ADVANTAGED to find out about this with 1 year yet until graduation, most of us found out about this as an adult. Good luck, and welcome to the board!!

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - burbuja0512 - 08-31-2011

Liam,

What are you thinking about studying in college? The reason I ask is that if you find that you like testing, why not take a little bit more time and do an associates or even a bachelors at one of the Big 3? This may not be the right path for you and will only work for a certain number of majors, but that would save you BIG bucks and you would be able to get more bang for your college buck by spending the big $$ on a graduate degree?

..Again, don't think I'm recommending this idea if you already have something planned. If you don't know what you want to do, or you're thinking of a liberal arts, psych, or biz-type degree, it would be a much cheaper and much quicker option.

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - Liam77 - 08-31-2011

It's all good advice.

I've thought about majors in business, history, psychology, or education.

It's amazing how inconsistent policies are between schools, but I guess they figure the less explicit and more confusing they make it the less likely people will opt out of more expensive general education lecture classes.

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - PonyGirl93 - 08-31-2011

I found that the CLEPs that my CC accepted (almost none) were all specific topic ones. State schools may follow a state-wide standard of which CLEPs to accept. Ohio's all (blindly) follow OSU. Best policy is definitely to look up which they accept. You may have more luck googling "ohio state clep credit," etc. than attempting to navigate the maze of the college websites.

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - OE800_85 - 08-31-2011

i guess my question is...why NOT the big 3?

Possible to combine CLEP General with similar CLEP specific subject tests? - cookderosa - 08-31-2011

Liam77 Wrote:Hi Everyone,

Thanks to Instacert for this very cool forum. I'm a high school senior but thinking of taking a few months off to do CLEP tests using Instacert.

Anyway, my question is... I like the CLEP General Exams, like Natural Science etc., because I think I'd be good at them and they seem widely accepted.

BUT... what do schools do about someone who takes both a general and specific CLEP exam if there seems to be some overlap? I.E.:

Natural Science + CLEP Chemistry and/or Biology
Social Science + CLEP American History and/or Western Civ
Math + CLEP Calculus, etc...

Does anyone have experience doing a general plus a similar specific subject CLEP and getting credit for both? (Outside the "big 3" schools that is.)

I can't find specific policies at the schools I'm interested in where they wouldn't accept both together, I'm just curious how it works.

I'd like to start with the general tests and see where I can go from there.

Thanks so much in advance.


Liam, one other thought. All of the schools do have written CLEP policy, even if you can't find it. You might shoot off a few emails asking for their CLEP policy now. Should take them 2 seconds. You can begin collecting these and add it into the mix of things to consider.