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+--- Thread: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? (/Thread-What-is-the-best-first-CLEP-exam-to-take-in-2025-for-someone-new-to-credit-by-exam)
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What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - Arielbr - 09-02-2025
I’m completely new to CLEP and other credit-by-exam programs (DSST, TECEP, etc.), and I’m a bit overwhelmed by the choices. For someone starting from scratch this year, what’s considered the “easiest” or most straightforward CLEP exam to begin with?
Also, is it better to pair Modern States with InstantCert right away, or should I stick to one platform for my very first exam?
RE: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - origamishuttle - 09-07-2025
There are lots of good options. Maybe pick a subject you know well for your first one, or try one of the recommendations. I took College Composition and College Mathematics, both of which I was able to use toward degrees. This is a pretty good intro:
I passed all the Modern States quizzes to get the voucher, and I thought that was enough to pass both CLEPs I took, although the course material seems pretty good, too.
RE: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - bjcheung77 - 09-08-2025
Modern States for the freebie voucher, and if you need the extra help, Instant Cert would be a good addition...
RE: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - aaronramsdale - 09-11-2025
How about starting with Intro Sociology using Modern States only. Once you’ve got that first pass under your belt, you’ll know whether you prefer a flashcard-heavy system like InstantCert as a supplement.
Pips NYT
RE: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - davewill - 09-11-2025
There's no single "easy" exam. An exam will be easy if you have the requisite knowledge. Now, there are some hard ones. I took the Astronomy DSST and despite me really loving Astronomy, I found it took a lot of studying to be ready to take it. I suspect most of the hard science exams will be that way.
RE: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - JayKosmos - 09-22-2025
(09-11-2025, 04:20 AM)aaronramsdale Wrote: How about starting with Intro Sociology using Modern States only. Once you’ve got that first pass under your belt, you’ll know whether you prefer a flashcard-heavy system like InstantCert as a supplement.
Pips NYT
I'm not the OP but I just signed up at Modern States and can only find the "legacy" course for intro to sociology.
I'm hoping to get a voucher for it but I don't know what "legacy" means for that and if they replaced it with a new course I can't find it.
I'm concerned I'll start the legacy course and it will end before I complete it and get the voucher.
RE: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - bjcheung77 - 09-22-2025
I banned OP as they had a spam link, but the post/thread was a very good one for potential students... Anyways, did this course go to the legacy system? Is this the one you're referring to? I haven't signed up, but someone might be able to see if it does the same thing. Only ModernStates can actually help with this. I would contact them... Course Link I was referencing: https://modernstates.org/course/introductory-sociology/
RE: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - jg_nuy - 09-22-2025
(09-22-2025, 07:25 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: I banned OP as they had a spam link, but the post/thread was a very good one for potential students... Anyways, did this course go to the legacy system? Is this the one you're referring to? I haven't signed up, but someone might be able to see if it does the same thing. Only ModernStates can actually help with this. I would contact them... Course Link I was referencing: https://modernstates.org/course/introductory-sociology/
That link is for the legacy course. Here is the link for the 2025 version:
https://learn.modernstates.org/d2l/le/discovery/view/course/6865
You can find it under Enroll > Search > Sociology.
RE: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - JayKosmos - 09-22-2025
(09-22-2025, 07:40 PM)jg_nuy Wrote:(09-22-2025, 07:25 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: I banned OP as they had a spam link, but the post/thread was a very good one for potential students... Anyways, did this course go to the legacy system? Is this the one you're referring to? I haven't signed up, but someone might be able to see if it does the same thing. Only ModernStates can actually help with this. I would contact them... Course Link I was referencing: https://modernstates.org/course/introductory-sociology/
That link is for the legacy course. Here is the link for the 2025 version:
https://learn.modernstates.org/d2l/le/discovery/view/course/6865
You can find it under Enroll > Search > Sociology.
Thanks!
RE: What is the best first CLEP exam to take in 2025 for someone new to credit-by-exam? - SteveFoerster - 09-23-2025
I tuned into this thread because I'm curious which ones are considered low hanging fruit these days. But I remember when it was my time, and Analyzing and Interpreting Literature was worth 6 credits and was basically a glorified literacy test, such that people would suggest newbies take it cold as a confidence booster.