New here with some questions

[Merlin]

so I guess my main question is which is the better approach:

Study 2-3 weeks for a CLEP than take the exam

or

Use Study.com to take a course over 2-3 weeks than take a final?

Not sure which is the easier approach.

Personally, I feel that both options are equally easy. But the real answer is: "It depends on your study style and tolerance for risk."

If you're good at doing your own topical research and translating that into answers for an exam, and/or are good at test taking in general, then CLEP may be the easier option. Assuming you have a nearly testing center, of course. As long as the modern states' vouchers hold out, it should be the cheaper option as well.

However, if you need more help with learning (or refreshing) course material, aren't as good of a test taker, or want to hedge your bets against a poor exam grade, then taking a course at an online provider like Study.com (or Straighterline) may be the easier option.

For the online providers, you only need 70% in the overall course to earn credit. In both the case of Study.com and Straighterline, if you do well on the quizzes (and written assignments/projects for certain courses) then you don't have to worry as much about the final exam score. In fact, there are some courses at Straighterline where the final only represents 20% of the overall score, so you can technically pass the course without even taking the final exam if you do well enough on the open-book quizzes. For courses with a paper or project at Study.com, the final exam represents only 33% of the final score. For Study.com courses without assignments or projects, the final exam represents 67% of the final score. For CLEP the exam represents 100% of the final score.

Hopefully that helps.