By Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.
Obtaining credit through exam is a great way to earn college credit quickly, save money and time, and avoid demotivating yourself by being stuck in courses where you’re repeating material you already know.
You may not believe it, but there are people who have earned entire degrees through college credit by exam programs. While getting an entire degree via exam is not very practical for most people, it does give you an idea of the vast array of exams that are available, and the potential.
The cost of credit by exam can vary widely. It can range from $60 from CLEP to significantly more for others, depending on the test and where it is administered.
Be wary of exam preparation courses and services. DSST offers officially endorsed exam preparation courses, which would probably be effective. The prices start at $169 per course. However, it is clear by reading the cautionary notes that there are numerous entities - some legitimate and some not - that claim to be able to prepare you to take an exam. Be careful.
Keep in mind that taking a CLEP test is not something that should be taken lightly, even though it is tempting to go in and wing it, just to see how you’ll do. This is often the case in the military, where it’s not very easy to get the exam preparation materials, and not convenient to lug around a stack of heavy, bulky textbooks. If you really want to pass the test, you will need to study.
But how can one study for a test? There are numerous “study tip” websites and guides. Many are absolutely outstanding, including the one prepared by Thomas Edison: http://www.tesc.edu/students/tecep/prepare.php. I sometimes it’s easiest to boil it down to a simple acronym:
MAP your exam strategy:
Make Mental File Cabinets: As you read, start looking for the key terms and key concepts. These will be the memory triggers as well as organizing principle for your mind. Be sure to think of causal relationships as well and be able to discuss the concepts you are encountering.
Active Reading: As you read, think about how the details relate to the main concepts. Make a list of main concepts and keep them at your side. Jot them down in the textbook, too. Do not let yourself be distracted by inconsequential details or sidebar stories -- remember that they are examples, but are not the actual main issues.
Plan and Practice: Buy appropriate study materials and budget sufficient time to study in a setting that allows good focus and concentration. Plan for the exam by simulating the test environment. Let yourself become anxious and develop strategies for dealing with anxiety as well as time constraints. The more you practice and plan, the more confident you will be.
Here is a preliminary list of exam providers and their offerings:
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
There are a total of 34 exams, primarily in core or general education areas, but with some specialization. CLEP exams are $60. Study guides are $10. CLEP helps students save time and money. There are 2,900 colleges and universities that grant credit for CLEP exams. The CLEP Official Study Guide, 18th Edition is the only study guide that contains sample questions and answers for all 34 exams. It also includes information on earning credit through CLEP and exam-taking tips.
List of CLEP exams:
Each description now includes specific information on knowledge and skills required and study resources.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html
Composition and Literature
American Literature
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
English Composition
English Literature
Freshman College Composition
Humanities
Foreign Languages
French Language (Levels 1 and 2)
German Language (Levels 1 and 2)
Spanish Language (Levels 1 and 2)
History and Social Sciences
American Government
Human Growth and Development
Introduction to Educational Psychology
Introductory Psychology
Introductory Sociology
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Social Sciences and History
U.S. History I: Early Colonizations to 1877
U.S. History II: 1865 to the Present
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present
Science and Mathematics
Biology
Calculus
Chemistry
College Algebra
College Mathematics
Natural Sciences
Precalculus
Business
Financial Accounting (New in 2007)
Introductory Business Law
Information Systems and Computer Applications
Principles of Accounting (No longer available after June 30, 2007. Replaced by Financial Accounting.)
Principles of Management
Principles of Marketing
DSST (formerly DANTES - for military personnel and civilians)
Administered through Thomson Prometric (http://www.getcollegecredit.com/), DSST offers different tests than CLEP. The cost is $70 per test. The cost for a transcript is $20. The official test preparation guide is $19.95. Intensive exam prep courses are available through iStudySmart costing $169 per course, plus the required purchase of the textbook.
Exams
ALL DSST Exam Titles offer 3 Credit Hours.
B = Baccalaureate Program
BU = Baccalaureate Upper Division
MATHEMATICS
Fundamentals of College Algebra; 3B
Principles of Statistics; 3B
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Art of the Western World; 3B
Western Europe since 1945; 3B
An Introduction to the Modern Middle East; 3B
Human/Cultural Geography; 3B
Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union; 3BU
A History of the Vietnam War; 3B
The Civil War and Reconstruction; 3BU
Foundations of Education, 3B
Lifespan Developmental Psychology, 3B
General Anthropology; 3B
Drug and Alcohol Abuse; 3BU
Introduction to Law Enforcement; 3B
Criminal Justice; 3B
Fundamentals of Counseling; 3B
BUSINESS
Principles of Finance; 3BU
Principles of Financial Accounting; 3B
Human Resource Management; 3B
Organizational Behavior; 3B
Principles of Supervision; 3B
Business Law II; 3BU
Introduction to Computing; 3B
Introduction to Business; 3B
Money and Banking; 3BU
Personal Finance; 3B
Management Information Systems; 3BU
Business Mathematics; 3B
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Astronomy; 3B
Here's to Your Health; 3B
Environment and Humanity: The Race to Save the Planet; 3B
Principles of Physical Science I; 3B
Physical Geology; 3B
APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
Technical Writing; 3B
HUMANITIES
Ethics in America; 3B
Introduction to World Religions; 3B
Principles of Public Speaking; 3B
Excelsior Exams
https://www.excelsior.edu/portal/page?_pageid=57,39239&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
40 exams, with free study guides. Prices for the exams vary. Practice exams are $60 for a set of two exams.
Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology Practice Exam
American Dream
Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy And Physiology Practice Exam
Bioethics: Philosophical Issues
College Writing
Cultural Diversity
English Composition
Ethics: Theory & Practice
Ethics: Theory And Practice Practice Exam
Foundations Of Gerontology
Juvenile Delinquency
Life Span Developmental Psychology
Life Span Practice Exam
Microbiology
Microbiology Practice Exam
Pathophysiology
Psychology Of Adulthood & Aging
Religions Of The World
Research Methods In Psychology
Social Psychology
Statistics
World Conflicts Since 1900
World Population
Excelsior Business Exams
Human Resource Management
Labor Relations
Organizational Behavior
Excelsior Education Exams
Literacy Instruction In The Elementary School (6 hours credit)
Excelsior Nursing Exams
Fundamentals Of Nursing
Maternal & Child Nursing (Associate)
Maternity Nursing
Nursing Concepts 1
Nursing Concepts 1 Practice Exam
Nursing Concepts 2
Nursing Concepts 2 Practice Exam
Nursing Concepts 3
Nursing Concepts 3 Practice Exam
Nursing Concepts 4
Nursing Concepts 4 Practice Exam
Nursing Concepts 5
Nursing Concepts 5 Practice Exam
Nursing Concepts 6
Nursing Concepts 6 Practice Exam
Nursing Concepts: Foundations Of Professional Practice
Nursing Concepts: Foundations Of Professional Practice (Practice Exam)
TECEP Exams
Offered by Thomas Edison State College. Students may study by ordering the corresponding textbook, which is
available through the online bookstore. Tests may be repeated only
once. If the student fails an attempt, he or she must wait three
months before taking the test again.
http://www.tesc.edu/catalog/listalltecep.php.
TECEP® Test Fees
In effect August 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007
$75 per credit (enrolled students)
$150 per credit (non-enrolled students)
$20 per test (test rescheduling fee)
English Composition
English Composition I
English Composition II
Humanities
Art History I
Art History II
Public Relations Thought and Practice
Technical Writing
Introduction to the History of Film
Introduction to News Reporting
Shakespeare I
Introduction to the Art of Theater
Social Sciences
Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Advanced Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Introduction to Political Science
Introduction to Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Psychology of Women
Thanatology: An Understanding of Death and Dying
Research in Experimental Psychology
Introduction to Counseling
Behavior Modification Techniques in Counseling
Abnormal Psychology
Psychology of Personality
Organizational Behavior
Industrial Psychology
Introduction to Social Psychology
Marriage and the Family
Social Gerontology
Alcohol Abuse: Fundamental Facts
Substance Abuse: Fundamental Facts
Natural Sciences/Mathematics
The Science of Nutrition
The Science of Nutrition
Anatomy and Physiology
QBASIC
C Programming
BASIC
Operating Systems
Physical Geology
Physics I
Physics II
Principles of Statistics
Business and Management
Federal Income Taxation
Business in Society
Business Policy
Introduction to Computer Information Systems
Database Management
Principles of Finance
Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
Financial Institutions and Markets
International Finance
Business Law
Principles of Management
Organizational Behavior
Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Advanced Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Human Resources Management
Introduction to Marketing
Marketing Communications
Sales Management
Advertising
Marketing Channels
Marketing Research
Marketing Management Strategy
Introduction to Operations Management
Computer Applications
Word Processing Fundamentals
Human Services
Counselor Training: Short-Term Client Systems
Kinesiology
Community Health
Introduction to Human Services
* Can be classified either as social science or business, depending on the student's degree program.
All exams are worth three semester hours of credit except Anatomy & Physiology, which is worth six.
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