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CLEP and PLA Using Credit by Exam to Demonstrate Learning
College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP ®)
Why Do We Want or Need Adult Learners?
• Only 39% of the U.S. adult population hold a two- or 4-year degree (SOURCE: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2007)
• There are 6.8 million adult learners or 70% of the enrollment involved in some form of post-secondary education (SOURCE: National Center for Education Statistics)
• Our national and states’ economic recovery depends on a highly skilled and educated labor force.
CLEP AND PLAEfficiency and Effectiveness
Early research indicates assessing prior college-level learning experiences increase effectiveness and efficiencies for the college student.
A greater emphasis on seamless articulation across higher education systems and institutions increases.
Ways to standardize the assessment of prior learning:
PLA recognition for “course-match” models.Nationally recognized, standardized credit by exam
increases credit portability (See-ACE, CLEP, CAEL)• CLEP is the most widely used, college-based credit-by-examination
system in the United States and is also used by international students. By succeeding on a CLEP exam, individuals may earn between three and 12 college credits at 2,900 institutions.
CLEP Overview
• Credit-by-examination program serving a diverse group of students, including adults, non-traditional learners, and military service members
• More than seven million exams taken since 1967
• 1,700+ colleges administer CLEP
• 211,000 exams administered in 2009–10, including 76,500 administered to military service members
• Exam fee = $77.00
• New website- http://clep.collegeboard.org
CLEP Core Purposes
CLEP allows students to demonstrate acquired mastery of college-level course content.
CLEP allows students to translate knowledge into college credit, commonly recognized by qualifying scores in the program’s 33 exams.
CLEP allows diverse groups, including adult students, non-traditional learners, and military service members to save time and money as they pursue a college degree.
Where can I find more information about the College Level Examination Program?
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html
Save Time. Save Money. Take CLEP.
The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) provides the opportunity to receive college credit for prior learning by earning qualifying scores on any of 33 examinations. Earn credit for knowledge you've acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships.
Check out the College Board CLEP website to find out-• How to prepare?• What do the exams cover?• Where to test? • How to order a transcript for scores?• Which colleges accept CLEP for credit?
About the CLEP ExamsStructure 33 computer-based exams. Mostly multiple-choice, essays, and listening sections for foreign languages Most are approximately 90 minutes in length.Scoring “Rights-only” scoring (no penalty for wrong answers). Immediate score reports (except exams with essays). Scores based on American Council of Education (ACE) recommendations for credit-granting.Development More than 600 faculty contribute to the development of and standard-setting for CLEP
examinations. Standing faculty committees oversee ongoing test development, shape content, review data,
set exam policies. Opportunities to participate in College Board ACES Placement Validity studies.
33 CLEP ExaminationsComposition and Literature American Literature Analyzing and Interpreting Literature College Composition College Composition Modular English Literature Humanities
History and Social Sciences American Government History of the United States I History of the United States II Human Growth and Development Introduction to Educational Psychology Principles of Macroeconomics Principles of Microeconomics Introductory Psychology Introductory Sociology Social Sciences and History Western Civilization I Western Civilization II
Business Information Systems and Computer
Applications Principles of Management Financial Accounting Introductory Business Law Principles of Marketing
Science and Mathematics Calculus College Algebra Precalculus College Mathematics Biology Chemistry Natural Sciences
Foreign Languages French Language German Language Spanish Language
New CLEP Composition Exams
College CompositionCollege Composition Modular
Effective July 1, 2010Has your institution set credit policy for the new exams?
www.collegeboard.com/clepcomposition
CLEP Scoring and Standard Setting
What does the recommended credit-granting score of 50 represent?• A scaled score of 50 is used as the passing score—equivalent to a C in the
comparable course—for all CLEP exams. • Each exam undergoes a standard-setting study by a panel of college faculty
who teach the equivalent course.• The panel determines the skills and knowledge that a typical C student can
demonstrate upon completing the comparable course. Then each exam question is evaluated for difficulty and relevance in light of that typical student’s abilities.
• CLEP scaled score range is 20-80. The final credit-granting score recommended by the panel is converted to a scaled score of 50.
Who Takes CLEP? Adults returning to college Military service members and
veterans Students who are fluent in
Spanish, French, or German Students at risk for stopping out
or struggling with finances Students with high SAT or ACT
scores and homeschooled Juniors or seniors who have not
met lower-division requirements
Transfer students International students needing
to translate their overseas credit
CLEP Makes a Difference to Students
91% said CLEP made adifference in their ability tocomplete their degrees
70% said CLEP made adifference in their ability tofinance their degrees
2004 Survey of Students
2008 Survey of National Test Takers
70% are working full- or part-time
45% are first-generation college students
45% have taken an online course
Age GroupExams Administered to National Candidates, 2009-10
Under 18; 8%
18-22; 38%
23-29; 22%
30-35; 11%
36 and older; 21%
Education Level Exams Administered to National Candidates, 2009-10
High school student; 11%
High school grad; 9%
College freshman;
14%
College sophomore;
16%College junior; 11%
College senior;
27%
College grad; 12%
Advising Students about CLEP
Connect your students to CLEP!Easy to follow steps:1. Review Campus credit-by-exam policy.2. Talk to your advisor. Determine how CLEP will fit with your
academic plan and degree program.3. Identify which exam(s) to take.4. Locate a CLEP test center by visiting:
www.collegeboard.com/cleptestcenters5. Schedule an appointment with the test center.6. Prepare/review for the exam.7. Take the exam.
8. Count the money you saved on tuition and textbook costs!
Strategies to Connect Adult Learners with CLEP
Partnerships with local, regional, and state agencies.State and system policies (Adult Learning
Consortiums) support consistent credit policies for CLEP to minimize course duplication and accumulation of excess credits.
Partnerships with military and reserve units.CLEP exams are fully funded for active military
and costs can be reimbursed for veterans.
Highest Volume CLEP ExamsNational CBT, 2009-10
Span
ish
Analyzin
g & In
terpreting L
it
English
Comp w/ E
ssay
College
Algebra
Introducto
ry So
ciology
05,000
10,00015,00020,00025,00030,000 26,500
9,3007,600 7,700 6,600
Highest Volume CLEP Exams Exams Administered to National and Military Candidates, 2008-09
Composi-tion Exams*
Spanish Analyzing & Interpreting Literature
College Math
College Algebra
Sociology0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,00034,000
27,000
14,000 14,000 13,0009,000
*Freshman College Composition, English Composition with and without Essay
CLEP Test Prep for Students
• CLEP prep center provides links to free online resources and textbook suggestions
• CLEP Official Study Guide, covering all 33 exams
• Downloadable study guides for each exam
www.collegeboard.com/clepprep
CLEP Services for Students and Colleges
• CLEP website for professionals: professionals.collegeboard.com/clep– Information on test development, administering CLEP exams, advising students,
self-paced CLEP 101 tutorials
• CLEP website for students: www.collegeboard.com/clep– Exam descriptions, test prep information, test center search, transcript request
forms
• Order form for free publications for students: www.collegeboard.com/clepresources
Students
Registrar’s Office
Test CenterFaculty & AdvisersAdmissions
OfficeAdult &/or
Veterans Office
Connecting Students to CLEPon Your Campus
The College Board College Completion Agenda
• In a knowledge-based economy, critical-thinking and research-oriented skills are necessary to be successful productive employees.
• The % of American adults with postsecondary credentials is not keeping pace with other industrialized nations.
• To help policymakers and educators achieve the goal of 55% by
2025, The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center has developed the College Completion Agenda-
• Two new resources for policymakers and educators, The College Completion Agenda 2010 Progress Report and The College Completion Agenda State Policy Guide provide:– groundbreaking reports to provide the best state by state data and information
to inform and shape education policy and improve college success. ( Chapter 10-Adult Education)
– a new dynamic, interactive website combines data with policy strategies, allowing information to be easily accessed and customized by each state. http://completionagenda.collegeboard.org
