College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Registration Information
Print a CLEP Registration Form
Test Fees
Test Dates
Other Testing Centers
Military Personnel and DANTES funding
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Earning Credit Through CLEP Tests
Testing for Credit at Other Institutions
List of All Colleges and Universities that Grant CLEP Credit
Baptist School of Nursing Credit
UALR Credit
Test Format & Descriptions
Official Study Aids from the College Board
Scoring
Test Day Information
What to Bring
Parking Information
Acceptable IDs
Acceptable Forms of Payment
Registration Information
Important Steps in Registering and Taking CLEP Tests:
- Decide which CLEP test(s) to take.
- UALR students: Scroll down for a list of CLEP tests approved for credit at UALR.
- Students seeking credit at other institutions: Check with your school for approved tests. UALR administers all CLEP tests, even those tests that are not accepted for credit at UALR.
- Find out additional information about testing for credit at other colleges and universities.
- Print a CLEP Registration Form
- Obtain a CLEP registration form one of the following ways:
- Log on to http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/reg.html scroll down and click on “Step Two: Complete a Registration Form.” Print out the registration form.
- Pick up a registration form at UALR Testing Services.
- Pick up a registration form at another college or university.
- Complete the registration form.
- Enter your preferred testing date in item 12. If you are mailing in your registration form, include a second choice date. We are limited by the number of our computers. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Do you want to take more than one test? You may take up to two 90-minute exams per test date. One registration form per date is necessary.
- Prepare your payment. Visit the acceptable forms of payment section for addtitional details. Military personnel and civilian employees may be eligible to test without paying the test fee. To find out more about military funding please visit the Military Personnel and DANTES Funding section.
- Submit the completed registration form and your $25 test date reservation fee to UALR Testing Services one of the following ways:
- Drop it by the office in Student Services Center room 315.
- Mail it to UALR Testing Services, 2801 South University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204.
- Receive your Admission Ticket.
- If you register in person, your Admission Ticket will be given to you upon receipt of your completed registration form and $25 test date reservation fee. The balance of your exam fee ($80) will be paid the day of the test administration.
- If you register by mail, your Admission Ticket will be mailed to you.
- Read your Admission Ticket. It tells you where, when, what to bring, what not to bring, how to reschedule, and other information. Review the Test Day Information section to learn more.
- Study for your test. Study materials are available in bookstores and on the College Board website. Take the test. Before beginning, spend some time on the tutorial to familiarize yourself with the testing software.
- You will receive your score immediately after testing. Exceptions:
- The “College Composition” test score will be sent to you from CLEP. Check the CLEP Scoring section for more information. (Note: The essay portion of the College Composition test must be typed. All other essays are handwritten.)
- Handwritten essays will be scored in the appropriate academic department. We cannot guarantee a turnaround date for essays that are graded by the departments. It can often take an extended amount of time for such an essay to be graded. Please plan accordingly.
- Take your personal copy of your score report with you. The College Board (the company in New York that coordinates national CLEP testing) will send an official copy to the college or university that you indicated on the computer. Official score reports usually reach the recipients within two weeks of your test date. Please note that UALR does not send scores to other institutions — we download your data electronically to the national CLEP program, which then sends your scores to your institution.
- If you are trying for credit at UALR and you passed your exam, your credit will be processed automatically. Note that you must have a current transcript for credits to be posted. If this is your first semester at UALR, or if you have not enrolled, your credits cannot be processed until you have enrolled and are attending courses at UALR. If you don’t pass your CLEP test but you wish to try again, you must wait SIX MONTHS before retesting in that particular subject.
Test Fees
$25 per test due at registration, check or money order payable to “UALR” or credit card (VISA or MasterCard).
$10 per essay due at registration (payable to “UALR”) for the following essays only:
- American Literature essay
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature essay
- English Literature essay
- Freshman College Composition essay
NOTE: If you are NOT taking the essay portion of one of the four tests listed above, you will NOT be charged the $10 essay fee. There is NOT a $10 essay fee for the UALR history essays or the College Composition exam.
Example: To register for the American Literature exam, you would pay $25 to register if you are taking the multiple choice portion only. If you need to take the essay portion also, you would pay a total of $35 to register. You can make one check payable to “UALR” for $35 in this case.
$80 per test must be paid (payable to “CLEP”) on the test day. Check, money order, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) is acceptable on the test day. (Credit cards from foreign banks are not accepted. Cash is not accepted.)
If you are military personnel please read the Military Personnel and DANTES funding section.
Remember, this charge is per test. If you are registering for two tests, you will pay double the total amount.
CLEP Test Dates
CLEP tests are administered on most Monday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. During busy times, we may also have seats available on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. You may take up to two 90-minute exams in each session. Early registration is recommended, as computer space is limited. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE DURING THE SUMMER, WHICH IS OUR BUSIEST TESTING PERIOD.
Some dates fill in advance. Register early!
Other Testing Centers
There are several other CLEP testing centers in the central Arkansas area. Please use the College Board’s Test Center Search Engine to locate other test centers.
Important Information for Military Personnel
Eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees may test without paying the $80 fee per test to CLEP. CLEP tests for these persons are funded by DANTES.
The $80 per test CLEP fee (and the $10 per essay fee, if applicable) is waived for the following eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees:
- Military personnel (Active Duty and Reserve) - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army and Air National Guard.
- Eligible civilian employees and spouses of participating Reserve Component and Coast Guard personnel.
- Department of Defense Acquisition Personnel (only eligible for the following computer-based exams: Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Marketing).
THE WAIVER APPLIES ONLY TO THE $80 PER TEST CLEP FEE, AND THE $10 PER ESSAY FEE. THE $25 PER TEST FEE FOR UALR WILL STILL BE CHARGED TO YOU AT THE TIME YOU REGISTER TO TEST.
To receive the waiver, one of the following must apply to you:
- You have a military ID indicating that you are currently a member of the ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. (Note: Retired service members are NOT eligible for DANTES-funded CLEP testing at this time.)
- You are a spouse of Coast Guard personnel or participating National Guard or Reserve components. Your ID must indicate UNITED STATES UNIFORMED SERVICES. (Note: Dependents are NOT eligible.)
- You are a government-funded civilian performing military functions on a base. You must present appropriate ID to verify your status.
- On the day of your test, you MUST present the appropriate ID as specified above. You must also have a second ID that includes your SIGNATURE (for example, a driver’s license or passport). PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MILITARY ID ALONE IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
If you report to test without the appropriate ID to verify your military status, you will be charged the standard $80 fee per test and $10 per essay test, if applicable.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Special testing accommodations are provided for students with documented disabilities. Specific arrangements should be made with the Testing Coordinator well in advance of registration for CLEP exams. Please see our Accommodations for Students with Disabilities section for more information.
How Credit is Earned through CLEP Tests
CLEP Credit Comes from Colleges and Universities, Not from CLEP Scores. Sometimes students think that taking a CLEP test means automatic college credit wherever you enroll, or even if you don’t enroll anywhere. This is not the case.
When you take a CLEP test, you must send the score to an approved college or university if you want credit. Even if you earn an outstanding score on a CLEP test, you still have no credit until that score has been sent to and approved by your college or university.
Remember that CLEP policies vary from campus to campus. Don’t take CLEP tests until you are sure where you will attend school and what that school’s policies are.
To earn CLEP credit at UALR, you must have a current transcript, and you must make the required score set by UALR faculty members on tests approved by UALR faculty members.
If you have never attended UALR and don’t plan to attend UALR, please do not send your CLEP scores to UALR. No credits can be awarded unless you are currently enrolled and are attending courses.
CLEP Testing for Credit at Other Institutions
UALR is an open center for any person who wants to take a CLEP test. If you wish to earn credit at some other institution, make sure you find out which CLEP tests are accepted for credit and what the cutoff scores are for your college or university.
You may register for any CLEP test listed on the current registration form, even if you don’t see the test name on the table below. (The table lists only those CLEP tests accepted for credit at UALR.)
Again, be sure to check the cutoff score that is required at your institution. Cutoff scores vary from school to school. If you don’t know the required score for your test, you won’t know if you passed!
Before the test begins, you will tell the computer where to send your official score report. All colleges and universities that are approved to receive CLEP scores will be listed in the computer.
Check the list of Colleges and Universities that grant CLEP credit by using the College Board’s CLEP College database. If you do NOT see your school listed, contact your school NOW and ask how to have your scores sent to them. If they give you a mailing address, bring it with you on the test date. Code numbers are NOT necessary.
Colleges and Universities that Grant CLEP Credit
Search the College Board’s CLEP College database of more than 2,900 accredited colleges and universities that award credit for satisfactory scores on CLEP exams. Nearly half of them also administer the exams at their own CLEP test centers.
Baptist School of Nursing Credit
If you’re interested in earning credit at Baptist School of Nursing, please view their website.
UALR Credit
This list consists only of those CLEP tests that are accepted for credit at UALR. There are other CLEP exams, and students who are attempting to earn credit at an institution, other than UALR, may take any CLEP test that is listed on the current CLEP registration form. Of course, you should make sure that your institution gives credit for the test(s) you take. If you don’t have a registration form, you can get one by going to http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/reg.html.
| TEST TITLE (arranged by department) | PAPER SCOREa | COMPUTER SCOREa | CREDITS AWARDED |
| Biology | |||
| Biology | 50 | 50 | BIOL 1401 Science of Biology |
| Computer Science | |||
| Information Systems and Computer Applications | n/a | 50 | CPSC 1370, Computer Literacy |
| Economics & Finance | |||
| Microeconomics | n/a | 50 | ECON 2322, Principles of Microeconomics |
| Macroeconomics | n/a | 50 | ECON 2323, Principles of Macroeconomics |
| Educational Foundations | |||
| Introduction to Educational Psychology | 47 | 50 | EDFN 3320 Introduction to Educational Psychology |
| English | |||
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 54b | 50b on the multiple choice portion AND passing on the essay portion | ENGL 2337 World Literature |
| Foreign Languages | |||
| French Language | 42 | 54 | FREN 1311,1312,2311. Elementary French I and II, Intermediate French I. |
| “ | 39 | 50c | FREN 1311,1312 Elementary French I and II |
| German Language | 42 | 60d(63 if you tested prior to June 25, 2008) | GERM 1311,1312,2311,2312 Elementary German I and II, Intermediate German I and II |
| “ | 39 | 55d (57 if you tested prior to June 25, 2008) | GERM 1311,1312,2311 Elementary German I and II, Intermediate German I |
| “ | 36 | 50d (The score 50 for six credit hours has not changed) | GERM 1311,1312 Elementary German I and II |
| Spanish Language | 50 | 58e (56 if you tested prior to August 2007; see below) | SPAN 1311,1312,2311. Elementary Spanish I and II, Intermediate Spanish I. |
| “ | 45 | 50 | SPAN 1311,1312 Elementary Spanish I and II |
| History | |||
| History of the United States I | 53f | 54f on the multiple choice portion AND passing on the essay portion | HIST 2311 U.S. History to 1877 |
| History of the United States II | f | fon the multiple choice portion AND passing on the essay portion | HIST 2312 U.S. History Since 1877 |
| Western Civilization I | f | 57f on the multiple choice portion AND passing on the essay portion | HIST 1311 History of Civilization I |
| Western Civilization II | f | 56f on the multiple choice portion AND passing on the essay portion | HIST 1312 History of Civilization II |
| Management | |||
| Principles of Management | 50 | 60 | MGMT 1300 Introduction to Business |
| Marketing | |||
| Principles of Marketing | 48 | 50 | MKTG 3350 Principles of Marketing |
| Introductory Business Law | n/a | 50 | MKTG 2380 Legal Environment of Business |
| Mathematics | |||
| Calculus | 46 | 55 | MATH 1451 Calculus I |
| College Algebra | 50 | 53 | MATH 1302 College Algebra |
| College Mathematics | n/a | 50 | MATH 1315, College Mathematics |
| Precalculus | n/a | 55 | MATH 1302 College Algebra |
| Trigonometry | 54 | 58 | MATH 1303 Trigonometry NOTE: This test is no longer available as of July 1, 2006. A departmental exam in Trigonometry has taken its place. |
| Physics | |||
| Natural Sciences | n/a | 55 | PHYS 1310 Physical Concepts |
| Political Science | |||
| American Government | 55 | 55 | POLS 1310 American National Government |
| Psychology | |||
| Introductory Psychology | 57 | 64 | PSYC 2300 Psychology and the Human Experience |
| Rhetoric and Writing (Composition) | |||
| English Composition (the multiple choice test only) | n/a | 50 | RHET 1311 Composition I |
| Freshman College Composition (UALR does not require the optional essay that CLEP makes for the Freshman College Composition Test) |
n/a | 50 | RHET 1311 Composition I |
| English Composition with Essay (click here for scoring information) | n/a | 50 to 62
63 |
RHET 1311 Composition I
RHET 1311 & 1312 |
| College Composition | n/a | 50 | RHET 1311 & RHET 1312 |
| College Composition Modular | n/a | 50 | RHET 1311 Composition I |
| Sociology | |||
| Introductory Sociology | 60 | 53 | SOCI 2300 Introduction to Sociology |
a Required scores changed in July 2001 as CLEP tests became computer-based. “Paper Score” refers to scores earned on pencil/paper tests during the 2000-2001 testing year. “Computer Score” refers to scores earned on computer-based tests in July 2001 or later. CLEP scores are reported on a scale of 20 to 80. The minimum scores are based on this scale. They are not percentage scores.
b Scores marked with b indicate that you must pass the multiple choice test AND an essay test.
c IMPORTANT NOTE ON FRENCH: April 17, 2008, changes were made in the content of the test, and the required scores were changed. The score you need will depend upon when you tested. You can tell by looking at your score report – if it shows a recommended score of 62 for 12 hours, you tested under the old guidelines (62 for 12 hours and 56 for 9 hours). If your score report shows a recommended score of 59 for 12 hours, you tested under the new guideline (59 for 12 hours and 54 for 9 hours). The score of 50 for 6 credit hours has not changed.
dIMPORTANT NOTE ON GERMAN: June 25, 2008, changes were made in the content of the test, and the required scores were changed. The score you need will depend upon when you tested. You can tell by looking at your score report – if it shows a recommended score of 63 for 12 hours, you tested under the old guidelines (63 for 12 hours and 57 for 9 hours). If your score report shows a recommended score of 60 for 12 hours, you tested under the new guidelines (60 for 12 hours and 55 for 9 hours). The score of 50 for 6 credit hours has
not changed.
e IMPORTANT NOTE ON SPANISH: In August 2007, changes were made in the content of the test, and the required scores were changed. The score you need will depend upon when you tested. You can tell by looking at your score report — if it shows a recommended score of 66 for 12 hours, you tested under the old guidelines (66 for 12 hours and 58 for 9 hours). If your score report shows a recommended score of 63 for 12 hours, you tested under the new guidelines (63 for 12 hours and 56 for 6 hours). The score of 50 for 6 credit hours has not changed.
f IMPORTANT NOTE ON HISTORY: The UALR Department of History requires that all examinees take and pass an ESSAY test in addition to the CLEP multiple choice test. There is no additional fee for the essay test. ON THE TEST DAY: You will take the CLEP multiple choice test first. If you make a passing score according to UALR requirements, you will then take the essay test. Essay questions are written and scored by UALR history faculty. Results will be mailed to the examinee, usually within 2 weeks of the test date.
CLEP Test Formats & Descriptions:
At UALR, an essay is required for each history exam and the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature exam, in addition to the multiple-choice section. These essays are hand-written by the examinee and scored by UALR faculty members.
The multiple-choice CLEP tests are offered on computer. Most tests last about 90 minutes, but the test may be broken into separately timed sections depending upon which test you are taking. The number of questions may vary by test.
The English Composition with Essay test consists of a multiple choice section and an essay section. This is the only CLEP essay that must be typed on the computer. The essay is transmitted electronically to CLEP in New York for scoring.
The CLEP tests in French, German, and Spanish contain listening sections.
Visit the College Board’s website for additional information about the CLEP exams and their descriptions.
Official Study Aids from the College Board
Visit the College Board’s website for study guides and resources to help you get ready for the CLEP exam.
Scoring Information
CLEP scores are reported on a scale of 20 to 80. There is no penalty for guessing. When you take the test on computer, you see your multiple-choice score immediately. (Exception: Scores for the “English Composition with Essay” test will be mailed to you from the College Board.) Instant scoring is available for all tests EXCEPT:
English Composition with Essay (the essay, which is typed by the examinee, is scored by CLEP in New York approximately twice per month; you will NOT receive any score on the test date.)
History essays (required for UALR students only; you will receive the multiple choice score on the test date; if you pass, you will be given a paper-pencil essay test; the essays are graded in the UALR Department of History.)
Other essays (American Literature, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, English Literature, Freshman College Composition), are scored at the college or university where you want credit. Response time will vary. (You will receive the multiple choice score on the test date. If you pass, you will be given a paper-pencil essay test.)
If you have already taken a CLEP test but didn’t have your scores sent to UALR, contact the College Board at 1-800-257-9558 to request that your scores be released to code number 6368.
Test Day Information
- TWO OFFICIAL IDs (one with a photo) with your current and complete legal name are required on the test day. If you are military personnel, you must also provide appropriate military ID in order for DANTES to pay your $80 per test fee.
- Payment for the Test
- Do not bring food, drinks, gum, candy, books, papers, study guides, bookbags, or calculators to the test. If a calculator is permitted for your test, it will be provided on your computer. Other items such as purses and bookbags also are not permitted in the test room. Please don’t bring them with you, or be prepared to store them in a file cabinet in our office.
- Cell phones, pagers, beeping watches, and other electronic devices are NOT permitted in the test room, even if they are turned off. Please do not bring these items with you, or be prepared to store them in a file cabinet in our office. Find out more by reading our Policy on Cell Phones in the Testing Center.
- Please do not bring children with you. They are not permitted in the test room, and Testing Services staff cannot provide child care for you.
Parking Information
There are several lots in which you may park on the UALR campus. On the weekend, most parking lots on campus are open to the public. During the week you may park in the parking deck, metered lots, or at the University Plaza. For more details about parking at UALR, please visit our Parking Information section.
Acceptable IDs
Your primary ID must be a government-issued photo ID with signature, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state-issued ID. Your secondary ID must have a photo or signature, such as a social security card, student ID, credit card, or employee ID. Unacceptable IDs include birth certificates, club membership cards, check cashing cards, and IDs with an incorrect name.
Acceptable Types of Payment
The test fee must be paid on the test day by check or money order payable to CLEP, or by a credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) from an American bank. Cash is not accepted, and credit cards from foreign banks are not accepted.