The College-Level Examination Program or CLEP 2026 are tests that are designed to give non-traditional students the chance to show that they have the academic capabilities to be successful in college. It can also help those already in college to be given an opportunity to study certain courses. By having a passing score on the CLEP examination, candidates will earn three or more college credits.
According to Peterson’s Master the CLEP, the exams are beneficial alternatives to earning college credits and bypassing some college classes.
It will allow students or candidates the opportunity to advance to a higher academic level and even earn degrees as early as possible. It is also efficient and less costly.
Facts verified Oct 16, 2026 against College Board. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | Multiple choice; e.g. ~100 questions (American Government), ~60 (College Algebra) | College Board |
| Number of questions (College Composition) | 50 multiple-choice questions + 2 essays | College Board |
| Time limit | About 90–120 minutes, depending on subject | College Board |
| Passing score | 50 on a 20–80 scale (ACE recommendation) | College Board |
| Exam fee | $97 per exam + center/remote admin fee | College Board |
| Exam fee (Remote proctoring fee) | $30 remote proctoring fee | College Board |
| Retake policy | Wait 3 months before retaking the same title | College Board |
| Validity | Scores available 10 years (exams from July 1, 2022 on) | College Board |
| Delivery | Test center or at home with remote proctoring | College Board |
| Eligibility | Anyone at a test center; remote: age 13+ (18+ in Illinois), in the U.S. or DANTES-funded | College Board |
| Score release | Immediately on screen; portal within 24 hours | College Board |
| Score release (College Composition / Spanish with Writing) | 2–3 weeks after exam day | College Board |
| Registration opens | Open year-round via My CLEP portal | College Board |
| Testing window | Year-round, scheduled with the test center | College Board |
Facts verified Oct 16, 2026 against College Board. Dates that have passed are removed automatically. Practice with the free CLEP practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (25 questions with answer explanations).
Prepare for the CLEP - College Level Examination Program exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
The College Board sponsors CLEP. There are 34 exams which mostly contain multiple-choice type questions. College faculties across the nation develop these tests. Most universities also make use of this credit-by-exam program for years.
Furthermore, CLEP tests are divided into 5 categories: Composition and Literature, World Languages, History and Social Sciences, Science and Math, and Business.
| CLEP Exams | Section Topics | Number of Questions | Time Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition and Literature | American Literature | 100 questions 2 Optional Essays |
90 minutes |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 80 questions 2 Optional Essays |
98 minutes 90 minutes |
|
| College Composition | 50 questions 2 Mandatory Essays |
50 minutes 70 minutes |
|
| College Composition Modular | 90 questions 2 Optional Essays |
90 minutes 70 minutes |
|
| English Literature | 95 questions 2 Optional Essays |
90 minutes 95 minutes |
|
| Humanities | 140 questions | 90 minutes | |
| World Languages | French Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 121 questions | 90 minutes |
| German Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 121 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Spanish with Writing: Levels 1 and 2 | 100 questions 2 Writing Tasks |
80 minutes 30 minutes |
|
| History and Social Sciences | American Government | 100 questions | 90 minutes |
| History of the United States I | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| History of the United States II | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Human Growth and Development | 90 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Introductory Psychology | 95 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Introductory Sociology | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 80 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 80 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Social Sciences and History | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Science and Mathematics | Biology | 115 questions | 90 minutes |
| Calculus | 44 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Chemistry | 75 questions | 90 minutes | |
| College Algebra | 60 questions | 90 minutes | |
| College Mathematics | 60 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Natural Sciences | 120 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Precalculus | 48 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Business | Financial Accounting | 75 questions | 90 minutes |
| Information Systems | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Introductory Business Law | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Principles of Management | 100 questions | 90 minutes | |
| Principles of Marketing | 100 questions | 90 minutes |
Interactive CLEP resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Composition and Literature are tests about American and British Literature. It also covers some composition and is divided into 5 topics.
If you are studying for a life sciences credit, our CLEP practice test for biology covers cell structure, genetics, ecology, and molecular biology topics that mirror the actual exam format.
Business majors looking to earn marketing credits should try our CLEP practice test covering pricing strategies, consumer behavior, market segmentation, and the four Ps of the marketing mix.
World languages are tests about three languages: French, German and Spanish. Each of them also has two levels, depending on the comprehension level of the candidates. The French language test determines whether the examinee completed two or three semesters of college French language study. The German language is the same as that of the French test. The CLEP Spanish Language test, on the other hand, assesses whether the candidates have completed one or two years of Spanish language study. The Spanish with Writing test also determines whether they have the necessary reading, writing, and listening skills.
History and Social Sciences are tests about Economics, History, and Psychology. It is also divided into 12 section topics.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| CLEP American Government | This topic covers material about the civil and political processes and the American government. |
| History of the United States I | This topic covers material about the United States history during the early colonization to the end of Reconstruction. |
| History of the United States II | This topic covers material about the United States history during the end of the Civil War and up to the present. |
| CLEP Human Growth and Development | This topic covers material about subjects concerning human development. It must be related to physical, social and cognitive development. |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology CLEP | This topic covers material about child growth and development, teaching methods, learning, and cognition, among others. |
| Introductory Psychology CLEP | This topic covers material regarding the various principles of CLEP psychology. |
| Introductory Sociology CLEP | This topic covers material such as social stratification, patterns, and processes. It also tests the candidates about their knowledge of theoretical approaches that are utilized by sociologists. |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | This topic covers material about aggregate supply and demand. It also determines the knowledge of fiscal policy tools. |
| Principles of Microeconomics | This topic covers material about principles of economics regarding consumers and businesses. |
| CLEP Social Sciences and History | This topic covers a lot of things, from geography, economics to history, it requires candidates to have sufficient general education in many areas. |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 | This topic covers material about Ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East, the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation. |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present | This topic covers material about the history of Europe from the mid-seventeenth century through the period of the post-Second World War. |
The Science and Mathematics category is a series of tests about math and the different science subjects at the college level. They usually require the candidates to have completed at least one semester or one year of CLEP study for the following courses: CLEP College Algebra, Biology, Calculus, and Chemistry. For College Mathematics, it covers material that is usually taught in college courses for non-mathematics majors. This is the same also for the Natural Sciences because it covers topics for non-science majors. Lastly, for Precalculus, the candidates must have knowledge of functions and their properties.
The Business category is a series of tests that cover different disciplines in the business. There are 5 section topics:
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Financial Accounting | This topic covers material that was taught in a course about introduction to CLEP financial accounting. |
| CLEP Information Systems | This topic covers material that was taught in a course about intro-level business. |
| CLEP Introductory Business Law | This topic covers material about the functions of contracts in American business law. It assesses the candidates' knowledge of the legal system and the history and sources of American law, among others. |
| Principles of Management CLEP | This topic covers material that was taught in management courses. It determines the capability of the candidates when it comes to knowing human resources and other aspects of management. |
| Principles of Marketing CLEP | This topic covers material about the importance of CLEP marketing in society and knowledge of consumer and organizational markets. |
Based on Peterson’s Master the CLEP, there are a number of ways in which you can prepare for the CLEP tests. Here’s CLEP preparation:
Time is very valuable when it comes to taking these kinds of exams. It requires your ultimate focus because, without it, you’ll get stuck trying to cram everything in just a few days. You need to estimate how much work you should focus on certain topics. You should study wisely and not just study half-heartedly.
This might seem inconsequential to you, but being in a good environment will do wonders for your mind. You’ll feel at ease and you won’t feel stressed out. You will also find it easier to absorb a lot of information since you’ll be able to maintain your focus.
Don’t just face it head-on blindly. It would be advantageous for you if you took the time to research the kind of CLEP test you are taking. There are at least 34 exams, so it might be better to know first hand what you are challenging.
There are a lot of subjects to cover, so retaining everything you studied might be difficult. That is why you have to review it. There would be no point in studying all of those lessons when you can’t even remember. You should make use of notes so you can easily review them. You can also take CLEP practice exams such as CLEP Spanish practice tests, Biology CLEP practice tests, Social Sciences, English CLEP test and History practice tests, etc. There are also 2026 CLEP official study guides (like CLEP Biology study guide), CLEP exam study guide, other CLEP study guides and free CLEP prep or free CLEP test preparation that you can use. All of these are efficient ways to prepare for the test.
Try these questions from our free CLEP practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
Choose the appropriate error. No sentence contains more than one error. If No Error exists, then select the no error We (1) were not allowed (2) to skate on the pond until it (3) had froze to a depth of 10 in. and the red signal (4) had been hoisted.
Answer: C. had froze
The verb 'freeze' is an irregular verb. Its past participle form is 'frozen,' not 'froze.' The sentence requires the past perfect tense ('had' + past participle), so it should be 'had frozen.' 'Froze' is the simple past tense.
Which sentence avoids wordiness best?
Answer: A. We must decide now.
The most concise version conveys the meaning with fewest words.
Dogs, bats, whales, and humans all have a long bone in their front limbs that is attached to two parallel bones at a joint. Anatomical structures such as these are referred to as
Answer: A. Homologous
Homologous structures are anatomical similarities between different species that indicate a shared ancestry, even if the structures now serve different functions. The forelimbs of dogs, bats, whales, and humans, despite their varied uses (walking, flying, swimming, grasping), share a fundamental underlying bone structure (humerus, radius, ulna), which is a classic example of homology and evidence for common descent.
Which of the following molecules is thought to have treated as the first enzyme in the evolution of life on Earth?
Answer: C. RNA
The 'RNA world' hypothesis suggests that RNA molecules, rather than proteins, were the primary catalysts and genetic material in early life forms. RNA molecules can exhibit catalytic activity, known as ribozymes, which supports the idea that RNA could have functioned as the first enzyme, performing essential biochemical reactions before the evolution of proteins.