United States · Exam

How to study for CLEP exams

Work backward from your test date, and study from your exam’s official outline, which shows how much each area counts. To study for CLEP exams that way, put your date in the planner here and it turns the time you have into a day-by-day schedule.

Put in your test date and the planner spreads 22 short lessons over the days you have, across all five CLEP groups: history and social sciences, composition and literature, science and math, business, and world languages. You’ll only sit one exam at a time, so skim the groups you don’t need and give those days to your own exam’s outline. The last two days are for our 20 practice questions and a redo of the ones you missed.

Pick the date of your test and how long you can study each day. You’ll get a plan that takes you right up to the test.

How should you study for a CLEP exam?

  1. Look up the score your college wants for your exam. It may be higher than 50.
  2. Open your exam’s page on College Board’s site and list its areas from biggest to smallest.
  3. Try the free sample questions for that exam to find your gaps.
  4. Fill the gaps, biggest areas first, with a course, a textbook or the free resources College Board lists for your subject.
  5. Finish with timed practice at the real exam’s length.

Study materials for CLEP exams

The free route is College Board’s outline and sample questions plus a Modern States course. The paid official guides and app add more practice questions. Both are compared on the prep page.