Press Releases
Last Chance for Minnesota Students to Take Advantage of CLEP to Earn College Credit as Part of “Get Ready, Get Credit”
High school students can test through June 30, 2007
01/24/07
Minnesota high school students still have six months left to earn college credits by taking College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams before the “Get Ready, Get Credit” initiative ends in June. This program allows students to earn college credit while still in high school by earning qualifying scores on exams, saving families significant money on college tuition. The State of Minnesota will pay the $60 examination fee; students are responsible for paying the college test center administration fee (usually $15–25). To take advantage of this initiative, students must obtain a CLEP Authorization Form from their school counselor. The form serves as a voucher for payment at the test center on exam day.
Nearly 3,000 colleges and universities grant credit or advanced standing based on CLEP exam performance. All Minnesota state colleges and universities grant credit for a CLEP score of 50 or higher. CLEP exams are offered in 34 subjects ranging from English Composition to U.S. History, Spanish, and Precalculus. Earning credit by exam saves students a significant amount of time by allowing them to avoid taking college courses in the subject areas they have already mastered. The 90-minute, computer-administered CLEP exams are available at 19 college test centers throughout Minnesota. Students will receive their scores immediately upon completion of the exam (except for English Composition with Essay).
“Thanks to CLEP exams, I will be able to add a minor to my college curriculum,” said Angela Isker, a 2006 graduate of Waseca High School who took the Principles of Management exam while still enrolled in high school, and took two additional exams when she enrolled in college. “Without the (CLEP) credits that I earned through CLEP I would not have had room in my schedule for the courses I will need for a minor.”
Complete information about the Get Ready, Get Credit program and the required forms can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education Web site at: http://education.state.mn.us/mde/
Academic_Excellence/Postsecondary_College_Prep/CLEP/index.html. For more information about CLEP and to locate the nearest test center, visit www.collegeboard.com/clepMN.