Study Tips from Students
Test-Takers Share Their Experiences
We asked successful CLEP test takers how they studied for their exams. Here is a sampling of their responses:
"I reviewed the information about CLEP on the CLEP website. I took CLEP sample questions from the individual subject guides to determine which subjects I was most knowledgeable in, and then studied on my own using college textbooks. I also purchased test preparation materials by College Board and other publishers to prepare. I did find the questions on the exams to be more difficult than the questions in the study guides."
- Jane H. Pieratti
Tests taken: Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, English Composition without Essay, Information Systems and Computer Applications, Introductory Psychology, Introduction to Educational Psychology, Introductory Sociology
"I prepared for my exams using the textbooks that St. John's uses for the equivalent class. I've also found the Internet to be a great resource on most subjects. I studied for two to three months before taking my exam."
- Silvia Delca
Tests taken: Introduction to Sociology, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Marketing, Principles of Management, College Algebra, French Language, History of the United States
"I ordered one or more of the recommended textbooks for study. I read through the textbooks in their entirety, highlighting what I thought was the most pertinent information, definitions, and paragraphs. One week prior to the test, I reviewed those highlights thoroughly. On exam day, I was confident and well-versed in the subject matter. Using this method, I passed all eight tests."
- Tim Kulig
Tests taken: Information Systems and Computer Applications, Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, Introduction to Business Law, Human Growth and Development, Natural Sciences
"For most of the exams, I used College Board practice questions and other commercial aids designed for CLEP. For Principles of Accounting and Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, I used college textbooks and some non-CLEP study aids, mostly Barron's. I studied two to three hours each day for two weeks."
- Julie Mickiewicz
Tests taken: Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, Information Systems and Computer Applications, Principles of Accounting, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, Principles of Macroeconomics
"I started studying a month before each exam, looking at study guides and reading up on the subject matter. I set up a study calendar for myself, taking one or two practice exams. I also asked librarians for help."
- Adam Gutcheon
Tests taken: English Composition with Essay, English Literature, Social Sciences and History, Humanities, American Literature, Natural Sciences, Principles of Accounting, American Government, History of the United States I & II, Western Civilization I & II, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, Introductory Business Law, Introduction to Educational Psychology
"I took four years of Spanish in high school. I also speak Spanish at home."
- Diana Solano
Test taken: Spanish Language
"I studied my notes from previous math courses."
- Shannon Kranz
Test taken: College Mathematics
"I studied the CLEP Official Study Guide, additional CLEP study guides, and the Teaching Company DVDs. I also did online research."
- Anthony Puckett
Tests taken: American Government, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, History of the United States I & II, Western Civilization I & II, Introductory Sociology, Natural Sciences, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
"For English Comp and Algebra I, I did nothing and it showed. I failed them. For Spanish, I bought an REA CLEP Guide and watched Spanish TV. For Micro and Macro, I used a college economics book."
- Steven A. Brown
Tests taken: English Composition, College Algebra, Spanish Language, Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics
"I took a one-credit course in conversational German to brush up on the four decades of neglect before the German exam. For the history exams I borrowed a book from the University of Alaska - Anchorage History Department."
- Stewart Mee
Tests taken: German Language, English Composition, History of the United States I & II
"I went over my old Algebra notes and looked online for information on the test."
- Corina Tapia
Test taken: College Mathematics
