In general, if a school offers CLEP courses but does not offer CLEP exams in your major, or if the exams are given to only some students, consider switching to another school. If your school does not offer CLEP exams for coursework in your major, you may want to try an alternative approach. You should be able to score very well on the College Algebra examination, and if you can pass it, you could transmute your already-good Algebra knowledge from college credit to college credit that would count towards degree requirements!
The best way to improve your chances of passing the College Algebra examination is to choose the right test. Most colleges offer the same exam, and you should make sure it is appropriate for your college major. If you have taken an advanced course in your College Algebra course, and you plan to take the exam for that course, make sure that it is one that was designed with CLEP testing in mind. It would be difficult for your college to consider the exam for an advanced course to be part of the college curriculum, if it is designed for the general population.
It would also be important to determine how many CLEP units you plan to take to meet your major. Your college may require you to pass an exam to continue in your major, but it may also require that you complete an extra CLEP units to meet the minimum CLEP requirement for your major. You should review CLEP policies regarding specific CLEP requirements to determine how many CLEP units will be necessary to fulfill your college’s requirements.
Before you start the CLEP process, check to see if there are any additional steps you must take to prepare. Some CLEP exams are designed so that you must complete all of the network on the examination and submit it electronically, but there may be additional steps you must take to prepare for the CLEP tests, such as practicing answering short and long-answer questions on the exam or taking practice exams that simulate a real exam.
Once you have decided which exams you will take, review the exam material to ensure that the questions are not too difficult to answer. answer and that they do not give you a false sense of confidence that you know more than you actually do.
In general, it is best to take the test in a quiet room where there are no distractions, so that you do not have to stop and reread the questions over again. Some tests require that you review and practice the test in advance, but many students find it easier to complete their exams in the quiet of a classroom, especially when the test is not a timed test.
If you cannot complete the exam in a quiet room because of distractions, consider taking a CLEP practice test, or a real exam with a pro. By taking the test in a private setting, it is harder for the exam to be a surprise, and you are less likely to forget answers to the questions. Another option is to take the CLEP practice test online, and then practice the test online after the actual test is complete. This is a convenient way to learn the answers to the test and it allows you to learn the exam without having to take the exam.
