Every year, hundreds of thousands of students begin the path to their college degree. They spend the first approximately two years covering certain required, general education classes, before they are even able to move on to the classes that they are interested. Many students report a sense of frustration, as they are spending two years and thousands of dollars to cover classes they aren’t interested. The real kicker is that these classes are in most cases just a repeat of information learned in high school. 

A good solution to these issues is CLEP testing. CLEP exams are standardized subject exams which give students the opportunity to test for credit, rather than being required to sit  in a class on the subject. CLEP tests are not incredibly widely known, but that is changing as time goes on. CLEP exams were first administered in the late 1960’s, and the amount of students and colleges utilizing CLEPs has steadily risen. There have now been millions of CLEP exams taken, saving students billions and billions of dollars, not to mention countless millions of hours saved. 

The biggest reasons that CLEP is a great alternative to regular general education classes are the time savings, money savings, and even just being spared from the drudgery of sitting through a boring class that you already know the information for. Some students use a proactive approach, and take CLEPs early in the degree process, or even while still in high school. Still other students take CLEP exams as a reactive way to squeeze in the credits they need for graduation. No matter how you use CLEPs, they are a great replacement to general education classes, making for a more efficient and more enjoyable college experience.