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CWC CLEP Policy

What is CLEP?

Central Wyoming College acknowledges that our students come to us with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Institutional policy permits students to earn up to 32 credits towards an associate degree or 16 credits towards a certificate by alternative methods. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a series of standardized examinations that allow you to demonstrate knowledge and skills you may have gained through job experience, outside course work, or independent learning. There are 36 subject area tests; CWC will accept 27 of them. Students may earn college credit through these exams by scoring at or above the minimum scores established by CWC and listed in this publication.

How Do I Take the Exams?

Follow these simple steps:

1. Pick up a copy of the "Moving Ahead with CLEP" booklet from the CWC Testing Center or visit the CLEP website at collegeboard.com/clep.
2. Review the descriptions of the examinations to see which you are most interested in and best qualified to take.
3. Study the CWC CLEP policy to see which exams are accepted by the college (or the college you intend to get credit from), the equivalent courses, and the minimum acceptable scores to earn credit.
4. Check with your academic advisor to see if the test you wish to take will apply towards the degree you are seeking.
5. Check out The College Board Guide to the CLEP Examinations for a complete description of each test to familiarize yourself with the test content and format. Sample test questions are also provided. This book is available in the CWC Library or you can purchase it directly from College Board for $25.00. This information is also available on the College Board's website at collegeboard.com/clep under CLEP Publications. Information on individual exams can be downloaded for $10.00 per exam.
6. If you wish to test in Riverton, see Coralina Daly in the CWC Testing Center located in the library or call her at 307-855-2332 to set a testing date and time. If you wish to test in Jackson, contact Laura Craig at the CWC Outreach Center at 307-733-7425.

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When can I take the exam?

All CLEP exams are computerized and must be taken at an authorized CLEP testing center. CLEP exams are administered whenever a student is ready to take the exam. An appointment to test can be made by contacting Coralina Daly in the Riverton CWC Testing Center or Laura Craig in the Jackson Outreach Center.

How long do the exams take?

Each subject examination is 90 minutes long and is composed of multiple choice questions. The timing is built into the software, so it is important for you to keep an eye on the clock. Some subjects require an additional essay exam. If an essay is required, you will be given an additional 90 minutes to complete it. Essays are scored locally by CWC faculty. You must pass the multiple choice portion and the essay portion in order to receive credit for the course.

How much do the CLEP exams cost?

The total cost of each CLEP exam is $85. Seventy dollars of the cost is to be paid directly to the College Board, preferably by credit card (which will be entered directly into the computer when you register for the test). If you do not have a credit card, you may pay by check or money order. Checks should be made out to CLEP and turned in to the test administrator when you arrive to take your test. The additional $15 is collected by CWC for administering the test, and can be paid at the CWC Business Office Cashier's window in the Administration Wing in Riverton. The receipt must be presented to the test administrator at the time of the test. If taking the CLEP exam at the Jackson Outreach Office, please make payment arrangements with the test administrator there.

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How will I get my scores?

Score reports will print immediately upon completion for the exam. Your scores will be sent to one college if you so indicate when you register to take the exam. There is a $20 fee to have a transcript sent to an institution at a later date.

CLEP scores are reported as scale scores not raw scores or percentages. Passing scores vary according to the test taken and the score set by the institution granting the credit. A passing score will typically reflect the performance of students who earn a grade of C in the corresponding college course.

What if I do not do well on the exam?

If you decide that you do not want your score reported, notify the CLEP administrator before leaving the test center, or you can notify CLEP in writing within two days after the test date. If you do not score high enough on the exam to earn the college credit, you must wait 6 months to re-take the exam.

What will appear on my CWC transcript?

Your transcript will report the equivalent CWC course for which you have been given credit, the number of credits earned, the term in which you tested and a satisfactory (S) grade. Credits earned from CLEP exams are not computed in your GPA since no letter grade is given. If you transfer to another school, that school will require you to have an official score report from CLEP sent directly to them from the College Board.

Transer Students: A word of warning

If you are planning to transfer to a four-year institution, be sure to check their CLEP policy to see what exams they accept and what the minimal acceptable scores are. The University of Wyoming will only accept CLEP exams that have been approved by each individual department on campus. Some departments require a student to take departmental challenge exams, rather than a standardized test.

For more information, contact:

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