College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP ®)
CLEP:
What Every Test Administrator
Needs to Know
About the CLEP Exams
Structure
 33 computer-based exams (not adaptive).
 Mostly multiple-choice, essays, and listening sections for foreign
languages.
 Most are approximately 90 minutes in length; College Composition
exam is 120 minutes
Scoring
 “Rights-only” scoring (no penalty for wrong answers).
 Immediate score reports (except College Composition).
 American Council on Education (ACE)-recommended credit-granting
score for all exams is 50 (equivalent to a “C”); exams are scored on a
scale of 20–80
 6-month retest policy; appeals process available
CLEP Transcripts
• Candidates may select one institution to receive score report
at the time of the test.
• Student selects the state, then the name of college.
• If the college is not listed, student must complete Score
Report Request form before leaving testing room.
• Students must pay $20 to order an additional transcript
(transcripts include all exam scores unless student
suppresses).
• Service members’ scores are automatically sent to all service
branches, DANTES, and CCAF.
• Electronic score reporting is available – SIGN UP!
CLEP Fees
• Exam fee: $77, payable online with a credit card or check
• CLEP exams are free for eligible military service members and
spouses: www.collegeboard.com/clepmilitary.
• Military veterans can seek reimbursement for the exam and fees
from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
www.collegeboard.com/veterans .
• Test center administration fee: Each test center sets its own fee.
• Optional essays: $10 per essay
• Essays are available for English Lit, American Lit, Analyzing &
Interpreting Lit, and College Composition Modular.
• Free for eligible service members and spouses.
Test Center Staff Roles
There are two administration levels:
1. Master Site Administrator (MSA)
• Must be an employee of the college and have a bachelor’s
degree.
• Must review CLEP Security Checklist and enforce all
security requirements.
2. Administrator
• Must not be enrolled in an undergraduate course.
Master Site Administrator (MSA)
Responsibilities and Functions
 Manages the test center.
 Hires and trains staff to administer CLEP exams.
 Sets volume administration goals.
 Ensures that the End of Day procedure is completed after testing and
turns off/on TDMS Server to apply exam updates.
 Stays abreast of all CLEP policies.
 Ensures that current policies are reflected in catalogs, Web site, etc.
 Informs CLEP Services of change in staff, address, phone number, email.
 Knows where the CLEP software is stored.
 Enforces all security requirements; completes security compliance
checklist annually.
 Assigns access to CLEP software for test center personnel
Test Administrator Functions
• Register students up to 30 days ahead – recommend using registration form.
• Check in candidates:
• Collect exam fees from civilians, if paying by check or money order.
• Return checks or money orders for test fees to CLEP, along with
attendance reports, in the envelopes provided.
• Ensure that candidates sign in and sign out of the test center.
• Check two forms of ID before admitting candidates into testing room.
• Inform candidates of prohibited items in the test room.
• Distribute and collect scratch paper from candidates.
• Provide candidates’ score reports before they leave test center.
• Perform “End of Day” procedure upon completion of testing.
• Observe candidates at all times to ensure students are not copying,
recording, or photographing test questions.
Proctoring Requirements
• Provide a clear glass viewing window or wall, video surveillance
and audio monitor, or seating for a test administrator within the
testing room. Whichever surveillance method is used, it must
allow a continuous unobstructed view of each candidate within
the testing room.
• If video and audio monitoring is used, a staff member must
periodically walk through the testing room in at least 10
minute intervals, and must be able to respond to enter the
room within 10 seconds of a problem.
Accommodating Candidates
with Disabilities
• Documentation requirements: (must be no more than 5 years old)
• Individual Education Plan (IEP) on file where enrolled
• Certification from licensed health care professional
• Software accommodations include:
• Extended time – 1.5x or 2x
• ZoomText
• Adjustable screen colors
• Testing breaks - Press CTRL+SHIFT+? keys simultaneously
Training for New Administrators
New administrators should practice using the CLEP software.
• Enter the word Test in the First Name and Last Name fields on
the Administrative Workstation.
• Select Voucher as the payment method and use TS000 as the
voucher number.
• Select the exam “CLEP Demo” from the alphabetical
dropdown menu on the next page.
CLEP Resource Center
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www.collegeboard.com/CLEPResourceCenter
Username: clepadmin2
Password: CLEPmsa22#
Download the latest Administrators’ Handbook and the CLEP
Security Compliance Checklist.
Update your contact information.
Order remittance and postage-paid return envelopes.
Take the CLEP Test Center Administrator Training Course.
Order Volume and Summary Reports.
CLEP Contacts
• CLEP Services (transcripts, retesting, payments)
• Phone
(800) 257-9558 or (609) 771-7865
• Fax
(610) 628-3726
• E-mail
CLEP@info.collegeboard.org
• Technical Support - Call if you have software-related issues during
installation and test administration (8 am – 8 pm EST)
• Phone
(800) 241-5357 or (609) 406-5620
• Fax
(610) 628-3719
• E-mail
CLEPCenter_Establishment@ets.org