What are the best CLEP exams to take for easy general education credits?

A 90-minute multiple-choice test, a simple passing score, and you walk away with three to six college credits for $95. That’s the CLEP exam in a nutshell.

Here’s why people bother—over 2,900 US colleges and universities hand out credit for CLEP. If you’re smart about which exams you take, you can use them to wipe out a whole semester of general education classes, all for a few hundred bucks. Students who play their cards right save anywhere from $3,000 up to $15,000 (sometimes even more) on tuition, depending on where they’re enrolled.

The catch? You need to pick the right exams. There’s no “one size fits all” here. The easiest test for you is always going to be the one where you already know most of the material. A lot of folks waste money by picking exams that sound doable, not ones that actually fit their strengths. So, the smart approach is to look at two things: which CLEP exams are statistically the most doable, and which of those line up with what you already know.

How CLEP Exams Work

CLEP stands for College-Level Examination Program, run by the same folks who do the SAT and AP tests (the College Board). There are 34 different CLEP exams—spanning composition and literature, history and social sciences, science and math, business, and foreign languages.

Each one covers the material you’d find in the first semester of a college class. You take the test at a Prometric center. Most exams take 90 minutes (language exams can run longer), and you get your score right away. Most schools set the passing score at 50 out of 80, but some want a little more, and a few take less. Always check your school’s CLEP policy before you spend any money.

CLEP is all about what you know—not how long you’ve sat in a classroom. If you picked this stuff up in high school, on the job, throughout life, or by self-study, you can walk off with college credits in an afternoon.

One warning—schools differ on how they accept CLEP. Some turn a passing score into required course credit, others stick you with electives that don’t count toward your major, and some (especially private schools) don’t accept it at all. Double-check your school’s rules.

Eligibility and Requirements

Anyone can take a CLEP exam. Doesn’t matter your age, whether you’re currently in college, or how long it’s been since you took a class. Register with a College Board account, show a government-issued photo ID at the test center, and pay the fee. If you don’t pass, wait three months and try again—there’s no limit, though you pay each time.

Military personnel and dependents get their first exam attempt free through the DANTES program. There’s also the Modern States Education Alliance, which’ll get you a free exam voucher if you complete their online prep course.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Check your school’s CLEP policy first. Make sure your college takes CLEP, find out what score you need, how many CLEP credits they’ll accept, and whether a specific exam counts toward your degree or just as an elective. Use Modern States’ CLEP Acceptance Tool for a first look, but confirm details with your registrar or transfer credit office.
2. Pick exams that line up with what you know. Don’t just reach for whatever exam supposedly has the highest pass rate—choose ones where you already know about 60-70% of the content. Did you take two years of high school Spanish? Spanish CLEP could be easy. Hate foreign languages? You’ll struggle even if the stats say it’s “easier.” Know your strengths.
3. Prep with free or cheap resources. The College Board’s site has a free practice test for each exam. Modern States offers free prep courses, and for math/science, Khan Academy’s videos hit most of the right topics. Want more structure? The REA CLEP guides ($15–$30 on Amazon) are popular and include practice tests. Plan on 20–40 hours of focused study for most general ed exams.
4. Register and schedule. Create your College Board account, buy your exam, and use the Prometric locator to find a test center near you. Community colleges sometimes have cheaper center fees. If you’ve got a Modern States voucher, enter the code—they’ll cover your fee.
5. Test day and sending your score. You’ll see your score on the screen right after the test (except for College Composition with Essay; that takes a few weeks). You can send your score to one school free during registration, and extras cost $20 each. Passed? Have the official score sent to your registrar. Didn’t pass? Wait three months and try again.

Costs

• Exam fee: $95 per attempt. Includes sending your score to one school.
• Test center fee: $10–$35, paid to the testing center.
• Prep materials: $0 if you stick to Modern States and College Board, up to $30 if you grab an REA guide.

So in total, each CLEP costs between about $105 and $130—a bargain when you compare it to a 3-credit class at most universities, which runs $1,095 or more. Every CLEP exam you pass saves you close to $1,000. Take ten, you’re saving around $10,000.

Military and veterans often pay nothing for CLEP exams—DANTES covers everything on the first attempt. Ask your education services officer for details.

Best CLEP Exams to Take (Ranked by Accessibility)

Rankings below are based on pass rates, required study time, and how familiar students generally are with the material. Your own background is always most important.

Tier 1 — Easiest Path (High pass rates, familiar material, 20–35 study hours)

• Analyzing & Interpreting Literature (~75% pass, 6 credits, 90 min)
  If you’re comfortable reading and analyzing passages, this might be the single best deal. No need to have read specific books. It tests your ability to understand tone, theme, figurative language. Read for fun? You’ll be fine. Expect 20–25 hours of prep for a whopping 6 credits.
  Best for: People who read regularly and know basic literary terms. Not for you if you hate picking apart poetry or essays.
• Introductory Sociology (~80% pass, 3 credits, 90 min)
  Social institutions, culture, groups, and stratification—it’s all fairly intuitive. If you passed high school social studies, a review and quick refresher is often enough. About 20–30 hours of study does it for most.
  Best for: Pretty much anyone.
• Introductory Psychology (~70% pass, 3 credits, 90 min)
  Covers foundational theories—think behaviorism, development, abnormal psych, research methods. Most students pick up enough in high school or by osmosis (pop science, reading, TV) to pass with a good practice guide and a couple of practice tests. Figure 25–35 hours of study.
  Best for: Anyone familiar with basic psychology.
• American Government (~65% pass, 3 credits, 90 min)
  Constitution, three branches, federalism, electoral process. Most of us saw at least half of this in high school, especially US-born students. You’ll need to remember a few landmark Supreme Court cases and some nitty gritty about Congress. Set aside 25–35 hours to prep.
  Best for: US students who took civics or government in high school.
• College Composition Modular (~82% pass, 3 credits, 90 min)
  Tests grammar and writing—but with all multiple choice, no essays. If your school accepts the Modular version, it’s likely the easiest English comp credit. Make sure your writing basics and grammar are solid.
  Best for: Strong writers, especially native English speakers. Double-check that the Modular version is accepted.

Tier 2 — Accessible with Focused Study (Good pass rates, 30–50 study hours)

• Human Growth and Development (~65% pass, 3 credits, 90 min)
  If you’re an education or healthcare major, this lines up closely with your required courses—lifespan development from birth to old age. More memorization, but the facts are straightforward and covered in study guides.
  Best for: Education and healthcare students, or anyone who took a development class.
• Principles of Marketing (~60% pass, 3 credits, 90 min)
  Marketing concepts (segmentation, the four Ps, consumer behavior) are pretty logical. Some familiarity helps, but it’s not a huge leap for business students or anyone who reads about marketing.
  Best for: Business majors, entrepreneurs, or salespeople.
• US History I & II (~55–60% pass, 3 credits each, 90 min each)
  Pre- and post-Civil War (two separate exams). If you’ve taken AP or honors US history, you’ve got a big head start. You’ll need to memorize specific facts and connect them to broader themes. Count on 35–50 hours of prep.
  Best for: History fans or those who took advanced courses.
• Spanish Language (~91% pass, 6–12 credits, 120–150 min)
  If you’re fluent or a heritage speaker, this is basically a freebie—up to 12 credits, highest pass rate of any CLEP. Covers listening, reading, grammar. If you just took a couple years in high school, it’s much tougher.
  Best for: Fluent or heritage Spanish speakers, or folks with serious high school Spanish under their belts.

Tier 3 — More Work, More Reward (Only if you have a strong background)

• College Algebra (~50% pass, 3 credits, 90 min)
  Great for those who finished precalculus or algebra II recently and did well. Forty hours of prep (Khan Academy is gold here) and you’ll be ready—but if you avoid math, stick to a social science exam for the same credit with less pain.
  Best for: Students comfortable with math and up to date on algebra.

CLEP Exams Most Should Avoid (Unless It’s Really Your Specialty):

• Chemistry (39% pass): Heavy on memorization and fast calculations. Only for those fresh out of a serious chemistry class.
• Calculus (~45% pass): Works for those recently done with AP Calculus. Otherwise, it’s a tough climb.
• Western Civilization I & II (~50% pass): Covers lots of facts across a broad time span—heavier on memorization than US History, less overlap with typical high school classes.
• Introductory Business Law: Dense legal terminology and concepts. Not impossible, but not worth the hassle unless you’re already comfortable with business law.

Free and Low-Cost CLEP Test Prep

• Modern States: Free CLEP prep courses taught by college professors. Finish the course and Modern States gives you a code for a free exam—and usually reimburses test center fees.
• College Board official materials: Free sample questions and content outlines for every CLEP on their official site.
• Khan Academy: Free courses matching CLEP math and science exams.
• REA CLEP Guides: $15–$30 each. These go deeper and come with practice tests—worth the cost if you want more structure.

And always, always run through a timed practice test before the real thing. CLEP’s question format and scoring is unique—no surprises on test day.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t just pick exams by reputation—pick the ones you could almost pass cold.
• Never sign up before checking your school’s CLEP policy. Make sure the credits count where you need them.
• Don’t skip practice tests. Know the format and the feeling before test day.
• Don’t let a free Modern States voucher tempt you to skip studying—you still need to pass.
• Don’t go over your school’s credit cap—most colleges only accept up to 30 CLEP credits.
• And don’t send your score before seeing your result, unless you’re fine with your school seeing every attempt.

CLEP Pros and Cons

Why CLEP is awesome:

• Costs $95 vs $1,000+ for a class
• Takes 90 minutes vs a full semester
• No prerequisites or enrollment needed
• Accepted at 2,900+ colleges
• Free via Modern States or military
• Immediate scores for most exams
• No limit on attempts

Drawbacks to watch for:

• Not all schools accept CLEP—double-check first
• Some schools count CLEP as electives only
• You wait three months between retakes if you fail
• Most schools limit CLEP to 30 credits
• CLEP gives pass/fail credit, not a grade
• Highly selective schools rarely accept it
• Test center fees pile on $10–$35 more

The Bottom Line

If you need general education credits, clep out of Sociology, Psychology, and American Government first. They’re three of the most accessible, widely accepted, and efficient choices—and they cost less than $400 combined if you pay out of pocket, or nothing if you use Modern States.

Love to read? Analyzing & Interpreting Literature should go straight to the top of your list—six credits in 90 minutes.

If you speak Spanish fluently or grew up speaking it, take CLEP Spanish for up to 12 credits with practically no prep.

The golden rule: Pick exams based on what you know, not what sounds easy. Double-check your school’s policy, and make sure the credits count toward your degree requirements—not just as free electives. Do this, and CLEP is one of the best money-saving moves you can make in college.

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