Biology
EXAM GUIDE
Visit our website at
clep.collegeboard.org
for the most up-to-date
information.
,Contents
1 Introduction
1 CLEP Study Materials: A Word of Warning
1 American Council on Education (ACE)
2 I. The College-Level Examination Program
2 How the Program Works
2 The CLEP Exams
2 What the Exams Are Like
3 Where to Take the Exams and How to Register
3 College Credit Recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE)
3 How Your Score Is Reported
4 II. Approaching a College About CLEP
4 How to Apply for College Credit
6 Questions to Ask About a College’s CLEP Policy
7 III. Deciding Which Exams to Take
7 If You’re Taking the Exams for College Credit or Career Advancement . . .
9 IV. Preparing to Take CLEP Exams
9 Using the Exam Guides
10 Assessing Your Readiness for a CLEP Exam
11 Suggestions for Studying
12 Test Preparation Tips
14 Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
15 V. Taking the Exams
15 Test-Taking Strategies for Multiple-Choice Questions
16 Answering Essay Questions
16 Test-Taking Strategies for Essay Writing
17 VI. Interpreting Your Scores
17 How CLEP Scores Are Computed
17 How Essays Are Scored
18 VII. Biology
36 Appendix
36 What Your CLEP Score Means
160062504
clep.collegeboard.org College-Level Examination Program
,Introduction
This is the only official guide to the College-Level important tips to get ready for the tests. The guides
Examination Program® (CLEP®) exams. CLEP exams aren’t meant to help you learn all the subject matter
are administered on computers at test centers across CLEP exams cover. We suggest you study a textbook
the country. for the relevant course at your college or access one
of the suggested resources listed on the CLEP website
This guide has been written for adults making plans
to learn or review the content of the exam in which
to enroll in college, and it contains information of
you’re interested.
interest to others as well. College-bound high school
students, current college students, military personnel, Many private companies offer preparation services
professionals seeking certification, and persons of all for CLEP exams. Some companies are legitimate, but
ages who have learned or wish to learn college-level others make promises they can’t keep and sell services
material outside the college classroom will find the and products you don’t need.
guide helpful as they strive to accomplish their goals.
We’ve received complaints from CLEP candidates
CLEP is based on the premise that some individuals regarding the following practices (practices we
enrolling in college have already learned part of what consider unfair or inappropriate).
is taught in college courses through job training,
Attempts to sell preparation services for many CLEP
independent reading and study, noncredit adult
exams at once, with sizable payment up front or
courses, and advanced high school courses. Often,
on credit
their jobs and life experiences have enhanced and
reinforced their learning. CLEP gives these individuals Credit agreements with companies other than the
a chance to show their mastery of college-level one selling the preparation material
material by taking exams that assess knowledge and Contacts from salespeople to you or your family
skills taught in college courses. at home
The first few sections of this guide explain how CLEP Promises that you can get college credit without
can earn you credit for the college-level learning you enrolling in college
have acquired and provide suggestions for preparing Efforts to sell dictionaries or encyclopedias as part
for the exams. The individual exam section includes test of a test preparation package
descriptions, sample questions, and study tips. If you feel you have been cheated, we recommend you
The guide also has an answer key for each exam, as seek the assistance of an organization such as the
well as in-depth information about how to interpret Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) or the Federal
your scores. Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov).
CLEP Study Materials: American Council on
A Word of Warning Education (ACE)
There are many free or inexpensive sources for CLEP If you still have general questions about continuing
preparation materials, including public or college or adult education after reading this book, ACE can
libraries, bookstores, and educational websites. CLEP provide advice and information:
exams reflect the material taught in introductory American Council on Education
college courses. Check with local colleges to see what One Dupont Circle, NW
texts are being used in the subject you hope to study Washington, DC 20036
for a CLEP exam. 202-939-9300
The College Board provides the CLEP Official Study www.acenet.edu
Guide and individual exam guides so you get to know
the types of questions on the exams. You also get
clep.collegeboard.org College-Level Examination Program 1
, I. The College-Level
Examination Program
How the Program Works retesting on a previously funded CLEP exam. However,
you may personally fund a retest after the specified
CLEP exams are administered at over 2,000 test centers
wait period.
nationwide, and 2,900 colleges and universities award
college credit to those who do well on the tests. This
rigorous program lets self-directed students of a wide
The CLEP Exams
range of ages and backgrounds show their mastery of
CLEP exams cover material directly related to specific
introductory college-level material and pursue academic
undergraduate courses taught during a student’s first
success. Students earn credit for what they already
two years in college. The courses may be offered for
know by getting qualifying scores on any of the
three or more semester hours in general areas such
33 exams.
as mathematics, history, social sciences, English
CLEP exams cover material taught in introductory-level composition, natural sciences, and humanities.
courses at many colleges and universities. Faculty at Institutions will either grant credit for a specific course
individual colleges review the exams to ensure that based on a satisfactory score on the related exam, or in
they cover the important material currently taught in the general area in which a satisfactory score is earned.
their courses. The credit is equal to the credit awarded to students
Although CLEP is sponsored by the College Board, only who successfully complete the course.
colleges may grant credit toward a degree. To learn about
a particular college’s CLEP policy, contact the college
directly. When you take a CLEP exam, request that a
What the Exams Are Like
copy of your score report be sent to the college you’re CLEP exams are administered on computer and are
attending or planning to attend. After evaluating your approximately 90 minutes long, with the exception
score, the college will decide whether or not to award you of College Composition, which is approximately
credit for, or to exempt you from, one or more courses. 120 minutes long. Most questions are multiple choice;
other types of questions require you to fill in a numeric
If the college decides to give you credit, it records the
answer, to shade areas of an object, or to put items in
number of credits on your permanent record, indicating
the correct order. Questions using these kinds of skills
that you completed work equivalent to a course in
are called zone, shade, grid, scale, fraction, numeric
that subject. If the college decides to grant exemption
entry, histogram, and order match questions.
without giving you credit for a course, you’ll be permitted
to omit a course that would normally be required of you CLEP College Composition includes a mandatory
and to take a course of your choice instead. essay section, responses to which must be typed into
the computer.
The CLEP program has a long-standing policy that an
exam can’t be taken within the specified wait period. Some exams have optional essays. You should
This waiting period gives you a chance to spend more check with the individual college or university where
time preparing for the exam or the option of taking a you’re sending your score to see whether an optional
classroom course. If you violate the CLEP retest policy, essay is required for those exams. These essays are
the administration will be considered invalid, the score administered on paper and are scored by faculty at the
canceled, and any test fees forfeited. If you’re a military institution that receives your score.
service member, note that DANTES (Defense Activity
for Non-Traditional Education Support) won’t fund
clep.collegeboard.org College-Level Examination Program 2
EXAM GUIDE
Visit our website at
clep.collegeboard.org
for the most up-to-date
information.
,Contents
1 Introduction
1 CLEP Study Materials: A Word of Warning
1 American Council on Education (ACE)
2 I. The College-Level Examination Program
2 How the Program Works
2 The CLEP Exams
2 What the Exams Are Like
3 Where to Take the Exams and How to Register
3 College Credit Recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE)
3 How Your Score Is Reported
4 II. Approaching a College About CLEP
4 How to Apply for College Credit
6 Questions to Ask About a College’s CLEP Policy
7 III. Deciding Which Exams to Take
7 If You’re Taking the Exams for College Credit or Career Advancement . . .
9 IV. Preparing to Take CLEP Exams
9 Using the Exam Guides
10 Assessing Your Readiness for a CLEP Exam
11 Suggestions for Studying
12 Test Preparation Tips
14 Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
15 V. Taking the Exams
15 Test-Taking Strategies for Multiple-Choice Questions
16 Answering Essay Questions
16 Test-Taking Strategies for Essay Writing
17 VI. Interpreting Your Scores
17 How CLEP Scores Are Computed
17 How Essays Are Scored
18 VII. Biology
36 Appendix
36 What Your CLEP Score Means
160062504
clep.collegeboard.org College-Level Examination Program
,Introduction
This is the only official guide to the College-Level important tips to get ready for the tests. The guides
Examination Program® (CLEP®) exams. CLEP exams aren’t meant to help you learn all the subject matter
are administered on computers at test centers across CLEP exams cover. We suggest you study a textbook
the country. for the relevant course at your college or access one
of the suggested resources listed on the CLEP website
This guide has been written for adults making plans
to learn or review the content of the exam in which
to enroll in college, and it contains information of
you’re interested.
interest to others as well. College-bound high school
students, current college students, military personnel, Many private companies offer preparation services
professionals seeking certification, and persons of all for CLEP exams. Some companies are legitimate, but
ages who have learned or wish to learn college-level others make promises they can’t keep and sell services
material outside the college classroom will find the and products you don’t need.
guide helpful as they strive to accomplish their goals.
We’ve received complaints from CLEP candidates
CLEP is based on the premise that some individuals regarding the following practices (practices we
enrolling in college have already learned part of what consider unfair or inappropriate).
is taught in college courses through job training,
Attempts to sell preparation services for many CLEP
independent reading and study, noncredit adult
exams at once, with sizable payment up front or
courses, and advanced high school courses. Often,
on credit
their jobs and life experiences have enhanced and
reinforced their learning. CLEP gives these individuals Credit agreements with companies other than the
a chance to show their mastery of college-level one selling the preparation material
material by taking exams that assess knowledge and Contacts from salespeople to you or your family
skills taught in college courses. at home
The first few sections of this guide explain how CLEP Promises that you can get college credit without
can earn you credit for the college-level learning you enrolling in college
have acquired and provide suggestions for preparing Efforts to sell dictionaries or encyclopedias as part
for the exams. The individual exam section includes test of a test preparation package
descriptions, sample questions, and study tips. If you feel you have been cheated, we recommend you
The guide also has an answer key for each exam, as seek the assistance of an organization such as the
well as in-depth information about how to interpret Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) or the Federal
your scores. Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov).
CLEP Study Materials: American Council on
A Word of Warning Education (ACE)
There are many free or inexpensive sources for CLEP If you still have general questions about continuing
preparation materials, including public or college or adult education after reading this book, ACE can
libraries, bookstores, and educational websites. CLEP provide advice and information:
exams reflect the material taught in introductory American Council on Education
college courses. Check with local colleges to see what One Dupont Circle, NW
texts are being used in the subject you hope to study Washington, DC 20036
for a CLEP exam. 202-939-9300
The College Board provides the CLEP Official Study www.acenet.edu
Guide and individual exam guides so you get to know
the types of questions on the exams. You also get
clep.collegeboard.org College-Level Examination Program 1
, I. The College-Level
Examination Program
How the Program Works retesting on a previously funded CLEP exam. However,
you may personally fund a retest after the specified
CLEP exams are administered at over 2,000 test centers
wait period.
nationwide, and 2,900 colleges and universities award
college credit to those who do well on the tests. This
rigorous program lets self-directed students of a wide
The CLEP Exams
range of ages and backgrounds show their mastery of
CLEP exams cover material directly related to specific
introductory college-level material and pursue academic
undergraduate courses taught during a student’s first
success. Students earn credit for what they already
two years in college. The courses may be offered for
know by getting qualifying scores on any of the
three or more semester hours in general areas such
33 exams.
as mathematics, history, social sciences, English
CLEP exams cover material taught in introductory-level composition, natural sciences, and humanities.
courses at many colleges and universities. Faculty at Institutions will either grant credit for a specific course
individual colleges review the exams to ensure that based on a satisfactory score on the related exam, or in
they cover the important material currently taught in the general area in which a satisfactory score is earned.
their courses. The credit is equal to the credit awarded to students
Although CLEP is sponsored by the College Board, only who successfully complete the course.
colleges may grant credit toward a degree. To learn about
a particular college’s CLEP policy, contact the college
directly. When you take a CLEP exam, request that a
What the Exams Are Like
copy of your score report be sent to the college you’re CLEP exams are administered on computer and are
attending or planning to attend. After evaluating your approximately 90 minutes long, with the exception
score, the college will decide whether or not to award you of College Composition, which is approximately
credit for, or to exempt you from, one or more courses. 120 minutes long. Most questions are multiple choice;
other types of questions require you to fill in a numeric
If the college decides to give you credit, it records the
answer, to shade areas of an object, or to put items in
number of credits on your permanent record, indicating
the correct order. Questions using these kinds of skills
that you completed work equivalent to a course in
are called zone, shade, grid, scale, fraction, numeric
that subject. If the college decides to grant exemption
entry, histogram, and order match questions.
without giving you credit for a course, you’ll be permitted
to omit a course that would normally be required of you CLEP College Composition includes a mandatory
and to take a course of your choice instead. essay section, responses to which must be typed into
the computer.
The CLEP program has a long-standing policy that an
exam can’t be taken within the specified wait period. Some exams have optional essays. You should
This waiting period gives you a chance to spend more check with the individual college or university where
time preparing for the exam or the option of taking a you’re sending your score to see whether an optional
classroom course. If you violate the CLEP retest policy, essay is required for those exams. These essays are
the administration will be considered invalid, the score administered on paper and are scored by faculty at the
canceled, and any test fees forfeited. If you’re a military institution that receives your score.
service member, note that DANTES (Defense Activity
for Non-Traditional Education Support) won’t fund
clep.collegeboard.org College-Level Examination Program 2
