About Your Score

How the CLEP Exams Are Scored

Multiple-choice tests are scored by a computer.

Essays written for the College Composition exam are graded by two or more college English professors from two- and four-year institutions, who are carefully selected and trained by the College Board. That essay grade is combined with the multiple-choice score, and the result is reported as a scaled score.

Optional essays for CLEP composition and literature exams are evaluated and graded by the colleges that require them, rather than by the College Board. If you take an optional essay, it will be sent to your designated institutions accompanied by a copy of your score report (which includes results of the multiple-choice section).

Computing Scores

On CLEP tests, you receive one point for each correct answer. Points aren't deducted for wrong or skipped answers. This means that you should do your best to supply an answer for each question on a CLEP exam.

What Your Score Means

Your score report shows the total scaled score for each exam you took. Total scaled scores fall between 20 and 80. For more information, see What Your Score Means.

Receiving Your Scores

Normally, you'll receive your score report instantly — with the exception of the College Composition with Essay, which takes three to four weeks to deliver.

Sending Score Reports to Your Colleges or Employer

When you take the exam, you can indicate the college, employer or certifying agency that you want to receive your CLEP test scores. There's no additional cost for this — your exam fee covers it. If you haven't decided by the time you take the test which institution you want to receive your scores, leave that part blank.

Obtaining CLEP Transcripts

If you did not indicate a score recipient institution at the time of your exam and you want to request your CLEP scores, you can do so by ordering a CLEP transcript. This transcript is a cumulative score report of all the CLEP exams you've taken and the scores you earned in the last 20 years.

Obtaining Transcripts for Military Personnel

A military transcript will include all scores for CLEP computer-based exams taken by service members at DANTES military test centers after January 1, 2004. To obtain a CLEP transcript, military personnel must order a Military CLEP Transcript.

Canceling Scores

If you don't want your scores reported, simply notify the administrator before you complete the exam. You will be asked to verify that you want your score canceled in the testing software. Be aware: there's no way to cancel your scores once you've seen your instant score report.