Comparing CLEP and AP
Both CLEP and AP programs offer students the opportunity to master introductory college-level work. The main difference between the two programs is that you prepare for CLEP exams on your own, while AP exams are taken after completing an AP course. Review other key differences below.
CLEP | AP | |
|---|---|---|
| Exams Offered | 34 | 38 |
| Exams Design | Primarily multiple-choice; required writing sections for College Composition and Spanish with Writing | Multiple-choice, free-response, short-answer |
| College Credit Policy | Credit (Search CLEP college credit policies) | Credit or placement (Search AP credit policies) |
| Assessment Focus | Content knowledge and skills equivalent to introductory college courses | Content knowledge and skills equivalent to introductory college courses |
| Instruction and Curriculum | Free and low-cost practice resources; however, no CLEP-endorsed courses | Courses taught in high school modeled after introductory college courses; Courses designed by teachers using AP curriculum guidelines |
| Test Development | Developed by committees of college faculty from wide variety of 2- and 4-year colleges | Developed by committees of high-school teachers and college faculty |
| Scoring | Scaled score with a score range of 20–80 | Scaled score with a score range of 1–5 |
| Primarily Used for | Earning college credit toward a 2- or 4-year college degree and placing out of introductory college courses | Gaining college-level knowledge and skills, admission advantages, earning college credit, placing out of introductory college courses |
| Testing Locations | 2,000+ CLEP test centers across the U.S. and overseas (includes colleges, military bases, high schools, private testing organizations) | 22,000+ high schools in the U.S. and overseas |
| Testing Window | Year-round | First two weeks in May |
| Exam Fee | $95 | $98 |