1. CLEP 101: What Every Test Center Administrator Needs to Know
Marie Maher
The College Board
Associate Director
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

2. Agenda
Welcome
What Is CLEP?
CLEP Overview
Best Practices
Q&A

3. Staff Branding Workshop
February 2004
What Is CLEP?
Credit-by-examination program serving a diverse group of students, including adults, non-traditional learners, and military service members
Validates knowledge learned through independent study, on-the job training, or experiential learning and translates that learning into college credit that is commonly recognized.
More than seven million exams taken since 1967
1,700+ colleges administer CLEP
181,500 exams administered in 2010–11, including 54,000 administered to military service members
Exam fee = $77.00
About 1/3 of CLEP exams administered annually are administered to military. The College Board and CLEP have worked with the Department of Defense for over 30 years to provide credit-by exam opportunities to the military. CLEP is the most widely used CBE program for the military. Military service members are fully funded for their CLEP exam fees.
connect to college success

4. 33 CLEP Examinations History and Social Sciences
4/17/2017
33 CLEP Examinations
History and Social Sciences
American Government
History of the United States I
History of the United States II
Human Growth and Development
Introduction to Educational Psychology
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Introductory Psychology
Introductory Sociology
Social Sciences and History
Western Civilization I
Western Civilization II
Composition and Literature
American Literature
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
College Composition
College Composition Modular
English Literature
Humanities
Science and Mathematics
Calculus
College Algebra
Precalculus
College Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Natural Sciences
CLEP’s newest exams are the College Composition and Composition Modular exams, launched on July 1, 2010.
Business
Information Systems and Computer Applications
Principles of Management
Financial Accounting
Introductory Business Law
Principles of Marketing
Foreign Languages
French Language
German Language
Spanish Language 4

5. About the CLEP Exams Structure 33 computer-based exams.
4/17/2017
About the CLEP Exams
Structure
33 computer-based exams.
Mostly multiple-choice, essays, and listening sections for foreign languages
Most are approximately 90 minutes in length.
Scoring
“Rights-only” scoring (no penalty for wrong answers).
Immediate score reports (except exams with essays).
Exams are scored on a scale of 20–80. A score of 50 is equivalent to a grade of C.
Development
More than 600 faculty contribute to the development of and standard-setting for CLEP examinations.
Standing faculty committees oversee ongoing test development, shape content, review data, set exam policies.
Opportunities to participate in College Board ACES Placement Validity studies.
College Comp is longer than 90 minutes (120 minutes).
The American Council on Education (ACE) periodically reviews CLEP examination content, test development, and standard-setting processes. ACE recommends the granting of college credit for a score of 50 across all CLEP exams, which is equivalent to the grade of C. They also endorse granting credit for AP exams at the C level. 5

6. Age Groups Exams Administered to National Candidates, 2010-11
Staff Branding Workshop
February 2004
Age Groups Exams Administered to National Candidates,
48% are traditional age; 52% are adult students
connect to college success

7. Education Levels Exams Administered to National Candidates, 2010-11

8. Ethnicity Exams Administered to National Candidates, 2010-11

9. Highest Volume CLEP Exams National CBT, 2010-11
Staff Branding Workshop
February 2004
Highest Volume CLEP Exams National CBT,
English Comp w/ Essay was replaced by College Composition on July 1, 2010.
connect to college success

10. College Composition or College Comp Modular?
College Composition Modular
Timing
120 minutes
90 minutes (multiple-choice only)
Multiple choice
Yes
Essays
Mandatory: Two typed essays, created by CLEP
Optional: Two handwritten essays, created by CLEP OR essay created by your college OR no essay
Essay scoring
CLEP scores the essays every two weeks, student receives score within 2-3 weeks
College scores the essays
College Comp Modular:
Students can take the optional essays on a different date
Essay order form available in the Resource Center and in the TCA Handbook.

11. Promoting CLEP and Your Test Center
BEST PRACTICES
Post information about test center on your institution’s website; keep information updated
Keep College Board informed of change in test center information, i.e. change in phone number, temporary closing due to relocation, etc.
Work with your regional Senior Assessment Manager (SAM) for strategies to promote CLEP
Keep an ample supply of CLEP brochures available at your test center
Work with administration to ensure that CLEP policy information on your website is current

12. Print Marketing Spanish Brochure Business Exam Brochure
College Composition Brochure
Take One brochures
Posters
National
Military
Information for Candidates
Veteran’s Flyer
CLEP in Higher Education

13. CLEP Software
Once software is received and installed, the following best practices must be followed:
CD must be kept in a locked location at all times
Master Site Administrators and Test Center Administrators must have access to the CD at ALL times
Upon installation or re-installation of the software, it is the MSA and/or TCAs responsibility to ensure that the software CD is returned by IT and locked in a secure location
If the software CD cannot be found, the MSA/TCA must report the loss to CLEP Technical Support immediately
Consult with CLEP Technical Support prior to upgrading test center PCs

14. Creating MSA/TCA Passwords
MSA is the only staff member who can create accounts for TCAs
Any login IDs and passwords should be kept in a secure area
Passwords are confidential
BEST PRACTICES
Change your password every 30 days
Notify College Board of any changes in staff-via CLEP Resource Center-Update My Contact Info

15. Hiring Test Center Staff
BEST PRACTICES
Must be at least 21 years of age and hold an undergraduate degree
May not be involved in courses, workshops or tutoring activities or other coaching activity that involves the content of secure CLEP exams
Have new employees sign a confidentiality agreement

16. Required Identification
Test takers must bear two forms of ID
Photo, government issued
Secondary form, i.e. student ID, Social Security card
Test takers without proper ID may be turned away
BEST PRACTICES
Have test takers sign in/out on signature logs; recommended retention period-18 months
If in doubt about validity of student’s ID, contact CLEP Services immediately

17. Monitoring and Proctoring Test Takers
Test takers must remove all electronic devices prior to entering the testing room and return to storage area upon returning from break
Cell phone, Blackberry, IPad, IPod, IPhone, PDA, watch, calculator
The test center must be a distraction-free environment
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.

18. Monitoring and Proctoring Test Takers
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.
BEST PRACTICE
Aside from testing students, no other activities are permitted in the test center.
If you notice any suspicious activity from a test taker, contact CLEP Services immediately and complete an EIR.

19. General Best Practices
When in doubt, refer to the eCBT Administrator’s Handbook
Latest version, updated July 2011, is available on the CLEP Resource Center
Username-CLEPadmin2
Password-CLEPmsa22# (case sensitive)
Chapter 9-CLEP policies
Contact CLEP Services or Tech Support
Observe program policies and procedures at all times
Periodic visits are conducted to test centers by College Board and ETS

20. CLEP Notes

21. Professional Development Web Series
Monthly sessions beginning September 2011
Number of maximum participants increased from 20 to 30
CLEP webinars:
CLEP Overview
Adopting CLEP On Your Campus
Advising Students About CLEP
Test Center Operations
CLEP College Composition Exams
CLEP Reliability and Validity-NEW
CLEP For Military Members and Veterans-NEW
Register at

22. Professional Development Series – Fall FY 12
1st Monday
1st Tuesday
1st Wednesday
1st Thursday
10:30 Eastern
New Regulations for ATB Testing
ACCUPLACER Overview
ACCUPLACER for College Readiness
Setting Up Branching Profiles and Placement Rules
1:00 Eastern
Exporting Data from ACCU into Student Info Systems
2:30 Eastern
ACCUPLACER//MyFoundations Lab
Planning for ACCUPLACER
ACCUPLACER Diagnostics
Adopting CLEP on Your Campus
4:30 Eastern
2nd Monday
2nd Tuesday
2nd Wednesday
2nd Thursday
10:30 Eastern
CLEP Test Center Operations
ACCUPLACER Reporting
Methods for Setting Cut Scores
1:00 Eastern
ACCUPLACER//MyFoundations Lab
New Regulations for ATB Testing
2:30 Eastern
ACCUPLACER Platform Functional Enhancements
CLEP Overview
ACCUPLACER Computer Skills Placement
Advising Students about CLEP
4:30 Eastern

23. Professional Development Series – Fall FY 12
3rd Monday
3rd Tuesday
3rd Wednesday
3rd Thursday
10:30 Eastern
New Regulations for ATB Testing
Refining Placement with Multiple Measures
WritePlacer
Planning for ACCUPLACER
1:00 Eastern
CLEP for Military Members and Veterans
2:30 Eastern
CLEP for College Faculty
Setting Up Branching Profiles and Placement Rules
ACCUPLACER Overview
4:30 Eastern
ACCUPLACER//MyFoundations Lab
4th Monday
4th Tuesday
4th Wednesday
4th Thursday
10:30 Eastern
ACCUPLACER//MyFoundations Lab
ACCUPLACER Diagnostics
ACCUPLACER Reliability and Validity
CLEP Overview
1:00 Eastern
2:30 Eastern
CLEP College Composition Exam
Creating Local Tests
ACCUPLACER ESL
4:30 Eastern
New Regulations for ATB Testing

24. Senior Assessment Managers

25. Support for CLEP CLEP Services Phone: (800) 257-9558 or (609) 771-7865
Fax: (609)
Web site –
General inquiries, Candidate inquiries, publication orders
CLEP Technical Support
Phone: (800) or (609)
Fax: (609)
Do not share with students, potential CLEP candidate, or CLEP candidates
CLEP Resource Center Web Site
Secure web site. Contact CLEP Services for username and password.

26. Additional Support for CLEP
Marie Maher
Associate Director
CLEP Test Center Operations
Phone

27. Questions?