CHAPTER 1
Passing the CLEP College Mathematics Exam
CHAPTER 1
PASSING THE CLEP COLLEGE MATHEMATICS EXAM
Congratulations! Youâre joining the millions of people who have discovered the value and educational advantage offered by the College Boardâs College-Level Examination Program, or CLEP. This test prep covers everything you need to know about the CLEP College Mathematics exam, and will help you earn the college credit you deserve while reducing your tuition costs.
There are many different ways to prepare for a CLEP exam. Whatâs best for you depends on how much time you have to study and how comfortable you are with the subject matter. To score your highest, you need a system that can be customized to fit you: your schedule, your learning style, and your current level of knowledge.
This book, and the online tools that come with it, allow you to create a personalized study plan through three simple steps: assessment of your knowledge, targeted review of exam content, and reinforcement in the areas where you need the most help.
Letâs get started and see how this system works. Test Yourself & Get Feedback | Score reports from your online diagnostic and practice tests give you a fast way to pinpoint what you already know and where you need to spend more time studying. |
Review with the Book | Study the topics tested on the CLEP exam. Targeted review chapters cover everything you need to know. |
Improve Your Score | Armed with your score reports, you can personalize your study plan. Review the parts of the book where youâre weakest and study the answer explanations for the test questions you answered incorrectly. |
The best way to personalize your study plan and focus on your weaknesses is to get feedback on what you know and what you donât know. At the online REA Study Center, you can access two types of assessment: a diagnostic exam and full-length practice exams. Each of these tools provides true-to-format questions and delivers a detailed score report that follows the topics set by the College Board.
Diagnostic Exam
Before you begin your review with the book, take the online diagnostic exam. Use your score report to help evaluate your overall understanding of the subject, so you can focus your study on the topics where you need the most review.
Full-Length Practice Exams
These practice tests give you the most complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses. After youâve finished reviewing with the book, test what youâve learned by taking the first of the two online practice exams. Review your score report, then go back and study any topics you missed. Take the second practice test to ensure you have mastered the material and are ready for test day.
If youâre studying and donât have Internet access, you can take the printed tests in the book. These are the same practice tests offered at the REA Study Center, but without the added benefits of timed testing conditions and diagnostic score reports. Because the actual exam is computer-based, we recommend you take at least one practice test online to simulate test-day conditions.
The CLEP College Mathematics exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, each with four possible answer choices, to be answered in 90 minutes.
The exam covers the material one would find in a college-level class for nonmathematics majors in fields not requiring knowledge of advanced mathematics. The exam places little emphasis on arithmetic and calculators are not allowed. A nongraphing calculator is provided to the test taker during the examination as part of the testing software.
The approximate breakdown of topics is as follows:
10% | Sets |
10% | Logic |
20% | Real Number Systems |
20% | Functions and Their Graphs |
25% | Probability and Statistics |
15% | Additional Topics from Algebra and Geometry |
ALL ABOUT THE CLEP PROGRAM
What is the CLEP?
CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in North America. CLEP exams are available in 33 subjects and test the material commonly required in an introductory-level college course. Examinees can earn from three to twelve credits at more than 2,900 colleges and universities in the
U.S. and Canada. For a complete list of the CLEP subject examinations offered, visit the College Board website:
www.collegeboard.org/clep.
Who takes CLEP exams?
CLEP exams are typically taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and who wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP program is designed to reward examinees for learningâno matter where or how that knowledge was acquired.
Although most CLEP examinees are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, military personnel, veterans, and international students take CLEP exams to earn college credit or to demonstrate their ability to perform at the college level. There are no prerequisites, such as age or educational status, for taking CLEP examinations. However, because policies on granting credits vary among colleges, you should contact the particular institution from which you wish to receive CLEP credit.
Who administers the exam?
CLEP exams are developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involve the assistance of educators from throughout the United States. The test development process is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.
When and where is the exam given?
CLEP exams are administered year-round at more than 1,200 test centers in the United States and can be arranged for candidates abroad on request. To find the test center nearest you and to register for the exam, contact the CLEP Program:
CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone: (800) 257-9558 (8
A.M. to 6
P.M. ET)
Fax: (609) 771-7088
Website:
www.collegeboard.org/clep OPTIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS
CLEP exams are available free of charge to eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees. All the CLEP exams are available at test centers on college campuses and military bases. Contact your Educational Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for more information. Visit the DANTES or College Board websites for details about CLEP opportunities for military personnel.
Eligible U.S. veterans can claim reimbursement for CLEP exams and administration fees pursuant to provisions of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. For details on eligibility and submitting a claim for reimbursement, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at
www.gibill.va.gov. CLEP can be used in conjunction with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which applies to veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation. Because the GI Bill provides tuition for up to 36 months, earning college credits with CLEP exams expedites academic progress and degree completion within the funded timeframe.
SSD ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES
Many test candidates qualify for extra time to take the CLEP exams, but you must make these arrangements in advance. For information, contact:
College Board Services for Students with Disabilities
P.O. Box 6226
Princeton, NJ 08541-6226
Phone: (609) 771-7137 (Monday through Friday, 8
A.M. to 6
P.M. ET) TTY: (609) 882-4118
Fax: (609) 771-7944
E-mail:
[email protected] Although our study plan is designed to be used in the six weeks before your exam, it can be condensed to three weeks by combining each two-week period into one.
Be sure to set aside enough timeâat least two hours each dayâto study. The more time you spend studying, the more prepared and relaxed you will feel on the day of the exam.
Week | Activity |
1 | Take the Diagnostic Exam. The score report will identify topics where you need the most review. |
2â4 | Study the review chapters. Use your diagnostic score report to focus your study. |
5 | Take Practice Test 1 at the REA Study Center. Review your score report and re-study any topics you missed. |
6 | Take Practice Test 2 at the REA Study Center to see how much your score has improved. If you still got a few questions wrong, go back to the review and study any topics you may have missed. |