Scoring on CLEP

[spazz]

I was wondering, most exams say you need to get a 50 to pass, but the score ranges from 20-80, which is an even portportion again to 50. So does this mean you would only have to get half the questions right in order to pass a CLEP?

My college says that if you get an answer wrong, it counts 1/4 point against you. So you are better off not answering the ones you have no clue about. But on the contray, on the CLEP site it says questions are only marked wrong, so it is better to atleast guess on some. Could my college infer its own grading system into the CLEP?

My school also only lets you take a CLEP once, if you fail it, you cannot retake it to get credit. Is this a normal policy?

Thanks for your help!!

[snazzlefrag]

I was wondering, most exams say you need to get a 50 to pass, but the score ranges from 20-80, which is an even portportion again to 50. So does this mean you would only have to get half the questions right in order to pass a CLEP?

My college says that if you get an answer wrong, it counts 1/4 point against you. So you are better off not answering the ones you have no clue about. But on the contray, on the CLEP site it says questions are only marked wrong, so it is better to atleast guess on some. Could my college infer its own grading system into the CLEP?

My school also only lets you take a CLEP once, if you fail it, you cannot retake it to get credit. Is this a normal policy?

Thanks for your help!!

Hi Spazz,

Firstly, your college is WRONG! CLEPs used to have a penalty for incorrect answers. But this is no longer true. It is ESSENTIAL that you answer EVERY SINGLE question, even if you have to completely guess.

CLEP scores are scaled scores. An 80 doesn't mean you got 80% correct, and a 20 doesn't mean you got 20% correct. However, a 50 is right around the "average" mark (30 above, 30 below).

This has been discussed elsewhere on the board, but in general, if you are getting more than half of the answers correct, you should expect to pass. But since the scores are scaled, a 50 is likely to include those who got slightly less than half right, and those who got slightly more. Nobody knows the exact formula that CLEP uses. So this is just a GENERAL rule of thumb.

DANTES operates on the same premise.

Each school sets there own policies regarding which exams they accept, how many credits are awarded, what the minimum pass score is, etc. Some schools don't accept ANY proficiency exams at all.

There are established "recommendations" for each exam. The organization responsible for evaluating proficiency exams, and publishing recommendations, is the American Council on Education (ACE). Generally, colleges stick pretty close to ACE recommendations, but no college is required to adhere to them.

In your case, it seems that your college is adhering to the ACE recommended minimum passing score for CLEPs (50).

The limitation on retaking each CLEP is a policy that each school is free to set as they see fit.

Hope that helps,
Snazzlefrag

[spazz]

Yes, thanks for your wisdom

[Urbannaja]

Hmm...does a CLEP transcript show failures if you don't ask for them? It's been awhile since I ordered a transcript, but as I recall, it asks you if you want all scores shown, or just certain tests. It would seem impossible for a school to only allow you to take an exam once...you shouldn't have to show them a failure at all. Just wait the required 6 months and try again...then send them the passing test.

[libartsmgr]

Hmm...does a CLEP transcript show failures if you don't ask for them? It's been awhile since I ordered a transcript, but as I recall, it asks you if you want all scores shown, or just certain tests. It would seem impossible for a school to only allow you to take an exam once...you shouldn't have to show them a failure at all. Just wait the required 6 months and try again...then send them the passing test.

Urban - there's been a lot of talk on this on the boards. I can tell you for sure that Excelsior does NOT (thankfully) transcript any exam that you fail. I speak from experience - I missed Money and Banking by 2 points.

I'm not sure what the other schools do, but like I said, this continues to be a hot topic 'round here.

Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if all scores are sent every time you take an exam. I'm guessing not for CLEP, but if it were SAT/PCAT/GRE/MAT/ACT or other entrance exam, then yes, every score would be reported. This is simply becuase of the type of the exam and how the schools use the information on it.

[Urbannaja]

Urban - there's been a lot of talk on this on the boards. I can tell you for sure that Excelsior does NOT (thankfully) transcript any exam that you fail. I speak from experience - I missed Money and Banking by 2 points.

I'm not sure what the other schools do, but like I said, this continues to be a hot topic 'round here.

Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if all scores are sent every time you take an exam. I'm guessing not for CLEP, but if it were SAT/PCAT/GRE/MAT/ACT or other entrance exam, then yes, every score would be reported. This is simply becuase of the type of the exam and how the schools use the information on it.

They probably do look at all scores for SAT/PCAT/ GRE/MAT/ACT -- but CLEP and Dantes? I'm sure they don't. I just checked online for a transcript request form, and you can specifically list scores you DON'T want to release. Also, for the military transcript request (which includes dantes and clep) they specifically have a check box if you only want to release passing scores. So you should never have to release a score you don't want to for at least DANTES and CLEP.

here are links to the transcipt request forms:
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloa...r_form.pdf

http://www.getcollegecredit.com/pdfs/dss...post74.pdf

[spazz]

They probably do look at all scores for SAT/PCAT/ GRE/MAT/ACT -- but CLEP and Dantes? I'm sure they don't. I just checked online for a transcript request form, and you can specifically list scores you DON'T want to release. Also, for the military transcript request (which includes dantes and clep) they specifically have a check box if you only want to release passing scores. So you should never have to release a score you don't want to for at least DANTES and CLEP.

here are links to the transcipt request forms:
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloa...r_form.pdf

http://www.getcollegecredit.com/pdfs/dss...post74.pdf

My school seems to have a lot of rules following also. You have to take the test at our testing center, so that may be how they keep track.

[snazzlefrag]

My school seems to have a lot of rules following also. You have to take the test at our testing center, so that may be how they keep track.

Spazz,

Which college are you at?

I don't know your specific circumstances but if 'testing out' is the way you want to go, it may well be worth considering a switch to one of the schools that have MUCH less restrictive policies!

Schools that have overly restrictive testing policies are usually ones that consider profit first, and the needs of the student last.

Just a thought for you to ponder,
Snazzlefrag