Online Degrees and CLEP and DSST Exam Prep Discussion
CLEP benefits vs. Straighterline? - Printable Version

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CLEP benefits vs. Straighterline? - PrincessButtercup - 08-19-2015

Are there any real benefits in taking a CLEP exam vs. Straighterline?

I was planning on taking:
English Comp w/Essay
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
Principles of Management
Principles of Marketing
Business Law
US History I
Introductory Psychology
and Introductory Sociology

as CLEP exams.

I have significant knowledge in all of these subjects and anticipate scoring well with minimal studying. I could probably, realistically, knock all of those out within a week or two.
That said, each exam is $100 vs. Straighterline $50 and with Straighterline, I can also use an open book on several of those.

Is there a difference in the quality or number of credits I would receive that make CLEP a more attractive option?


CLEP benefits vs. Straighterline? - sanantone - 08-19-2015

You also have to pay a $100 subscription fee each month for Straighterline. If you can complete multiple courses per month, then it'll be cheaper than taking CLEPs. If you're taking a month for just one course, then it's more expensive than taking a CLEP. The advantage of CLEP is that it's accepted by many more colleges than Straighterline. Straighterline is only accepted by their 80-something partner colleges and colleges that accept non-military ACE credits.


CLEP benefits vs. Straighterline? - mednat - 08-19-2015

CLEPs are more widely accepted. That being said, I'm a huge fan of SL for the convenience and speed of completion. It definitely works best if one can be motivated to finish multiple classes in the month. Also make sure to take advantage of the coupons they issue.


CLEP benefits vs. Straighterline? - PrincessButtercup - 08-19-2015

Thanks! That makes sense.
I plan on transferring the credits to COSC for a BSBA
Once, that is completed, I will probably work on a masters or mba.
If I have the BSBA, can/would a school know whether they were SL or CLEP?
Either way I don't think it makes that much of a difference since I still intend on taking about a dozen other SL courses, so if they will frown on SL courses, I don't think it matters if I have 12 or 20.


CLEP benefits vs. Straighterline? - mednat - 08-19-2015

PrincessButtercup Wrote:Thanks! That makes sense.
I plan on transferring the credits to COSC for a BSBA
Once, that is completed, I will probably work on a masters or mba.
If I have the BSBA, can/would a school know whether they were SL or CLEP?
Either way I don't think it makes that much of a difference since I still intend on taking about a dozen other SL courses, so if they will frown on SL courses, I don't think it matters if I have 12 or 20.

It won't matter to COSC. It depends on the masters or mba program. From what I've seen most don't really mind the source, but some prefer grades in specific areas. In this instance CLEP and ACE (Straighterline) credits are in the same boat as being pass/fail.

As you can tell from my credits, I went a similar route as you, with the assumption that if at some point in the future it mattered, I will just retake a class for a grade. If I had used CLEPs or classes, it would have taken me considerably longer because most of my delays involved me scheduling times where I was sure I could be at a testing center. With SL, I just pay $9 and take the test at the moment I know I'm available. Small things like that helped me accelerate my credit gaining.


CLEP benefits vs. Straighterline? - Lindagerr - 08-19-2015

If you have enough former knowledge to take these CLEP exams without much study I would think that would be faster and less tedious. I only took 1 SL course but I found it required i read the text and take multiple quizzes. I did fine on the quizzes and was able to get only 65% on the final and still pass with room to spare, but I would rather just study my own way with my own resources and just go take the exam and get it over with. JM2C


CLEP benefits vs. Straighterline? - Vaeal - 08-19-2015

Both of the SL economics classes are massive (21 and 26 modules compared to the normal 6). It's great if you're trying to learn it but if you already know it CLEP is a more sane option as each module has a 40 question exam. It's a very bloated course.


CLEP benefits vs. Straighterline? - mednat - 08-19-2015

Vaeal Wrote:Both of the SL economics classes are massive (21 and 26 modules compared to the normal 6). It's great if you're trying to learn it but if you already know it CLEP is a more sane option as each module has a 40 question exam. It's a very bloated course.

This is true. I recommend the CLEP for these unless you have a good reason not to take it. I took the SL version because of my work schedule issues. It was a pain in the $%$% because of the number of quizzes.