CLEP vs AP

[clep3705]

It is very difficult reasoning with the teenaged mind. (Some parents will argue that "teenaged mind" is an oxymoron.) What works with some kids is explaining that by taking a test, it is possible to do a lot less work overall.

Here's how it works. A high school student who does well in an AP course will probably do well on the AP exam. If the exam isn't taken, the course must be taken in college. It is likely that with papers to write and tests to take, all of that effort spent in high school will be repeated in college. Some high schoolers think that taking the course in college will be an easy A. It is true that in some courses, those without papers, it won't take a lot of effort to get through the course in college. But that's the point - it might be just getting through the course. The ability to place out via AP does not translate into necessarily being able to easily make an A in the college version of the course or even make an A in the college course after a lot of work.

AP and CLEP tests provide a student a means to skip the freshman weedout courses. Never take an intro course in college if you can place out of it. Never. Even if medical school is the ultimate destination, placing out of intro biology is still okay. You'll take two upper level biology courses instead of the two intro biology courses you placed out of.

Cost is another reason for AP and CLEP. Three years of college costs a lot less than four years of college. Even if a student still takes four years to graduate after AP credits, the student is ahead of the rest. College registration is often based on seniority. First choice goes to the student with the most semester hours. By starting college with 15 or 30 semester hours, the student has precedence over other students who don't have any credit by examination.