04-15-2015, 04:37 PM
The essays being discussed are labeled as "optional" essays and it is totally dependent on the school as to whether they require them or not. Test centers do not keep extras on-hand of these optional essays - they are ordered at the time that a candidate says they want to take that particular subject exam and their school requires the essays. Some candidates decide to take the multiple-choice test first to see if they pass and then have the test center order the essays (they cost an additional $10 which is charged to the candidate). These essays are a pain because it takes about 2 weeks to receive them (from the time the order is placed).
I realize this candidate will probably not be able to take advantage of any of the lit exams (with optional essays) due to time constraints, but for those who might need to do this in the future, you can still plan to take the exam (and write the essays) at any CLEP test center. No matter what the school intends to do with the handwritten essays, the essay booklet has to be returned to CLEP first! A copy is made to go in storage and the original is mailed to the school with the official score. As you can see, this is not a fast-moving process! If you are testing in California and your school is in California, your handwritten essays are sent by mail back to CLEP (in New Jersey), and then they get them back into first-class mail to your school (back across the country to California). I am glad that not many schools require these optional essays.
By the way, schools that say they "score" these optional essays have their own separate score. It does not have any impact on the score you receive on the traditional multiple-choice part of the exam.
I realize this candidate will probably not be able to take advantage of any of the lit exams (with optional essays) due to time constraints, but for those who might need to do this in the future, you can still plan to take the exam (and write the essays) at any CLEP test center. No matter what the school intends to do with the handwritten essays, the essay booklet has to be returned to CLEP first! A copy is made to go in storage and the original is mailed to the school with the official score. As you can see, this is not a fast-moving process! If you are testing in California and your school is in California, your handwritten essays are sent by mail back to CLEP (in New Jersey), and then they get them back into first-class mail to your school (back across the country to California). I am glad that not many schools require these optional essays.
By the way, schools that say they "score" these optional essays have their own separate score. It does not have any impact on the score you receive on the traditional multiple-choice part of the exam.
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