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Does CLEP affect GPA?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 16, 2026

CLEP exams have no effect on your grade point average—all they do is allow you to receive course credit. That means any passing grade on a CLEP test earns you the same amount of college credit—no matter if you get a “C” or an “A” on the exam.

Do CLEP exams raise GPA?

Do CLEP exams affect your GPA? No, CLEP exams are almost always considered pass or fail. Because they don't receive letter grades, they aren't factored into your GPA.

What happens if you fail CLEP?

So what happens to your old score if you retake the exam? If you fail, the College Board will keep your failed score until you retake the test. The next time you attempt the test, they will replace your old score with your new score. After that, the College Board won't have any trace of your first failed score.

Is 70 a good CLEP score?

Remember that this can change across colleges and the same college can even have different requirements for each CLEP test subject. Take practice tests before you take the real exam. It's best to score a bare minimum of 60% before taking the real exam, a practice test score of around 70% is much safer.

Is it worth it to take CLEP?

Even with added costs, such as $10 study guides, the CLEP remains a bargain. These exams can also help you to get a degree faster. While a college undergraduate degree can often take students four to six years, CLEP exams can cut that time substantially to as little as one year.

43 related questions found

Is CLEP multiple-choice?

Overview of the Exams

Most CLEP exams are designed to correspond to one-semester courses, although some tests correspond to full-year or two-year courses. The format of most questions is multiple choice.

Is CLEP easier than AP?

CLEP vs AP Test Difficulty: Which is Harder? According to May 2019 pass rate data, students may have found AP exams more difficult. CLEP exams had a 68% pass rate while AP exams had a 65% pass rate. However, there were many more AP examinees than CLEP test takers.

Is 63 a good CLEP score?

Know that a “D” is Good Enough.

Generally, only 50 out of 80 is needed to pass a CLEP exam, which comes out to a grade of 63%. The catch is that a CLEP test will appear as a “P” for “pass” on your transcript whether you get a 50 or an 80.

How fast do you get CLEP results?

Your official scores will be available in your CLEP account within one business day of your test date. Scores for exams with writing sections will be available on the My Account Portal within two to three weeks after your test date.

Do CLEP scores expire?

CLEP test scores don't expire but the College Board only holds onto your scores for 20 years. Some universities require that they receive your CLEP transcripts directly from the College Board, others will accept them from you.

How many times can I take the CLEP?

Can you retake a CLEP test? You can take CLEP tests as many times as you want (though you'll have to pay the $87 fee each time).

Are CLEP exams timed?

CLEP tests are timed, and they generally last about 90 minutes. Thus, be sure that any practice exams you complete are timed to ensure you are practicing under genuine testing conditions.

Do CLEP exams look good on college applications?

While individual colleges may differ, CLEP exams are generally another way to stand out on applications and recommended for students who need additional ways to set themselves apart. A strong performance could be an effective counterpoint to grades that are lower than you had hoped.

Do colleges like CLEP?

While CLEP isn't the most transferable source of credit, it's still an excellent way to save some money on college. And Podunk University isn't the only college which accepts it. In fact, CLEP exams are more popular than ever, currently accepted at more than 2,900 schools across the United States.

Do CLEP scores show up transcripts?

A failed CLEP will usually not be listed on your college transcript. If you passed, your college still won't have your score unless you: Entered your college code for your score to be sent to them when you took the exam.

What is the highest CLEP score possible?

that ranges from 20, the lowest, to 80, the highest. This scaled score is the score that appears on your score report. The scores that appear in the table shown are the credit- granting scores recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE).

What are the easiest classes to CLEP?

9 Easiest CLEP Exams Ranked

  1. Analyzing and Interpreting Literature.
  2. College Composition / College Composition Modular. ...
  3. Spanish, French, or German. ...
  4. Information Systems and Computer Applications. ...
  5. Introductory Sociology. ...
  6. College Mathematics. ...
  7. Social Studies and History. ...
  8. Principles of Marketing. ...

How hard is the CLEP calculus exam?

Calculus is the hardest math CLEP, for almost everyone. Unless you're a math wiz, it's also one of the hardest CLEP exams among all the subject categories. Precalculus is harder than College Mathematics and Algebra, but not as advanced as Calculus. Math is by far the most common subject people struggle with.

Is the American government CLEP test hard?

Hopefully you didn't pick this one at random! For most people, the American Government CLEP is one of the more difficult Humanity exams that CLEP offers.

Does Harvard accept CLEP?

Credit by Examination

We accept a maximum of 16 credits, combined, for coursework completed by an examination, such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or professional training approved by the American Council on Education (ACE).

Should I AP or CLEP?

Examinees who pass CLEP exams are granted credits by institutions that could be used toward a college degree or for advanced placement. AP allows high school students to take college-level classes that conclude with exams. Successful exam scores are accepted at college and universities for credit or advanced placement.

Do Ivy Leagues accept CLEP?

At this time, many of the highest-ranked institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Brown do not accept CLEP exams. Visit the College Board website and use the official CLEP search tool to see if the schools you're considering made the list. Looking for help on your college journey?