Some colleges may allow your child to take the CLEP to receive college credit.

Currently, 2,900 colleges give credit or advanced standing to students who pass the CLEP. There is usually a $65 fee to take any of the tests (free to military service members), and the results could save thousands of dollars in tuition.

Types of CLEP exams

General subject exams measure your child's familiarity with material covered in courses taken during the first two years of college to meet the general education or liberal arts requirements and are offered for:

• English composition
• Humanities
• Mathematics
• Natural sciences
• Social sciences and history

Subject exams measure knowledge and achievement covered in specific college courses, such as a foreign language class. Subject exams are listed on the registration form.

How does it work?

If your child takes French in high school and tests at the equivalent of one year of college French classes, he or she may receive credit for a year of French.

Exam descriptions

Each exam is 90 minutes long (except for English composition) and contains mostly multiple-choice questions; however, some exams have fill-in questions.