Credit Sprint / Study guides / CLEP® Chemistry exam guide

Credit Sprint's Guide to the CLEP® Chemistry Exam

The exam at a glance

About 75 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes. Some are unscored pretest questions, so don't panic over a strange one.
Scores run from 20 to 80. The American Council on Education recommends credit for a 50, worth 6 semester hours, but each college sets its own score and credit amount.
There is no hands-on lab. Lab technique is tested with written questions about procedures, data and safety.
The content is spread over structure of matter, states of matter, reaction types, equations and stoichiometry, equilibrium and kinetics, thermodynamics, and descriptive and experimental chemistry.

Check your college's CLEP® policy first: the score it requires and the course it gives credit for. Search your registrar's site for "CLEP".
Finish the free Modern States Chemistry course to get a voucher that covers the exam fee.
Check whether a lab component is required separately. Some colleges give lecture credit only.

Test centers are often on college campuses. Bring an approved photo ID.
At-home exams use remote proctoring with an equipment check, an ID scan and a room scan before you start.
Read the official at-home testing requirements well before exam day.

Pace yourself: 90 minutes for about 75 questions is about 70 seconds each. Answer what you know, flag the rest and come back.
There's no penalty for guessing, so answer every question.
A periodic table is provided on screen. Check the official exam page for the current list of reference tools, including the on-screen calculator.

Scores sent to colleges can take a couple of weeks to arrive, and the college may need more time to post credit.
If you don't pass, you must wait three months before retaking the same exam.
Use the wait: your mistakes notebook and a fresh study plan will be ready.

Sources: CLEP® Chemistry · At-home CLEP® exams · Modern States. Policies change; confirm details on the official CLEP® site.