<p>So I was looking at my future college's website, and I noticed they accept both exams. My question is, which exams are better to take - AP or CLEP?</p>
<p>Fewer schools accept CLEP so that’s one thing to keep in mind.</p>
<p>Sometimes a school will require a 4 on an AP exam but a 50 (or lower!) on the corresponding CLEP. A 4 is equivalent to a “B” on AP and a 50 is generally a “C” on CLEP. Look at Virginia Tech for instance. They’ll give 6 credits for a score of 50 on the Eng. Comp with Essay CLEP, but you have to score a 4 on the AP exam to get that much credit. Another example: East Carolina University requires a 42 for the Microeconomics CLEP exam, but a 4 on AP. Basically, they require a D on CLEP but a B on AP. </p>
<p>CLEP is a 90 minute multiple choice exam, available on demand, and scored instantly (except for optional essay in English or Freshman Comp). </p>
<p>It’s worth looking into.</p>
<p>If you need the snob appeal, go the AP route. If you’re just looking for college credits, check the CLEP/AP policies at your target school and take the fastest/easiest route to credit!</p>
<p>I find the College Board’s MyRoad program generally has accurate CLEP acceptance data on the SAT/AP/CLEP page for each school.</p>
<p>For preparing for CLEP exams, Instantcert is a good online service. They have specific exam feedback available for subscribers. (Use code 85722 for a discount). They also have a bank of flashcards that some people find sufficient for exam prep.</p>
<p>CLEPs are awesome - when they can be accepted. You can take CLEPs twice a year (repeat test i mean), whereas you get one shot at an AP. In addition, you only have to test for 90 minutes, whereas a typical AP test is three hours. On top of that its adjustable timing, so you can take it when you want.</p>
<p>CLEPs CAN be more expensive though. I paid $70 for mine, but there is a $30 charge for non-students (taken in a CC testing center, where I am dually enrolled). </p>
<p>I also feel that CLEP material is not as in depth as AP material. I took the CLEP as a practice for my AP (biology), so you can look at it that way (as a backup as well). Overall, if you have a chance at getting CLEP credit - by all means take it, but if it is an introductory course that you will need to take a more advanced level of (or something that requires that skill) I would say go for the AP.</p>