CLEP Biology study guide
CLEP Biology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CLEP Biology exam is a College-Level Examination Program test that lets candidates earn college credit by demonstrating knowledge equivalent to a one-year college general biology course. It is aimed at students entering or already enrolled in college who want to place out of introductory biology, and it is accepted at institutions that set their own credit-granting policies. The exam covers molecular and cellular biology, organismal biology, and population biology, with approximately equal weight given to each area. It contains approximately 115 questions to be answered in 90 minutes, and some of those are pretest questions that are not scored. Topics on this exam: Molecular and Cellular Biology, Organismal Biology, and Population Biology. The CLEP Biology study guide has 3 sections and about 927 words.
01Molecular and Cellular Biology
Molecular and cellular biology asks how information and energy move through cells. At the molecular level, know the structure of DNA (antiparallel double helix, complementary base pairing A-T and G-C, hydrogen bonds between strands), the central dogma (DNA to RNA to protein), and the three RNA types: mRNA carries the message, tRNA brings amino acids, rRNA builds the ribosome. Understand transcription in the nucleus and translation at the ribosome, including codons, anticodons, start and stop signals, and that the genetic code is redundant but not ambiguous. At the cellular level, know the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, the roles of major organelles (mitochondria for aerobic respiration, chloroplasts for photosynthesis, ribosomes for protein synthesis, the rough and smooth ER, Golgi, lysosome), and the fluid mosaic model of the membrane.
337 words, about 2 min02Organismal Biology
Organismal biology spans structure, function, and physiology across the diversity of life. Review the levels of organization from cells to tissues to organs to organ systems, and the major plant and animal systems. In plants, understand vascular tissue (xylem carries water upward, phloem carries sugars), transpiration and stomatal control, photosynthesis, and the alternation of generations. In animals, focus on circulation, gas exchange, digestion, osmoregulation, nervous signaling, and hormonal regulation, plus homeostasis as a unifying theme.
297 words, about 1 min03Population Biology
Population biology examines how populations grow, interact, and change over time. Understand population size, density, dispersion, and the factors that affect them (births, deaths, immigration, emigration). Know the difference between exponential growth (J-shaped, unlimited resources) and logistic growth (S-shaped, limited by carrying capacity K). Recognize density-dependent factors (competition, disease, predation) and density-independent factors (weather, natural disasters).
293 words, about 1 min