CLEP Chemistry

It is a multiple-choice exam delivered on computer. The exam contains approximately 75 questions to be answered in 90 minutes, and some of those are pretest questions that are not scored. An online scientific calculator and a periodic table are available within the testing software for the entire testing time.

You have 90 minutes for approximately 75 questions, which averages a little over a minute per question. Because calculation-heavy items can consume time, many candidates work through straightforward recall and concept questions first, then return to multi-step stoichiometry or equilibrium problems with the remaining time.

The ACE credit-granting recommendation for Chemistry is a score of 50, corresponding to 6 semester hours. However, each institution sets its own credit-granting policy, which may differ, so contact your college to confirm the score required for credit and the number of credit hours granted.

Registration for the Chemistry exam is $97.00. Optional study materials, such as the official examination guide, are sold separately. Test center or remote proctoring arrangements may carry additional fees, so check current registration details before you pay.

The exam is designed to cover a full year of general chemistry, so it rewards broad coverage rather than depth in one area. Questions demand recall, application, and interpretation, including interpreting data and recognizing unstated assumptions. Candidates with recent coursework and solid math skills generally find it manageable with focused review.

Retake rules are set by the exam program and by your testing center, and the published source material for this page does not specify a retake policy. Confirm current retake eligibility, waiting periods, and fees directly with the exam sponsor or your test center before scheduling a second attempt.

Start with structure of matter and states of matter, since they carry the largest weight and underpin later topics. Then move through reaction types, equations and stoichiometry, and equilibrium, which build on the mole concept. Finish with kinetics, thermodynamics, descriptive chemistry, and experimental chemistry, reviewing lab techniques and periodic trends.

Frequent problems include weak mole-concept and stoichiometry skills, neglecting descriptive chemistry because it feels like memorization, and skipping equilibrium calculations involving constants, pH, and solubility products. Others lose time by over-relying on the calculator or by never practicing under timed conditions with the on-screen tools.

Use a college general chemistry textbook as your backbone, take a timed practice test early to find weak domains, and drill calculation types such as limiting reactants, gas laws, and equilibrium. Practice with a scientific calculator similar to the one provided, and review common laboratory experiments, including equipment, observations, and interpretation of results.

Yes. A scientific, nongraphing calculator is integrated into the exam software and is available during the entire testing time. You are expected to know how and when to use it appropriately, so practice calculations involving arithmetic, exponents, roots, and logarithms before test day.