CLEP College Algebra

The exam contains approximately 60 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of those questions are pretest questions that will not be scored, so your final score is based on the remaining items. The time limit is fixed, so practice pacing yourself at roughly one and a half minutes per question.

Yes. CLEP exams contain multiple-choice questions, and College Algebra follows that format. You will choose one answer from the options provided for each question. There are no free-response or essay sections, so you do not need to write out full solutions.

Yes. A scientific (nongraphing) calculator, the TI-30XS MultiView, is integrated into the exam software and is available during the entire testing time. Select the Calculator icon to use it. You are expected to know how and when to use it appropriately, so practice with it beforehand.

The ACE credit-granting score for College Algebra is 50, and ACE recommends 3 semester hours. However, each institution sets its own credit-granting policy, which may differ from the ACE recommendation. Contact your college to confirm the score required for credit and the number of credit hours granted.

Registration for the College Algebra exam costs $97.00. That fee is listed on the official CLEP registration page. Check the CLEP website for any additional test-center fees, which are set locally and are not included in the $97.00 registration price.

About half the exam consists of routine, straightforward problems requiring basic algebraic skills, and about half consists of nonroutine problems that require understanding concepts and applying skills. The difficulty comes from the conceptual items rather than arithmetic, since the exam places little emphasis on calculation. Strong factoring and function skills matter most.

Start with algebraic operations because they underlie everything else: exponent rules, factoring and expanding polynomials, operations with algebraic expressions, absolute value, and properties of logarithms. Then move to equations and inequalities, and finally to functions and their properties, which make up the largest share of the exam.

Common problems include weak factoring skills, confusion about domain and range, and misreading nonroutine questions that combine several concepts. Another frequent issue is not practicing with the on-screen TI-30XS calculator, which wastes time during the exam. Also watch for careless errors in setting up equations and inequalities before solving.

Use the official topic list to audit your strengths, work through the official sample questions, and practice with the online scientific calculator. Because about half the exam is nonroutine, practice explaining why a method works rather than only computing answers. Time yourself on mixed sets to build pacing for the 90-minute limit.