CLEP Introductory Psychology
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Cheat sheet
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ExploreKey terms
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ExploreCommon mistakes
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ExploreCase studies
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ExploreAbout this exam
The CLEP Introductory Psychology exam is a College Board credit-by-examination test that lets students earn college credit for material typically covered in a one-semester undergraduate introductory psychology course. It is aimed at self-directed learners, adult students, and current undergraduates who already know the material and want to demonstrate that knowledge rather than repeat the course. The exam stresses basic facts, concepts, and generally accepted principles of psychology, spanning history, approaches, and methods; biological bases of behavior, sensation, and perception; states of consciousness; learning; cognition; motivation and emotion; personality; psychological disorders and treatment; social psychology; and statistics, tests, and measurements. It contains approximately 95 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 90 minutes, and some questions are pretests that are not scored. Items follow the terminology, criteria, and classifications of DSM-5. The American Council on Education recommends a credit-granting score of 50 for 3 semester hours, but each institution sets its own policy, so confirm your college's requirement before registering. The exam fee is $97. To prepare, review a one-semester textbook across all topic areas, use the official study resources and sample questions, and take timed practice sets to build pacing.
What you'll study
About CLEP Introductory Psychology preparation
What is the format of the CLEP Introductory Psychology exam?
It is entirely multiple choice, with approximately 95 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some questions are unscored pretests, so your official score is based on the remaining items. There is no essay or free-response section.
How much does it cost to take the exam?
The exam registration fee is $97.00, per the College Board CLEP page. Separate optional study materials, such as the examination guide, are sold individually and are not included in the registration fee.
What score do I need to pass?
ACE recommends a credit-granting score of 50, worth 3 semester hours. However, each institution sets its own credit-granting policy, which may differ from ACE's recommendation, so contact your college to confirm the required score and credit hours.
How should I order my studying across the topics?
Follow the exam weights. Start with History, Approaches, and Methods, then work through Biological Bases, Sensation and Perception, Learning, Cognition, and Developmental Psychology, before the smaller-weight areas such as States of Consciousness and Motivation and Emotion. Finish with Statistics, Tests, and Measurement.
Which topics carry the most questions?
History, Approaches, and Methods is the largest area at 11 to 12 percent, followed by Social Psychology at 9 to 10 percent. Biological Bases, Learning, Cognition, Developmental Psychology, and Psychological Disorders and Health each account for roughly 8 to 9 percent.
How long should I plan to prepare?
Most candidates need several weeks of steady review, since the exam spans a full semester of material. Build a schedule that covers every topic area, then shift to timed practice so you can sustain roughly one question per minute across 90 minutes.
What are common reasons candidates fall short?
Skipping low-weight topics such as statistics, measurement, and states of consciousness leaves easy points behind. Others memorize definitions without practicing application questions, which the exam emphasizes. Confirm your college's score policy early so you are not surprised after testing.
Can I retake the exam if I do not get the score I need?
The provided College Board source does not state a retake policy, so this cannot be confirmed here. Check the official CLEP exam policies page or contact your test center directly before assuming you can retest.