The College Board administers the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), which offers affordable exams that help students receive college credits. This article covers the CLEP Natural Sciences exam, which covers high-school-level biological and physical sciences.
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What is the CLEP Natural Sciences Test?
CLEP tests are taken by students every year to earn college credits for the things they already know. If you have learned a substantial amount of information about a particular topic through on-the-job training, previous studies, or simple life experience, you can take this one exam and receive college credit as if you took the one-semester course!
By taking and passing the CLEP Natural Sciences test, you can skip certain science classes at college. This will potentially:
- Allow you to earn multiple college credits
- Save you money because the test is cheaper than a semester at college
- Allow you to graduate on time or possibly to graduate ahead of schedule
- Add flexibility to your degree program
You should check with your college before taking this exam to make sure they will accept your CLEP scores.
CLEP Natural Sciences Exam Eligibility
The CLEP Natural Sciences exam is available for anyone to take whenever they want! There are no age restrictions or educational requirements.
Here are some examples of who takes the CLEP Natural Sciences exam:
- College students
- High school students who are preparing to graduate
- Homeschool students
- Adults who are returning to school
- Professionals who want to use the exam results to help advance their careers
- Applicants to master’s degree programs that still have undergraduate prerequisites they need to fulfill
CLEP Natural Sciences Test Outline
The test contains 120 multiple-choice questions and has a 90-minute time limit. The questions are designed to test you in three specific areas:
- Knowledge (40%)
- Interpretation and comprehension (20%)
- Application (40%)
The CLEP Natural Sciences test is split into two equal parts: biological science and physical science.
Biological Science (60 questions)
The questions in this section assess your knowledge of the following:
- Origin and evolution of life
- Classification of organisms
- Cell organization
- Cell division
- Chemical nature of the gene
- Bioenergetics
- Biosynthesis
- Structure, function, and development in organisms
- Heredity patterns
- Concepts of population biology, with an emphasis on ecology
Physical Science (60 questions)
The questions in this section assess your knowledge of the following:
- Atomic and nuclear structure and properties
- Elementary particles
- Nuclear reactions
- Chemical elements
- Compounds and reactions
- Molecular structure and bonding
- Heat, thermodynamics, and states of matter
- Classical mechanics
- Relativity
- Electricity and magnetism
- Waves
- Light
- Sound
- Galaxies, stars, and the solar system
- The Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, structure, features, geologic processes, and history
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CLEP Natural Sciences Exam Registration
You can register for the exam online via the College Board website. The CLEP Natural Sciences exam is administered throughout the year on a very flexible schedule.
During the registration process, you will need to pay the $90 exam fee. You will also choose whether to take the exam at a testing center or remotely. If you are taking the exam in-person, you must ensure that you print out your examination ticket once you have completed the registration process.
Test Day
In-person Testing
On test day, you should arrive at the testing center 15-30 minutes earlier than the scheduled exam appointment. When you arrive, you will be asked to provide a form of valid, government-issued photo ID, as well as your printed registration ticket. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late or your ID is invalid, you will not be able to take the exam.
Before you enter the testing room, you will be asked to leave all personal items in a provided locker. This includes your cell phone, keys, wallet, notes, bags, and food items.
Remote Testing
On test day, you should log in to your CLEP account 15-30 minutes before the scheduled exam time. Once you have logged in, you will need to download and install the Proctortrack desktop application.
Within the Proctortrack app, you will be asked to verify your identity by scanning your photo ID and your face using the webcam. You will also be instructed to use your webcam to scan your testing room.
Once the verification process is complete, you will need to open the ETS Online Test application. The proctor will then be able to get you set up and begin the exam.
How the CLEP Natural Sciences Test is Scored
The CLEP Natural Sciences test is scored so that one point is awarded for each correct answer, and you will not have points taken away for any incorrect answers. You will also not have points taken away if you skip a question altogether.
The number of correct answers you have will be your raw score. The raw score will be converted into a scaled score, which is typically in numeric form ranging from 20 to about 80.
Your unofficial score report will be available on your screen as soon as you finish the exam, and an official report will be made available the next day when you log in to your CLEP account.
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the CLEP Natural Sciences test?
A
There are 120 multiple-choice questions on the test.
Q
How long is the CLEP Natural Sciences test?
A
The time limit for the test is 90 minutes (1.5 hours).
Q
What is the passing score for the CLEP Natural Sciences test?
A
There is no set passing score for this exam. Every college has its own scoring standards.
Q
How much does the CLEP Natural Sciences test cost?
A
The testing fee is $90.
