The College Board administers the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), which offers affordable exams that help students receive college credits. This page covers the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam, which covers a wide range of social science and history topics.
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What is the CLEP Social Sciences and History Test?
As mentioned previously, CLEP tests can be taken to earn college credits for the things you already know. If you have learned the test material 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!
This test does not pertain to a specific college course, but it covers topics generally found in introductory history, economics, geography, and political science courses. Passing this test will potentially:
- Allow you to earn three or more 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
Taking the CLEP Social Sciences and History test can save you from hours of classwork and all of the hours of homework that professors assign. You should check with your college before taking this test to make sure they will accept it.
CLEP Social Sciences and History Exam Eligibility
CLEP tests are open to anyone to take at any time! There are no age restrictions or educational requirements.
Here are some examples of who takes the CLEP Social Sciences and History test:
- 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 Social Sciences and History Test Outline
The CLEP Social Sciences and History test contains 120 questions and has a time limit of 90 minutes.
The questions are split into seven content categories.
History (40%)
The questions in this section cover the following areas of history:
- United States history
- Western civilization
- World history
Economics (20%)
The questions in this section cover the following topics:
- International trade
- Resource markets
- Product markets
- Major theorists and schools
- Monetary and fiscal policy
- Economic measurements
- Scarcity, choice, and cost
Geography (20%)
The questions in this section cover the following topics:
- Rural and urban land use
- Key geographical skills
- Regional geography
- Cultural geography
- Physical geography
- Spatial interaction
- Population
Government/Political Science (20%)
The questions in this section cover the following topics:
- Comparative politics
- International relations
- Methods
- United States
- Voting and political behavior
- Civil rights and liberties
- Institutions
- Parties, interest groups, and media
- Constitution and its interpretation
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CLEP Social Sciences and History Exam Registration
You can register for the test online via the College Board website. The CLEP Social Sciences and History test is administered throughout the year on a very flexible schedule.
At the top of the page on the far right-hand side, you will see a heading marked “My CLEP account.” This drop-down menu will allow you to go to the correct page to establish an account manage your profile, see the exams you have taken, and view the grades of the exams you have taken. You can also request a transcript from this page.
During the registration process, you will need to pay the $90 testing fee. You will also choose whether to take the exam at a testing center or remotely. If you are taking the test in-person, you must ensure that you print out your examination ticket once you have completed the registration process.
Testing Remotely
Before registering to take the exam remotely, you should ensure that you meet the technical requirements:
- You must have a PC desktop or laptop (Macs, Chromebooks, and tablets are not supported).
- Your computer must be using the Windows 10 operating system (Windows 11 is not supported).
- Your computer must have the most recent version of Google Chrome installed.
- You must have a speaker of some kind, internal or external (headphones are not allowed).
- You must have a camera and microphone, internal or external.
- You must have a reliable internet connection.
Once you have selected the day and time that you want to take the test, you will need to return to the portal of the CLEP website and download the ETS Online Test application. This application is what allows you to take the test on your computer at home.
Test Day
In-person Testing
On the day of your test, you should arrive at the testing center 15-30 minutes earlier than the scheduled exam time. When you arrive, you will be asked to provide a form of valid, government-issued photo identification, as well as your printed registration ticket.
Before you enter the testing room, you will be asked to leave all personal items in a provided locker. These include your cell phone, pencils, books, and food items.
Remote Testing
On the day of the test, 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 this app, you will verify your identity with a face scan and a scan of a valid photo ID. You will also be instructed to use your camera 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.
During the exam, you must ensure that no one enters your testing room. If someone does enter, you must ask them to leave, and you cannot say anything else to them.
How the Test is Scored
The CLEP Social Sciences and History 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 test, 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 Social Sciences and History test?
A
There are 120 questions on the test.
Q
How long is the CLEP Social Sciences and History test?
A
The time limit for this test is 90 minutes.
Q
What is the passing score for the CLEP Social Sciences and History test?
A
There is no set passing score for this test. Each school sets their own passing score requirements.
Q
How much does the CLEP Social Sciences and History test cost?
A
The testing fee is $90.
