Students who believe they have already mastered the material in a particular course can get credit for it without ever setting foot in a classroom.
The College Level Examination Program, or CLEP, is limited to introductory level courses in 34 subjects, including algebra, biology, Spanish and psychology, said Magdalena Anaya-Rahberg, a testing assistant at UNM's Testing Center.
Passing the tests gets prerequisite requirements waived for some classes, excluding English, according to the center's Web site. The tests are designed to reward what a student has learned through independent study, advanced high school courses or personal development.
"It's a good idea for students with time or money constraints," Anaya-Rahberg said. "It saves them money because they don't have to buy the book and it saves them time because they don't have to sit through that introductory class."
She said UNM is one of 2,900 colleges nationwide that grant credit for CLEP exams.
Ariel Foster, director of the National College Board's College-Level Examination Program, said a record 137,000 students took one or more of the tests in 2002, a 20 percent increase over the previous year.
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Foster called the increase "significant," attributing it to several factors, including "the downturn in the economy and the rise in tuition."
She said recent changes in testing procedures may have also contributed to the test's growth in popularity.
In 2001, the board introduced a computer version of the test, making it possible for students to receive their results quickly, therefore allowing them to make enrollment decisions immediately, Foster said.
Anaya-Rahberg said each CLEP exam is about 90 minutes long, unless there is a writing portion of the test, in which case the test has to be sent to the national board and results take between two to three weeks.
According to the most recent issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, last year 12 percent of the test's takers were younger than 19, about 27 percent were 19 to 22 and about 24 percent were at least 36 years old.
"Students should be really knowledgeable on the subject to pass the test," Anaya-Rahberg said." Don't waste your money if you're not completely sure."
Anaya-Rahberg said UNM's Testing Center has a CLEP preparation exam that describes the various tests offered and includes a practice exam so students can gauge whether they will do well on the exam.
She said students can also take the CLEP for credit at other institutions, but it is important to research whether those institutions accept credit based on the CLEP and the scores needed to receive credit.
"As long as a student feels qualified in a subject, they may try to take it," Foster said. "But the CLEP isn't for everyone. They are really rigorous exams."
Anaya-Rahberg said that students interested in the CLEP should call UNM's Testing Center at 277-5346 to schedule an appointment.
