The 2008-2009 college year has just come to an end. Many students will find summer jobs in order to save up money for the upcoming school year's tuition and living expenses. While the summer job may be a great way to make money, many college students may be surprised to find out there are ways to save money in their upcoming semesters in addition to the traditional summer job. CLEP, College Level Examination Program, is a program that allows students to demonstrate competence on a standardized exam in a variety of subjects, such as history, English, and social sciences, and receive credits instead of having to take the course. Obtaining a satisfactory CLEP score indicates that a student has a level of knowledge in the subject equivalent to that of a student who has actually taken the course. Currently, there are thirty-four different tests for students to take. CLEP exams, which are 90 minute long multiple choice tests, cover material taught in lower-level college courses, that is, those courses that students typically take in the first two years of college. These exams offer a much more economic way to obtain college credits when compared to the cost of college tuition. Beginning July 1, 2009, these tests will cost $72 to take (currentl cost is $70). In the 2008-2009 college year, the average cost per credit hour at a public college was $274 and $1047 at private colleges.



Many students may find these potential benefits of CLEP tests to be attractive but may be unsure about the testing procedure. College students should know that it is completely possible to work a full-time job and still have time to prepare for their CLEP; it is even possible to take several exams over one summer. Saving money earned during a summer job combined with the tuition savings that come from CLEP tests can help students be in a great financial position at the beginning of the fall 2009 semester. For example if the student earns $8 an hour and works 40 hours a week for three months during the summer, he or she would earn $3840 before taxes. Passing even one CLEP test during the summer and, as a result, earning three credit hours, can save the college student about $800 on average in tuition expenses at a public university and over $3000 on average at a private university! The savings of passing an exam that yields 6 credit hours or even passing multiple CLEP exams are even more impressive! In addition to the financial savings, passing CLEP exams can result in a lower course load during the upcoming semesters or allow the student to graduate sooner.

Students have multiple options to choose from when preparing for a CLEP test. These study options include using college textbooks, study guides, practice tests, online study systems, and software and DVD's. Students should consider their learning needs, learning style, time to devote to studying, and other factors such as access to a computer and the Internet, when selecting a way to prepare for their CLEP test. Many students find that they do not have the time or patience to sort through and study textbooks. In addition, other students may find that attempting to take practice tests without having first gaining a solid knowledge base of the subject to be a frustrating undertaking. Online CLEP test preparation systems, such as www.SpeedyPrep.com, are designed to meet the learning needs of a wide range of students. SpeedyPrep's question-based CLEP prep system helps students learn the material they need to know to pass their exam. This CLEP test prep system features unique student tracking software that monitors students? studying and gives a visual indicator of study course percentage completion on a progress bar. SpeedyPrep's software then notifies the student when he or she has demonstrated learning competence necessary to take and pass the CLEP test. Students who complete a SpeedyPrep course can take their CLEP with confidence, joining the numerous other students who have used SpeedyPrep to prepare for and pass their CLEP tests. Studying two to three hours a day, students can prepare for a CLEP test in just a few weeks! Some students may be able to devote more time per day to studying and can be ready for their CLEP in as little as two to three days!

With over 2,900 colleges and universities accepting CLEP, many students will find that they, too, can take advantage of the numerous benefits to be gained this summer through taking CLEP exams! College students considering taking CLEP tests should talk to their academic advisor in order to learn about their college or university's specific CLEP policies.