CLEP Test

For College While in High School

Nita graciously shares how her homeschool children are using the CLEP Test in preparation for college while still in high school. Be sure to add these CLEP credits to your Homeschool Transcript. We'd also love to hear your Homeschool Idea!

Oh my was I naive. Having two kids already in college, one that graduated from traditional school and the other I homeschooled for six months before graduating her, I thought I knew it all.

But then I started homeschooling my younger kids. My 7th grader has seriously blossomed during homeschooling and has an insatiable appetite for learning. I seriously can barely keep up. So after talking to my Umbrella Coordinator with my umbrella group that does my documentation for me for the state, provides transcripts and diplomas with lots of support if I request it, we decided to skip her listed grade to 8th grade. I wanted her to continue advanced topics but to gain high school credit for it.

PREPARING FOR HIGH SCHOOL

Now, that meant I had to start her on the road to High School then College...researching curricula, pitting them against the state requirements...oh my!

During my research I found out the value of taking CLEP Tests.

These are the options I presented to my daughter who wants to be a doctor, but also loves computers. I suggested she get her 4 yr degree in a Computer Science related course and just take her pre-req classes (sciences) for medical school.

1) High School classes + Community College Classes = Dual Credit and Associates Degree (finish AA at 17 yrs old or 11th grade)

2) High School Classes + Community College Classes + CLEP test = BS or BA degree from online Univ. (finish 1st BS or BA at 18yrs old) through CLEP test, Community College Classes and Online College) she'd then be a transfer student at University for 1 year to gain her classes for pre-med.

Tiger Lilly decided she wanted to do Option # 2 (she is very competitive with her sister who did Option #1)

THE PLAN TO CLEP IT!

Resource #1

We considered using COLLEGE PLUS which is a service that preps students for taking multiple CLEP exams then transferring to online colleges or other colleges that use CLEP for credit. The service tests the student to see what fields fit them, gives them prep training in logic, memorization tools (Learning Network tool) and maps out their CLEP to Degree plans. A coach of the same sex contacts them and works with them every 2 weeks. It costs about $3000 for the service.

However, with 2 kids in college at the same time, shelling out the extra money just wasn't possible. I really wanted to use COLLEGE PLUS; however...

Resource #2

But I found a book by Tricia McQuarrie named CLEP Lesson Plans. She has some Free Lesson Plans on her website. Read her website and the Chapman Kids website where he explains how he prepped his then 13yr old daughter to CLEP out of courses.

OUR PLAN

So after sitting with my daughter, reading with her the options and the lesson plans above we decided to go for it - the College Plus way by augmenting her High School Courses to help her prepare for the similar CLEP exam.

RELATED CLEP TEST TO TAKE IN HIGH SCHOOL:

We will tackle the overlapping tests within 4 weeks of each other, combining 'like' subject matter on tests that have similar pieces of information within.

How we decided what to take:

1) We researched online universities that took CLEP tests and mapped the degree credits to the test.

2) We researched community colleges and universities near us where Tiger Lilly wanted to go and saw what tests they accepted and what the credit would be.

3) We decided to take test that coincided with her high school studies.

In this order she will test:

9th Grade

CLEP Test Planned
Analyzing & Interpreting Lit (3 college credits)-8 weeks to study
English Composition with Essay (6 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
English Lit no essay (3 college credits) - 10 weeks to study
American Lit no essay (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Humanities (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study

Classes that will help her prepare:

Abeka 10th grade English & Language Arts
Time4Writing SAT essay writing (8weeks)
Analytical Grammar (17 weeks)
Sequential Spelling (use with Abeka spelling program for 24 weeks)
Humanities (free online course with book entire school year)
REA Clep Test books for each subjects (8 weeks per study session for each test)
InstaCert monthly subscription (daily from the 4th month of studies during REA book reviews)

10th Grade

CLEP Test Planned
College Math (3 college credits)-8 weeks to study
College Algebra (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
American Government (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
US History 1 (3 college credits) - 10 weeks to study
US History 2 (3 college credits) - 5 weeks to study
Western Civ 1 (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Western Civ 2 (3 college credits) - 5 weeks to study

Classes that will help her prepare:

Abeka US History (and Free online Education Portal Class)
Western Civilization (Free online Education Portal Class)
Thinkwell US History
Algebra 1 (taken in 8th grade)
Algebra 2 (Abeka & Foersters 'Math Without Borders)
CLEP Professor Dive CD
Geometry (taken in 8th grade - refresher using Teaching Textbooks)
REA Clep Test books for each subjects (8 weeks per study session for each test)
InstaCert monthly subscription (daily from the 4th month of studies during REA book reviews)

11th Grade

CLEP Test Planned
Sociology (3 college credits)-8 weeks to study
Psychology (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Biology (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Chemistry (3 college credits) - 10 weeks to study
Pre-Calculus (3 college credits) - 5 weeks to study

Classes that will help her prepare:

Sonlight Psychology (and Free online Education Portal Class)
Sociology Online Course and Companion short overview book (Free online Education Portal Class)
Biology (Abeka and Thinkwell taken in 9th grade)
Chemistry (Abeka and Thinkwell)
Pre-Calc (Abeka)
CLEP Professor Dive CD
REA Clep Test books for each subjects (8weeks per study session for each test)
InstaCert monthly subscription (daily from the 4th month of studies during REA book reviews)

12th Grade

CLEP Test Planned
Physics (3 college credits)-8 weeks to study
Natural Science (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Calculus (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Information Systems (3 college credits) - 10 weeks to study

Classes that will help her prepare:

Physics (Abeka and Free online Education Portal Class)
Natural Science (Free online Education Portal Class)
Biology (Abeka and Thinkwell taken in 9th grade)
Calculus (Abeka and Thinkwell)
Information Systems (Free online course: and Programming with Youth Digital, Homeschool Programming Classes in Java and C)
CLEP Professor Dive CD
REA Clep Test books for each subjects (8weeks per study session for each test)
InstaCert monthly subscription (daily from the 4th month of studies during REA book reviews)

WHY INTEGRATE IT?

I know now how my daughter learns. Finding ways to integrate similar subjects in her coursework, then focusing on one test to study at a time will give her the best benefit.

The positive is that after she's done this, taking the SAT will simply be a breeze. Even taking the MCAT, because she will know the process of HOW TO STUDY and what works best for her.

Have you considered the CLEP Test as an OPTION for your child?

by Nita Preston