FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where will we test?

In the test room of the HUB (Building 5305). Check into the office for identification purposes if you have not made an appointment in advance. If you have scheduled a test, go directly to the test room.

How many people can take a test at a time?

There 6 stations available for testing at a session.

How long does a test take?

Each test is 90 minutes long except those with essays. You can take the multiple choice section and the essay section (if you have selected a test with an essay) on separate days. You also need to include 30 minutes for checking in and checking out.

Do I have to make an appointment?

So that your paperwork can be processed efficiently, it is better to schedule in advance. If you are taking a language test (French, German, Spanish), you must make an appointment. If you are taking a test with an essay, you must allow 2 weeks for the essay topic to reach the center.

What if I need more time?

Both CLEP and DSST exams are timed. There is a clock in the upper left hand corner of your computer screen to help you monitor your time.

Can I take breaks during the exam?

A break may be taken but the clock doesn’t stop, so it is not advisable.

When will I get the results?

You will receive the results immediately with the ACE recommended passing score along side. The only tests that do not give immediate results are the ones with essays.

What tests require essays?

English Composition with an essay. Includes a mandatory essay Freshman College Composition, American Literature, English Literature, and Analyzing and Interpreting Literature have an optional essay, but which some colleges require.

What happens if I fail?

An exam can be retaken after a six-months waiting period.

How much college credit can I get from the CLEP and DSST exams?

It depends on the college you are attending. It is very important to see your college counselor before you begin studying to see if the school gives credit for the exam and if the credit is elective or subject level credit. Most colleges allow between 12 and 21 credits for successful completion of the exams.

What if English is my second language?

All of the exams, with the exception of the foreign language exams, are given in English.

What can I bring into the test room?

• Personal identification
• Scratch paper provided by the test center at the time of testing
• Pencil (non-mechanical)
• Devices permitted as authorized testing accommodations for candidates with disabilities

What can I NOT bring into the test room?

• Food, beverages<
• Hats (unless worn as a religious requirement)
• Hand-held calculators (a calculator function is built into the software for those tests that require calculator use)
• Calculator watches
• Alarm wristwatches
• Digital cameras
• Dictionaries, books, pamphlets, reference materials
• Papers of any kind (except for authorized scratch paper provided at the center)
• Slide rules, protractors, compasses, rulers
• Highlighter pens and/or colored pens and pencils
• Cellular phones/pagers, beepers, walkie talkies, PDAs
• Wireless communication devices of any kind (e.g. BlackBerry)
• Listening devices, radios with headphones, recorders
• Transmission or receiving devices
• Mechanical pencils or any type of pen
• Non-medical electronic devices (laptop computers, digital assistants)
• Candidate-provided keyboards

Backpacks, purses, wallets, outdoor wear, and any other personal items should be placed on the table behind the testing stations.