The College Board administers the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), which offers affordable exams to help students across the country receive college credits. This page covers the CLEP American Government exam, which tests your understanding of civics and political process and behavior.
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What is the CLEP American Government Exam?
If you are already knowledgeable about a particular subject without having a college education, CLEP exams can be taken to earn college credits for those subjects. Whether you have learned about the subject through previous studies, life experience, or on-the-job training, you can take this one exam and receive college credit as if you took the one-semester course!
By taking and passing the CLEP American Government exam, you can skip the Government class at college, which could potentially result in the following:
- Saving you money because the test is cheaper than a semester at college
- Allowing you to earn three or more college credits
- Adding flexibility to your degree program
- Allowing you to graduate on time or possibly to graduate ahead of schedule
It is important that you check with your college before taking this exam to make sure it is an exam they will accept.
CLEP American Government Exam Eligibility
There are no eligibility requirements to take this exam! CLEP exams are available for anyone to take at any time, regardless of age or formal education.
Generally, you will see the following groups of people taking the CLEP American Government exam:
- High school students who are preparing to graduate
- Homeschool students
- College 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 American Government Exam Outline
The CLEP American Government exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions and has a time limit of 90 minutes (1.5 hours).
Each question on the exam will require you to demonstrate one of the following skills/abilities:
- Analysis and interpretation of data relevant to American government and politics (10%-15%)
- Understanding typical patterns of political processes and behaviors, as well as various governmental structure and procedures (30%-35%)
- Knowledge of American government and politics (55%-60%)
The exam is split into five categories.
Institutions and Policy Processes: Presidency, Bureaucracy, Congress, and the Federal Courts (30%–35%)
The knowledge and skills tested in this category include:
- The role and influence of the Supreme Court
- The structure and processes of the judicial system
- The major institutional arrangements and powers, both formal and informal
- Policy processes and outputs
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (10%–15%)
The knowledge and skills tested in this category include:
- The Bill of Rights
- Equal protection
- Due process
- The development of civil rights and civil liberties
Political Parties and Interest Groups (15%–20%)
The knowledge and skills tested in this category include:
- The function, historical development, organization, and mobilization of political parties
- Elections
- Interest groups and their effects on the political process
- The effects of political parties on the political process
Political Beliefs and Behavior (15%–20%)
The knowledge and skills tested in this category include:
- Public opinion and its influence on political leaders
- Political participation
- Political culture
- How citizens learn about politics
- Citizens’ beliefs about their government and its leaders
Constitutional Underpinnings of American Democracy (15%–20%)
The knowledge and skills tested in this category include:
- Majority rule
- Theories of democracy
- Federalism
- Checks and balances
- Minority rights
- Separation of powers
- Influences of the formulation and adoption of the US Constitution
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CLEP American Government Exam Registration
The CLEP American Government exam is administered year-round on a very flexible schedule.
To register, you must first create a College Board account on their website. This will allow you to register, and you will be able to see any exams you have taken and view the grades of the exams you have taken. You can also request a transcript from this page.
During this process, you will need to pay the exam fee ($95) and choose whether to take the exam at a testing center or from home via an online proctor.
Testing In-person
Once you have decided on the testing center, date, and time that work best for you, you will need to print your exam ticket. If you fail to bring this ticket with you on test day, you will not be able to take the test (a screenshot of the ticket will not be accepted).
Testing Remotely
You should ensure that you meet the system requirements for remote testing before you register:
- 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 date and time that works best for you, you will need to download the ETS Online Test desktop application. This app is what allows you to take the exam on your computer at home.
Test Day
In-person Testing
On the day of the exam, you should arrive at the testing center around 30 minutes early. This will allow enough time for the check-in process. After you arrive, you will need to provide a valid, government-issued photo ID, as well as your printed registration ticket. An invalid ID will result in your exam being canceled.
You will then be asked to leave all personal items (cell phone, bags, coat, notes, books, etc.) in a secure locker outside the testing area. Since you are not allowed to bring your own calculator, a TI-30XS MultiView scientific calculator will be made available within the testing software:
Remote Testing
On the day of the exam, you will need to log in to your CLEP account around 30 minutes early to allow time for the check-in process. Once you have logged in, you will need to download and install the Proctortrack desktop application. Once you open the app, you will be asked to verify your identity by scanning your face and photo ID with your webcam. You will also be asked to scan your testing area.
Once the check-in process is complete, you will need to open the ETS Online Test desktop app, and the proctor will get you set up and start the exam.
During the exam, you must ensure that no one enters your testing area. If someone comes into your room, you must immediately ask them to leave, and you cannot say anything else.
How the CLEP American Government Exam is Scored
CLEP exams are scored with one point for each correct answer, and you will not have points removed for any incorrect answers or skipped questions. The number of correct answers you have will be your raw score.
Your raw score is converted into a scaled score, which is typically in numeric form ranging from 20 to about 80.
An unofficial score report will appear on the screen as soon as you finish the exam, and an official report will be made available the day after the exam when you log in to your CLEP account.
Passing Score
There is no set passing score for the CLEP American Government exam. The college of your choice will determine what scores they accept as passing. You can usually find this score requirement on your college’s website.
According to the American Council on Education, a scaled score of 50 or higher is often what colleges require.
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How to Study for the CLEP American Government Exam
How to Study Effectively
Your success on CLEP test day depends not only on how many hours you put into preparing but also on whether you prepared the right way. It’s good to check along the way to see whether your studying is paying off. One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking CLEP American Government practice tests to evaluate your progress. Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every time you take a free CLEP American Government exam practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:
- The questions you got wrong
- The ones you had to guess on, even if you guessed right
- The ones you found difficult or slow to work through
This will show you exactly what your weak areas are and where you need to devote more study time. Ask yourself why each of these questions gave you trouble. Was it because you didn’t understand the material? Was it because you didn’t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence? Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.
Answer Explanations
Additionally, many CLEP American Government practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be tempting to read the explanation and think that you now have a good understanding of the concept. However, an explanation likely only covers part of the question’s broader context. Even if the explanation makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you’re positive you have a thorough understanding.
Comprehend Each Topic
As you go along, keep in mind that the CLEP practice test is just that: practice. Memorizing these questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any of the same exact questions. If you only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won’t be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you’ll be able to answer any question that shows up on the test.
Strategy for CLEP American Government Practice
When you’re ready to start taking practice tests, follow this strategy:
- Remove Limitations. Take the first test with no time constraints and with your notes and CLEP study guide handy. Take your time and focus on applying the strategies you’ve learned.
- Time Yourself. Take the second practice test “open book” as well, but set a timer and practice pacing yourself to finish in time.
- Simulate Test Day. Take any other practice tests as if it were test day. Set a timer and put away your study materials. Sit at a table or desk in a quiet room, imagine yourself at the testing center, and answer questions as quickly and accurately as possible.
- Keep Practicing. Keep taking practice tests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or it’s time for the actual test. Your mind will be ready for the schedule and stress of test day, and you’ll be able to focus on recalling the material you’ve learned.
FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the CLEP American Government exam?
A
There are 100 multiple-choice questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the CLEP American Government exam?
A
The time limit for this exam is 1.5 hours.
Q
What is the passing score for the CLEP American Government exam?
A
The score you need to pass depends on which college you decide to attend. Generally, a score of 50 is recommended.
Q
How much does the CLEP American Government exam cost?
A
The examination fee is $95.
