Passing the
CLEP Chemistry Exam
ABOUT THIS BOOK
This book provides you with complete preparation for the CLEP Chemistry exam. Inside you will find a concise review of the subject matter, as well as tips and strategies for test-taking. We also give you two full-length practice tests, all based on the official CLEP Chemistry exam. Our practice tests contain every type of question that you can expect to encounter on the actual exam. Following each practice test you will find an answer key with detailed explanations designed to help you more completely understand the test material. All CLEP exams are computer-based. As you can see, the practice tests in our book are presented as paper-and-pencil exams. Even so, the content and format of the actual CLEP subject exams are faithfully mirrored. Later in this chapter you’ll fi nd a detailed outline of the format and content of the CLEP Chemistry exam.
ABOUT THE EXAM
Who Takes the CLEP Chemistry Exam and What Is it Used For?
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) examinations are typically taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP is designed to reward students for learning—no matter where or how that knowledge was acquired. The CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in the country, with more than 2,900 colleges and universities granting credit for satisfactory scores on CLEP exams.
Although most CLEP examinees are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, military personnel, and international students also take the exams to earn college credit or to demonstrate their ability to perform at the college level. There are no prerequisites, such as age or educational status, for taking CLEP examinations. However, because policies on granting credits vary among colleges, you should contact the particular institution from which you wish to receive CLEP credit.
There are two categories of CLEP examinations:
1. CLEP General Examinations, which are five separate tests that cover material usually taken as requirements during the first two years of college. CLEP General Examinations are available for English Composition (with or without essay), Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and History.
2. CLEP Subject Examinations include material usually covered in an undergraduate course with a similar title. For a complete list of the subject examinations offered, visit the College Board website.
Who Administers the Exam?
The CLEP tests are developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involve the assistance of educators throughout the United States. The test development process is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.
When and Where Is the Exam Given?
The CLEP Chemistry exam is administered each month throughout the year at more than 1,300 test centers in the United States and can be arranged for candidates abroad on request. To find the test center nearest you and to register for the exam, you should obtain a copy of the free booklets CLEP Colleges and CLEP Information for Candidates and Registration Form. They are available at most colleges where CLEP credit is granted, or
by contacting:
CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone: (800) 257-9558 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Fax: (609) 771-7088
Website: www.collegeboard.com/clep
CLEP Options for Military Personnel and Veterans
CLEP exams are available free of charge to eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees. All the CLEP exams are available at test centers on college campuses and military bases. In addition, the College Board has developed a paper-based version of 14 high-volume/high-pass-rate CLEP tests for DANTES Test Centers. Contact the Educational Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for more information.
Visit the College Board website for details about CLEP opportunities for military personnel. Eligible U.S. veterans can claim reimbursement for CLEP exams and administration fees pursuant to provisions of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. For details on eligibility and submitting a claim for reimbursement, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/testing.htm.
SSD Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Many students qualify for extra time to take the CLEP Chemistry exam, but you must make these arrangements in advance. For information, contact:
College Board Services for Students with Disabilities
PO Box 6226
Princeton, NJ 08541-6226
Phone: (609) 771-7137 (Monday through Friday, 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. ET)
TTY: (609) 882-4118
Fax: (609) 771-7944
E-mail: ssd@info.collegeboard.org
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
What Do I Study First?
Read over the course review and the suggestions for test-taking, take the first practice test to determine your area(s) of weakness, and then go back and focus your study on those specific problems. Studying the reviews thoroughly will reinforce the basic skills you will need to do well on the exam. Make sure to take the practice tests to become familiar with the format and procedures involved with taking the actual exam.
To best utilize your study time, follow our Independent Study Schedule, which you’ll find in the front of this book. The schedule is based on a four-week program, but can be condensed to two weeks if necessary by collapsing each two-week period into one.
When Should I Start Studying?
It is never too early to start studying for the CLEP Chemistry exam. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate! Cramming is not an effective way to study, since it does not allow you the time needed to learn the test material. The sooner you learn the format of the exam, the more time you will have to familiarize yourself with it.
FORMAT AND CONTENT OF THE CLEP
The CLEP Chemistry exam covers the material one would find in a one-year college-level general chemistry class. The exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered within 90 minutes.
The exam emphasizes the following topics: structure and states of matter, reaction types, equations and stoichiometry, equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamics, and descriptive and experimental chemistry. The student’s ability to interpret and apply the material to new and unfamiliar problems is also tested.
The approximate breakdown of topics is as follows:
20% Structure of Matter
19% States of Matter
12% Reaction Types
10% Equations and Stoichiometry
7% Equilibrium
4% Kinetics
5% Thermodynamics
1% Descriptive Chemistry
9% Experimental Chemistry
During the exam, a calculator function and a periodic table are available to test-takers.
ABOUT OUR COURSE REVIEW
The review in this book provides you with a complete background of all the pertinent facts and formulas related to chemistry. It will help reinforce the facts you have already learned while better shaping your understanding of the discipline as a whole. By usi...
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