If you need help studying for the CLEP American Government exam or just want some more information about what the exam is like, you’ve come to the right place!
Click below to take a free CLEP American Government practice test!
What is a CLEP Test?
A CLEP exam helps you test out of certain intro courses in college. When you pass a CLEP exam, it proves that you know enough about that topic to move on to a more advanced course, which can save you a lot of time toward your degree!
Taking the CLEP American Government exam can allow you to bypass certain intro courses in US government and politics.
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 100 multiple-choice questions total, but some of the questions will NOT count toward your score. Why is that?
The unscored questions on the CLEP exam are there to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones aren’t—they will all appear like scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the test is 90 minutes (1.5 hours). There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed!
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the American Government test:
Presidency, Bureaucracy, Congress, and the Federal Courts
30%-35% of the exam
- The major formal and informal institutional arrangements and powers
- Structure, policy processes, and outputs
- Relationships among the three institutions
- Links between the institutions and political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion
- Structure and processes of the judicial system
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
10%-15% of the exam
- The development of civil rights and civil liberties by judicial interpretation
- The Bill of Rights
- Incorporation of the Bill of Rights
- Equal protection
- Due process
Political Parties and Interest Groups
15%-20% of the exam
- Political parties
- Interest groups
- Elections
Political Beliefs and Behavior
15%-20% of the exam
- Processes by which citizens learn about politics
- Political participation
- Public opinion
- Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders
- Political culture
- The influence of public opinion on political leaders
Constitutional Underpinnings of American Democracy
15%-20% of the exam
- Federalism
- Separation of powers
- Checks and balances
- Majority rule
- Minority rights
- The formulation and adoption of the Constitution
- Theories of democracy
How to Register
To register for the test, you’ll need to create an account on the College Board’s website. From there, you can sign into the My CLEP student portal and register for the exam.
When you register, you’ll need to pay the $95 testing fee. You’ll also have the option to send your final score to two institutions for free.
CLEP American Government Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
CLEP Scores
The CLEP American Government exam is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 20 and 80.
The American Council of Education recommends aiming for a final score of at least 50.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone that takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
FAQs
What is CLEP?
CLEP stands for College-Level Examination Program®. This program was set up by the College Board to help students earn college credits without taking college courses.
Are CLEP exams hard?
It depends on which one you take! Some CLEP exams are harder than others due to the material being covered. For example, the Chemistry and Western Civilization II tests are considered to be the hardest, while the Spanish Language and College Composition tests are thought to be the easiest.
How many questions are on the CLEP American Government exam?
The exam contains 100 questions.
What is the time limit for the CLEP American Government exam?
The exam is timed at 90 minutes.
What is the passing score for the CLEP American Government exam?
It’s recommended that you get a final score of at least 50.
How much does the CLEP American Government exam cost?
The testing fee is $95.