How to Test Out of College Classes

Looking to get ahead in your degree program? Not interested in taking general education classes, especially if you are already familiar with the material?

Depending on your school, you might have the option to bypass general education classes through testing and earn college credit without taking the class. Testing out of classes can accelerate your degree progress, save you money, and allow you to take more advanced courses earlier in your college career.

Continue reading to explore the benefits of testing out of classes and how you can earn credit from your test scores.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Credit by exam lets you earn college credit by demonstrating your understanding of a subject. You can earn credit through multiple different exams, including Advanced Placement tests in high school or the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and ANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST) in college.

Each exam has its own criteria and passing scores to earn credit. Additionally, the score needed to receive credit can vary from one college to another.

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a series of tests offered by the College Board, allowing students to earn credit for subjects they excel in at a college level. This allows you to earn credit without spending the time and money to take the class.

The CLEP exam is offered in 34 subjects and scores are accepted by nearly 3,000 colleges and universities. These exams are a more affordable alternative to enrolling in a college course, with each exam typically costing around $95.

Similar to the CLEP exam, the DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST) is made up of exams that you can register for to demonstrate your existing knowledge on a specific subject. There are more than 30 DSST exams, each costing $100.

Although DSST may not have the same level of recognition as CLEP, over 1,500 colleges and universities accept DSST scores for credit.

Advanced Placement (AP) classes and exams are one of the most popular ways to earn college credit while in high school. AP classes don’t cost any additional money to take, although the exams typically cost around $100.

Many colleges grant college credit for a passing score of 3 or higher on an AP exam, although certain institutions may only accept scores of 4 or 5 for credit.

Similar to AP classes, International Baccalaureate (IB) exams are offered at the high school level and will award you credit before you start college. Many universities will grant course credit for passing scores (typically a 3 or higher) on an IB exam.

The majority of colleges and universities recognize the IB program and offer credit for higher-level IB exams, although not all of them grant credit for standard-level IB exams. Make sure to review the credit policies of each of your prospective colleges before enrolling.

Some college also offer their own exams for credit through examination or exemption from specific degree requirements. These exams are typically done on campus during orientation and are only accessible once you have officially enrolled at the institution.

For example, at New York University and the University of Michigan, you can take an exam to place out of the university’s foreign language requirement if you are proficient in another language.

Testing out of college courses and earning credits by examination can be difficult, but it can be worth it. Below are some advantages to testing out of college classes:

While some exams have mandatory exam fees, testing out of college classes can save you a lot in the long run. Since you won’t need to take the classes, you won’t be paying for them. Depending on how many credits you test out of, you can end up saving on a semester or more worth of tuition.

If you’re eager to hit the ground running, testing out of college credits can get you closer to graduation faster. Students who earn a large number of credits by examination may be eligible to graduate a semester or even a whole year earlier.

One advantage of college is being able to focus on your major and the subjects you’re most passionate about. Testing out of general education courses through credit by examination makes this even easier, allowing you to skip introductory classes to take courses in subjects you’re less passionate about.