CLEP College Composition — Information & Free Practice
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Exam Review
About CLEP College Composition
CLEP College Composition · US
Key exam facts
- Provider
- College Board sponsors CLEP and grades this examination; college English faculty score the required essays.
- Format
- One computer-based examination combining 50 multiple-choice questions and two mandatory typed essays; a single combined scaled score is reported.
- Exam questions
- Total questions: 52; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.
- Time limit
- 125 minutes of testing: 55 minutes for multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes for the first essay, and 40 minutes for the second essay.
- Passing score
- Scores are reported on a 20–80 scale. ACE recommends 50 for six semester hours; each institution sets its own credit-granting score and acceptance policy, so there is no universal college-credit passing cutoff.
- Exam fee
- US$97 examination fee, plus the applicable test-center or remote-proctoring administration fee. No additional fee is charged for the two mandatory essays.
Topics covered
Conventions of Standard Written English (10%)
Revision Skills (40%)
Ability to Use Source Materials (25%)
Rhetorical Analysis (25%)
How to prepare
Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.
These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.
Frequently asked questions
What is the exam format?
One computer-based examination combining 50 multiple-choice questions and two mandatory typed essays; a single combined scaled score is reported.
How many questions are on the exam?
Total questions: 52; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.
How long is the exam?
125 minutes of testing: 55 minutes for multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes for the first essay, and 40 minutes for the second essay.
What is the passing score?
Scores are reported on a 20–80 scale. ACE recommends 50 for six semester hours; each institution sets its own credit-granting score and acceptance policy, so there is no universal college-credit passing cutoff.
How much does the exam cost?
US$97 examination fee, plus the applicable test-center or remote-proctoring administration fee. No additional fee is charged for the two mandatory essays.
Official sources and references
- College Composition exam page
Knowledge and Skills Required, scope and allocation preamble
- College Composition exam page
Knowledge and Skills Required, Conventions of Standard Written English heading
- College Composition exam page
Knowledge and Skills Required, Revision Skills heading
- College Composition exam page
Knowledge and Skills Required, Ability to Use Source Materials heading
- College Composition exam page
Knowledge and Skills Required, Rhetorical Analysis heading
- College Composition exam page
The Essays, mandatory writing scope
- College Composition Resource Guide and Sample Questions
p. 1, Knowledge and Skills Required
- College Composition exam page
Resources, PDF link to Composition_fact_sheet.pdf
- College Composition exam page
Overview, format and timing
- College Composition exam page
Overview, combined score
- College Composition exam page
Overview, pretest questions
- College Composition exam page
Overview, essay readers
- College Composition exam description
Score Information, ACE recommendation table and institutional discretion
- Register for an Exam
Introduction
- Information for Test Takers
p. 4, Composition and Literature
Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.