What if you could skip college classes because you already learned the material in high school? You may be able to do just that after your senior year of high school by taking CLEP or DSST exams. These are standardized tests that allow you to ‘test out’ of lower-level college courses in certain subjects. For example, let’s say you’re a bit of a biology whiz. You’ve always done well in the subject and are a member of the science club. If you score high enough on the biology CLEP test you may not need to take the class in college to fulfill the school’s requirements. Always check with the college to make sure it offers the option to test out of classes. Some base the number of credits you earn on how well you do on the test.
Both exams are offered in a wide variety of subjects, from math to business to humanities. There is a fee to take the exam, but the cost is usually less than the cost of a college class. Both tests are free to U.S. military personnel.
