College Composition CLEP exam guide

The College Composition exam is one of the 34 CLEP exams offered by the College Board. First year college writing, with essays graded by the College Board.

What the exam covers

• Analysis, argumentation, and synthesis of sources
• Rhetorical strategies and logical development
• Usage, grammar, and sentence structure
• Two required essay sections alongside the multiple choice questions

Credit and score

6 semester hours. ACE recommended score: 50.

The exam fee is $97 plus the test center's own fee, or $30 for remote proctoring. Register through the College Board.

How to study

• Write timed essays from prompts and revise them for argument and structure, not just length
• Practice using sources in your own writing, quoting and crediting them cleanly
• Start from the official College Board exam description and check off each topic above as you review it.

Florida note

Florida's public colleges and universities are required to award the minimum recommended CLEP credit, up to 45 total credit-by-exam credits, under Florida Statute 1007.27. Private and out-of-state schools set their own policy.

Credit depends on the college's own policy. Confirm with the college before counting on it.

College Board CLEP exam list · All 34 CLEP guides

Planning college applications too? The Florida College Application Planner is free to use, with no signup: explore 82 Florida colleges, keep your school list and deadline calendar, plan your testing, and read the free CLEP information tab.

This page is not affiliated with the College Board. CLEP exam policies, credit awards, and fees change, so confirm every detail on the College Board page and with your college before you register.