College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Tests

The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) gives candidates the opportunity to receive college credit for what they already know by earning qualifying scores on any of 34 examinations. Earn credit for knowledge acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships. View more information on CLEP testing.

Western Illinois University's policy regarding CLEP credit states that a maximum of one-fourth of the credit (30 semester hours) required for graduation may be earned through external testing (CLEP, CEEB, etc.) and/or military credit.

General Examinations

Credit for the CLEP General Examinations are awarded by Western Illinois University. The General Examinations must be taken prior to enrollment at WIU. Each examination completed with a score of 50 or higher will receive credit as follows:

Examination Score for Credit WIU Equivalent Semester Hours Gen Ed IAI
English Composition (with essay) 50 ENG 180, 280 6 Basic Skills C1 900
Humanities 50 SURVEY HUMANITIES 6 Humanities
College Mathematics* 50 GEN ELECT 6 Math Competency
Natural Sciences 50 SURVEY NATURAL SCIENCE (lecture) 6 Natural Science
Social Sciences - History 50 SURVEY SOCIAL SCIENCE ELECTIVE 6 Social Science

* Meets WIU Math Competency Requirements

Subject Examinations

Credit is also awarded for the CLEP Subject Examinations. If college credit has been earned at an equal level to, or exceeding that, of a particular examination prior to taking the test, no credit will be awarded for that test.

The student who has received credit hours for CLEP Examinations at another institution prior to transferring to WIU will receive the credit as entered on the official transcript of the previous institution in accordance with WIU's policy on CLEP credit.

The student who wishes to have scores reviewed must request that the official scores be sent directly to: Western Illinois University, Admissions Management Center, 109 Sherman Hall, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455 from the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540. For more information, or to schedule an examination, contact Western Illinois University Counseling Center at 309/298-2453.

Scores at the 50th percentile or higher on CLEP examinations are accepted for credit at WIU as follows:

Composition and Literature Examinations

Examination Semester Hours WIU Equivalent Gen Ed IAI
American Literature 3 ENG 238
Analyzing & Interpreting Literature 6 ENG ELECTIVE Humanities
English Literature 3 ENG 228 Humanities
Freshman College Composotion (with essay) For possible Eng. 180 credit, contact WIU Eng. Dept. to complete essay requirement C1 900

Science and Mathematics Examinations

Examination Semester Hours WIU Equivalent Gen Ed IAI
Biology, General 6 BIO LECT Science/Math (Lecture)
Chemistry, General 6 CHEM LECT Science/Math
College Algebra 3 MATH 128
Pre-Calculus 0 NO CREDIT For placement purposes only
Calculus 4 MATH 133 Science/Math MI 900

Foreign Languages

Examination Semester Hours WIU Equivalent Gen Ed IAI
College French, Levels 1 & 2
2nd Semester - 50 		6 FR 121, 122 Humanities FR 224
College French, Levels 1 & 2
4th Semester - 62 		12 FR 121, 122, 223, 224 Humanities H1 900
College German, Levels 1 & 2
2nd Semester - 50 		6 GER 121, 122 Humanities GR 224
College German, Levels 1 & 2
4th Semester - 63 		12 GER 121, 122, 223, 224 Humanities H1 900
College Spanish, Levels 1 & 2
2nd Semester - 50 		6 SPAN 121, 122 Humanities SP 224
College Spanish, Levels 1 & 2
4th Semester - 66 		12 SPAN 121, 122, 223, 224 Humanities H1 900

History and Social Sciences

Examination Semester Hours WIU Equivalent Gen Ed IAI
American Government 3 POLS ELECT (if Senate Bill #195 Requirements met) Social Science
U.S. History I: Early Colonization to 1877 3 HIST 105 Humanities H2 904
U.S. History II: 1865 to the Present 3 HIST 106 Humanities H2 904
Human Growth and Development 3 PSY 221 Social Science S6 903
Intro to Educational Psychology 3 EDUC ELECT
Macroeconomics, Principles of 3 ECON 231 Social Science S3 901
Psychology, Introductory 3 PSY 100 Social Science S6 900
Sociology, Intro 3 SOC 100 Social Science S7 900
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 3 HIST 125 Humanities H2 901
Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present 3 HIST 126 Humanities H2 902

Business

Examination Semester Hours WIU Equivalent Gen Ed IAI
Financial Acct. 3 ACCT 201
Business Law, Intro 3 BL 431
Information Systems & Computer Applications 3 CS ELECT
Management, Principles of 3 GEN ELECT
Marketing, Principles of 0 NO CREDIT