Biology CLEP vs a Full Online Course for College Credit

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Credit by exam or a full course?

Biology CLEP vs a full online course for credit

Two ways to earn biology credit. CLEP Biology is one exam for people who already know the material. UPI Study's Intro to Biology 1 is a full online course for people who want to learn it first.

UPI Study is not a CLEP exam or credit by exam: it is a course with a proctored final exam and an ACE and NCCRS credit recommendation.

Compare themSee Intro to Biology 1

Side by side

Biology CLEP exam vs the course, compared

CLEP facts link to the College Board page they come from. Course facts are from the UPI Study catalog.

 CLEP Biology examUPI Study Intro to Biology 1 course
CostCLEP charges a $97 exam fee, plus a proctoring fee: the test center's own administration fee College Board, or $30 for remote proctoring at home College Board.$250 for the course, with no proctoring or exam fees. A transcript is $20.
FormatOne exam: about 115 questions in 90 minutes College Board. Taken at a test center or at home with remote proctoring; all 34 CLEP exams can be taken remotely College Board.Online and self-paced: lessons, quizzes, an assignment and a final exam. The final is proctored, or lightly proctored with no camera needed if you already have 70% before it.
Time90 minutes for the exam itself College Board, plus however long you study on your own. No fixed test dates: you book a time with a test center, or with the remote proctor College Board.Self-paced: start any day and finish as fast or as slow as you want.
What you getA score report to send to your college. Up to 2 colleges get your score free if you choose them when you register; after the exam, sending a score costs a fee College Board.A full course to learn from, with lessons, quizzes and Athena, an AI tutor that explains the lesson you are on. When you pass, a transcript to send to your college.
Credit recommendationACE recommends 6 semester hours for a score of 50 or higher on this exam College Board. Scores run from 20 to 80 College Board.ACE and NCCRS both recommend 3 semester credits. ACE ID UPIS-0009.
Who decidesEach college sets its own CLEP policy: the score it needs and the credit it grants College Board.ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.

Scope: The CLEP Biology exam covers a full year of general biology. UPI Study teaches that year as two 3-credit courses: Intro to Biology 1 and Intro to Biology 2. See Intro to Biology 2.

The Biology exam covers material usually taught in a one-year college general biology course College Board.

Who should pick which

Which route fits you?

Both are honest routes to biology credit. They suit different people.

CLEP suits you if

  • You already know biology well, from a class, work or self-study.
  • You are ready to show it in one timed exam.
  • Your college's CLEP policy lists the Biology exam and the score it needs.

A full course suits you if

  • You want to learn biology step by step, with lessons and quizzes.
  • You would like help along the way from Athena, the AI tutor in each lesson.
  • You would rather earn your grade across quizzes, an assignment and a final than in one sitting.

Either way, check first

  • Ask your college which route it takes for your requirement.
  • Some colleges won't grant credit for a CLEP exam if you have already attempted a college-level course closely aligned with it College Board.
  • Keep your college's answer in writing.

The UPI Study course

Intro to Biology 1, at a glance

Biology 100

Intro to Biology 1

ACE + NCCRSSelf-pacedOnline
  • Credits 3 semester credits
  • Recommendation ACE and NCCRS both recommend 3 semester credits. ACE ID UPIS-0009. ACE listing · NCCRS listing
  • How it works Online and self-paced: lessons, quizzes, an assignment and a final exam. The final is proctored, or lightly proctored with no camera needed if you already have 70% before it.
  • Passing A score of 70 or more passes. Quizzes can be retaken as often as you like, and if you fail the final exam, one retake is free.
  • Topics include Fundamentals of biological science; inorganic chemistry for biology; organic molecules and heterotrophs; nucleotide structure of DNA and RNA; enzyme dynamics; the cell membrane
  • Syllabus Open the syllabus (PDF)

One course, yours to keep

$250

No proctoring or exam fees. Or take every course with a plan.

Enroll in Intro to Biology 1 View the course page
Before you enroll: ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Search your school in Find My College, and ask your registrar which course or requirement this would count for.

Questions

Biology CLEP or the course: common questions

Is UPI Study's Intro to Biology 1 a CLEP exam?
No. UPI Study is not a CLEP exam and not credit by exam. Intro to Biology 1 (Biology 100) is a full, self-paced online course: lessons, quizzes, an assignment and a proctored final exam, with Athena, an AI tutor, to explain each lesson. It carries an ACE and NCCRS credit recommendation for 3 semester credits. It is an alternative to the CLEP Biology exam, not a version of it.
How much does the Biology CLEP exam cost compared with the course?
CLEP: a $97 exam fee, plus a proctoring fee: the test center's own administration fee College Board, or $30 for remote proctoring at home College Board. UPI Study: $250 for the course, with no proctoring or exam fees. A transcript is $20.
What score do I need?
CLEP: Scores run from 20 to 80 College Board. ACE recommends 6 semester hours for a score of 50 or higher on this exam College Board. Each college sets its own CLEP policy: the score it needs and the credit it grants College Board. UPI Study: A score of 70 or more passes. Quizzes can be retaken as often as you like, and if you fail the final exam, one retake is free.
Can I retake the Biology CLEP exam?
Yes, after a wait. You may not retake an exam of the same title within three months of your test date College Board. In the UPI Study course, quizzes can be retaken as often as you like, and a failed final exam gets one free retake.
Will my college accept the credit?
For CLEP: Each college sets its own CLEP policy: the score it needs and the credit it grants College Board. For UPI Study: ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Either way, ask your registrar before you start, with the course syllabus in hand.
Can I use both CLEP and the course for the same requirement?
Usually only one will count. Some colleges won't grant credit for a CLEP exam if you have already attempted a college-level course closely aligned with it College Board. Pick one route for each requirement and confirm it with your college first.

Keep going

More on biology and credit

Sources

Where the CLEP facts come from

Every CLEP fact on this page is from College Board, which runs CLEP, and links to the page it came from. Last checked 19 October 2026. College Board can change its fees and policies, so check its pages before you register.

UPI Study facts are from our course catalog, price list and course rules. CLEP is a registered trademark of College Board, which is not connected with UPI Study.