One exam
CLEP Natural Sciences
About 120 questions in 90 minutes: half biological, half physical science. $97, plus a test center or remote proctoring fee.
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Exam or course3 credits a courseACE and NCCRS recommended
CLEP Natural Sciences vs a full course: Environmental Science or Biology 1
CLEP Natural Sciences is one exam of about 120 questions in 90 minutes, half biological and half physical science, and ACE recommends 6 semester hours for a score of 50 or higher. UPI Study is not a CLEP exam: Environmental Science and Intro to Biology 1 are full, self-paced online courses with lessons, quizzes and a proctored final exam. Choose CLEP if you already know the material and want one exam; choose a course if you want to learn it first.
3 credits Β· ACE and NCCRS
Environmental Science
Ecosystems, biodiversity, water, food, air and climate, energy, waste and sustainable cities.
Biology 100 Β· 3 credits Β· ACE and NCCRS
Intro to Biology 1
Cells, the chemistry of life, energy, genetics and evolution.
- CLEP exam
- About 120 questions, 90 minutes
- A UPI Study course
- Self-paced, a proctored final
- Who decides
- Your college
What you learn
The exam's two halves, from College Board, and the two courses' chapters, from their syllabi.
On the CLEP exam
- Biological science: 50%
- Physical science: 50%
- One sitting, 90 minutes
In Environmental Science
- Ecosystems and biodiversity
- Water and food
- Air and climate
- Energy and waste
In Intro to Biology 1
- Cells
- The chemistry of life
- Energy
- Genetics and evolution
Side by side
| CLEP Natural Sciences | Environmental Science | Intro to Biology 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | One exam | A full course, 14 chapters | A full course, 15 chapters |
| Time | 90 minutes | Self-paced; 44 hours | Self-paced; 66 hours |
| Final | About 120 questions | 100 multiple-choice questions | 118 multiple-choice questions |
| Passing | 50 on a 20 to 80 scale | 70 or higher | 70 or higher |
| Retakes | Not within three months | One free retake of the final | One free retake of the final |
| Credit recommendation | ACE: 6 semester hours | NCCRS 3; ACE 1 semester hour | ACE and NCCRS: 3 each |
CLEP costs $97 per exam plus a test center fee, or $30 for remote proctoring. Each UPI Study course has no proctoring or exam fees; a transcript is $20. CLEP Natural Sciences is recommended for 6 semester hours in one exam; each UPI Study course is one 3-credit course.
Which route fits you?
CLEP suits you if
- You already know introductory biology and physical science
- You are ready for one timed exam
- Your college's CLEP policy lists Natural Sciences
A full course suits you if
- You want to learn step by step, with lessons and quizzes
- You would rather earn your grade across quizzes, an assignment and a final
- You need one specific course, such as environmental science or biology
Questions, answered
Is UPI Study a CLEP exam?
No. UPI Study is not a CLEP exam and not credit by exam. Environmental Science and Intro to Biology 1 are full, self-paced courses with lessons, quizzes, an assignment and a proctored final exam, and each carries ACE and NCCRS credit recommendations. They are an alternative to the CLEP Natural Sciences exam, not a version of it.
How is the CLEP Natural Sciences exam scored?
Scores run from 20 to 80, and ACE recommends 6 semester hours for a score of 50 or higher. College Board notes that each institution sets its own credit-granting policy, which may differ from ACE's.
Does Environmental Science count as a lab science?
No. It is a lecture course: its syllabus lists lessons, quizzes, one assignment and a final exam, with no laboratory course attached. If your requirement says lab science, see lab vs non-lab science credit.
Will my college accept the credit?
For CLEP, each college sets its own policy. For UPI Study: ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Where these credits can go
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Plus many more partner colleges and ACE and NCCRS cooperating colleges.
Find My College →Keep exploring
- Environmental Science course pageLessons and syllabus
- Intro to Biology 1 course pageLessons and syllabus
- CLEP Biology vs a full courseExam or course?
Check your college first
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Sources (8)
- College Board: CLEP Natural Sciences exam https://clep.collegeboard.org/clep-exams/natural-sciences
- College Board: Register for a CLEP exam https://clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-exam
- College Board: Registering for a CLEP exam with remote proctoring https://clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-exam/registering-remote-proctoring
- College Board: Understand CLEP scores https://clep.collegeboard.org/scores/understand-scores
- College Board: CLEP exam policies https://clep.collegeboard.org/clep-exam-policies
- NCCRS: UPI Study, Inc. (every course and its credit recommendation) https://www.nationalccrs.org/organizations/upi-study-inc
- UPI Study: Environmental Science syllabus (PDF) https://www.upistudy.com/syllabus/environmental-science.pdf
- UPI Study: Intro to Biology 1 syllabus (PDF) https://www.upistudy.com/syllabus/biology-1.pdf
- NCCRS: UPI Study's credit recommendations https://www.nationalccrs.org/organizations/upi-study-inc
UPI Study facts are from our course catalog, syllabi and course rules. CLEP and AP are registered trademarks of College Board, which is not connected with UPI Study.