| When pursuing an online degree, you likely want to | | | | affordably, earn the credit you need for promotion or |
| complete it as quickly as possible, being that you have | | | | certification, and demonstrate what you know for |
| other demands and responsibilities in your life, including | | | | college admission or placement. They are accepted by |
| providing an income for yourself at least, if not also for | | | | Excelsior College and other universities around the |
| your family. | | | | nation. |
| One way to speed up the process of earning your | | | | Subject Tests include subjects in the arts and |
| online degree is by taking equivalency tests. These | | | | sciences, business, education, and nursing. Overall, there |
| tests allow you to complete your online degree | | | | are 40 different subject tests to choose from. Many |
| efficiently and affordably. They will require some | | | | of these tests offer upper-level credit to those who |
| studying, but many colleges will grant credit and/or | | | | score well enough on them. To take these tests, you |
| advanced standing for successful completion of | | | | need to go to your nearby Pearson Professional |
| equivalency exams. | | | | Centers, which are open up to six days a week. The |
| The three most common equivalency tests are the | | | | tests are multiple-choice. |
| following tests: | | | | Some universities will also have their own type of |
| 1. The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) - | | | | equivalent tests, specifically for those students who |
| This test provides students of any age with the | | | | have been out of school for a while, to better |
| opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement | | | | determine what level a person is at in regards to |
| through a program of exams in undergraduate college | | | | placement in college courses. |
| courses. | | | | Occasionally, some universities will require you to take |
| You can gain college credit for what you already | | | | the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) if you never have |
| know via independent study, noncredit adult courses, | | | | before. This test consists of a Reasoning Test that |
| and/or professional development. | | | | has three main components: a Critical Reading section, |
| You can save considerable money as the CLEP costs | | | | a Mathematics section, and a Writing section. |
| just $60, much less than hundreds or thousands for an | | | | There are also SAT Subject Tests, which fall into five |
| online course. | | | | general subject categories: English, History & Social |
| If you're just a few credits short of earning that | | | | Studies, Mathematics, Science, and Foreign Languages. |
| degree, CLEPs could make all the difference in | | | | These are not always required by colleges, but can |
| obtaining that degree. | | | | give them a better idea of how advanced you are in |
| CLEPs are available in 34 college-level introductory | | | | your education and where you should be placed in |
| subjects. | | | | regards to your courses. |
| Over 2,900 colleges grant undergraduate credit for | | | | For those applying to graduate school, the Graduate |
| CLEP, between 3-12 college credits for each CLEP | | | | Record Examinations (GRE) are usually prerequisites |
| exam taken. | | | | as the university will use these in part to help |
| Over 1,300 colleges administer the exam. | | | | determine your qualifications for graduate study. |
| The test is administered on computer and is available | | | | There are two types of GRE: A general reasoning |
| all year-long. They are timed and 90 minutes long. With | | | | test and subject tests. |
| the exception of the English Composition with Essay | | | | The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, |
| section, all the rest of the exam is composed of | | | | quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical |
| multiple-choice questions, though the mathematics | | | | writing skills that have been acquired over a long |
| section can also have some fill-in-the-blank type | | | | period of time and that are not related to any specific |
| questions. | | | | field of study. This test is being administered on |
| All CLEP exams are scored on a scale of 20 to 80; | | | | computers in most areas of the world, whereas a few |
| you need to score 50+ (equivalent to a C grade) in | | | | places still use a paper-based version of the test. It is |
| order to earn the credit. | | | | administered year-round. |
| 2. The DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) | | | | The GRE Subject Tests gauge undergraduate |
| - These tests enable people to use their knowledge | | | | achievement in these eight disciplines: |
| acquired outside the classroom to accomplish their | | | | Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Chemistry |
| educational and professional goals. | | | | Computer Science Literature in English Mathematics |
| The current cost of these tests is $70 each and | | | | Physics Psychology |
| subject tests include such diverse subjects from | | | | These are intended for students who have majored in |
| business and math to health and social sciences to the | | | | or have extensive background in that specific area. |
| humanities. | | | | They are administered in November, December, and |
| These tests are currently accepted or administered at | | | | April at paper-based test centres worldwide. |
| over 1,900 colleges and universities nationwide and are | | | | Knowing what tests you either need to take or should |
| approved by the American Council on Education | | | | take should help you enter the online degree program |
| (ACE.) | | | | you want and even reduce the amount of time it |
| 3. Excelsior College Examinations - These exams | | | | takes for you to earn that degree. |
| allow you to complete your degree efficiently and | | | | |