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Educators - Information & Tools For Teachers, Counselors, Higher Education Faculty and Administrators Home > Higher Ed Services > Advising & Placement > CLEP® > Setting a CLEP Policy > Precalculus Policy

Precalculus Policy

Setting a policy for the CLEP Precalculus exam

CLEP introduced a new Precalculus examination in January 2006. The new exam replaced the CLEP College Algebra-Trigonometry and Trigonometry exams. The American Council on Education recommends a credit-granting score of 50 for Precalculus.

How will CLEP Precalculus benefit your institution?

  1. By enabling capable students to move more quickly into higher-level math classes, the exam can help to open space in your entry-level classes, creating greater flexibility in your mathematics course schedule.
  2. The exam provides a uniform assessment of precalculus mastery.
  3. If you make prospective students aware of how the CLEP Precalculus exam will benefit them, you may attract and retain students with strong math skills.

CLEP Precalculus and curriculum

As part of the test development process, the College Board conducted a survey in 2004 of public and private two- and four-year institutions to find out if a Precalculus examination would be a viable replacement for CLEP Algebra-Trigonometry and CLEP Trigonometry. The survey asked a range of specific questions about course content, and asked respondents to define the topics that a Precalculus exam should cover.

CLEP Precalculus Curriculum Survey, Summary of Results (.pdf/106K)

Examination overview

The Precalculus examination assesses student mastery of skills and concepts required for success in a first-semester calculus course. The exam strives for a balance between traditional and reform mathematics curricula.

The examination contains 48 questions, in two sections, to be answered in 90 minutes.

  • Section 1: 25 questions, 50 minutes. The use of an online graphing calculator (non-CAS) is allowed for this section. Only some of the questions will require the use of the calculator.
  • Section 2: 23 questions, 40 minutes. No calculator is allowed for this section.

Many of the questions test a student's knowledge of specific properties of the following types of functions: linear, quadratic, absolute value, square root, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, inverse trigonometric, and piecewise-defined. Questions on the exam will present these types of functions symbolically, graphically, verbally, or in tabular form.

Although most of the questions on the exam are multiple choice, there are some questions that require students to enter a numerical answer.

Knowledge and skills required

In order to present a balance between questions assessing procedural skills and questions assessing conceptual understanding, the exam measures the following breakdown of cognitive processes:

  • Recalling factual knowledge and/or performing routine mathematical manipulation
  • Solving problems that demonstrate comprehension of mathematical ideas and/or concepts
  • Solving nonroutine problems or problems that require insight, ingenuity, or higher mental processes

Tell us about your Precalculus policy
* Required fields

Let us know which exam you have decided to grant credit for and we will include your policy in our College Search. You may also request more information or a consultation with a CLEP policy specialist.

Yes, my institution has decided to grant credit for the CLEP Precalculus exam,
but we haven't yet established a credit-granting policy.
My institution is interested in setting a policy for the CLEP Precalculus exam,
but we would like assistance from CLEP; please contact me.

Thank You!

Your information has been submitted. Thank you for telling us about your institution's Precalculus policy!

Customized Entry Pages

HIGHLIGHT

For detailed information and sample questions, visit the CLEP Resource Center to download the Precalculus Test Information Guide (TIG).

See which colleges are granting credit for the new Precalculus examination.

Don't see your institution listed? Send us your information .

Online Graphing Calculator

A graphing calculator is integrated into the exam software and is available to students during Section 1 of the exam. Since only some of the questions in Section 1 actually require the calculator, students are expected to know how and when to make appropriate use of it. The graphing calculator, together with a brief tutorial, will be available to download for a 30-day trial period.

Learn more about the calculator and download the trial version.

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