CLEP Biology Exam Prep Course: Part 2 | 700+ Questions
CLEP® Exam Prep 6 College Credits Part 2 of 2 · 6 Credits · Passing Score 50

CLEP Biology Exam Prep Course: Part 2

Part 2 of 2 · 700+ practice questions and a practice exam

Part 2 of the two-part CLEP Biology prep course. 16 chapters on viruses and microbes, plants, animals and their body systems, reproduction and ecology, with a quiz after every subchapter: most of organismal and population biology. Part 1 covers cells, genetics and evolution. 115 questions, 90 minutes. A score of 50 earns 6 transferable college credits.

Start studying — $19 About the exam
50Passing score
2,900+Colleges accept CLEP
3–5 wksTypical study time
CLEP Biology Part 2 prep course
  • Backup ACE/NCCRS credit path — earn the credit even if you don't pass
  • Lifetime access — no deadlines, no expiry, study at your own pace
  • Credits accepted at 2,900+ U.S. colleges
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Pricing

$19 for this course with lifetime access, or $29 a month for all 28 CLEP subjects. Every plan also unlocks the ACE/NCCRS course in the same subject.

This course only
$19
One-time · lifetime access
Biology Part 2 prep only
  • All 16 chapters and 125 lessons
  • Five-question quiz after every subchapter
  • Readiness score tracker
  • Organisms, body systems and ecology
  • Lifetime access, no expiry
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$29/mo
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All 28 CLEP prep courses included
  • All 28 CLEP prep courses
  • Every chapter, lesson and quiz
  • Readiness tracker per subject
  • Backup ACE/NCCRS credit path
  • Cancel or pause anytime
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Lifetime — all subjects
$149
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12-month ACE/NCCRS included
  • Lifetime access to all 28 subjects
  • All current and future courses
  • 12-month ACE/NCCRS backup path
  • Pay once, never renew
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What are ACE and NCCRS?

Two independent bodies that review online courses and recommend them for college credit. The American Council on Education (ACE) and the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) put courses through faculty panels that assess rigor and learning outcomes, then publish a credit recommendation. When you complete one, the credentialing body issues an official transcript you send to your college — the same kind of transfer credit a student moving from another university would bring with them.

  • Reviewed by faculty panels, not by the course provider
  • Official transcript issued on completion
  • Recognized at 2,100+ colleges, many of which also take CLEP and DSST
ACE vs NCCRS explained How ACE/NCCRS credit works

Both routes, one plan

Buying CLEP Biology prep also opens the ACE/NCCRS course in the same subject — Introduction to Biology II — at no extra cost. So exam day isn't the only way through. If the score doesn't land, the course is already sitting in your account: complete it self-paced, no proctor and no 90-minute timer, and earn three semester hours of credit through coursework instead.

  • Introduction to Biology II: 3 semester hours through coursework
  • Unlocked automatically — no extra fee, no application
  • CLEP can still be retaken after three months

Each college sets its own transfer policy, so confirm yours accepts the route you plan to use.

Check your college's policy before you buy. We keep 280+ school pages listing accepted exams, required scores and credits awarded.

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CLEP Biology exam format and topics

The exam covers a one-year college general biology course across 3 roughly equal content areas: molecular and cellular, organismal, and population biology. About 115 questions in 90 minutes, some of them unscored pretest items. Questions test facts and processes, how scientists collect and interpret data, and science's social consequences. Pass mark is 50.

CLEP Biology content areas by exam weighting
Content area Weighting Questions What it covers
Organismal Biology 34% ≈39 Plant structure, transport, reproduction and hormones; animal systems, homeostasis, hormones, reproduction and development; Mendelian and chromosomal inheritance
Molecular and Cellular Biology 33% ≈38 Chemistry of life; cell organelles and membranes; enzymes; respiration and photosynthesis; mitosis and meiosis; DNA, replication, mutation and protein synthesis; viruses
Population Biology 33% ≈38 Ecology and ecosystems; population growth and communities; evolution, natural selection and Hardy-Weinberg; classification; human evolution; behavior; human impact and biomedical progress
3 content areas 100% ≈115 90 minutes · multiple choice · score 50 for an ACE recommendation of 6 semester hours

Part 2 covers most of Organismal Biology and Population Biology, plus viruses (from Molecular and Cellular Biology). Part 1 covers the rest. The exam tests all three areas in one sitting.

How hard is the exam?

This is a year of biology in 90 minutes — about 115 questions, so under a minute each. The three areas are almost exactly equal, from the molecules in a cell to the ecology of a biome, so no section can be skipped. Expect questions that interpret experiments and data as well as facts.

  • The three areas are about a third each — cover them evenly
  • Know cellular respiration, photosynthesis and protein synthesis in detail
  • Practice reading experimental setups and data

Exam fee and booking

Register with College Board for $97. Test centers may add an administration fee. You can test at a center or remotely with a proctor, year-round. Scores are reported immediately for multiple-choice exams, and you send them to your college yourself.

  • Passing score 50, for 6 semester hours
  • Retake permitted after three months
  • Free for active-duty military via DANTES

Part 2 follows the second semester of a general biology sequence: the diversity of life, how plants and animals work, and ecology. It builds on the cell biology and genetics in Part 1.

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Course chapters and lessons

16 chapters across 63 instructional hours. Expand any chapter to see the lessons inside it.

16Chapters
125Lessons
625+Quiz questions
100Practice final questions
63 hrsInstructional hours
16 chapters  ·  125 lessons  ·  1 practice final exam
Chapter 1 Viruses 4 lessons · 2 hrs
  1. 1.1 Viral Evolution, Morphology, and Classification

    Viral structure and infection, prions and viroids.

  2. 1.2 Virus Infections and Hosts
  3. 1.3 Prevention and Treatment of Viral Infections
  4. 1.4 Other Acellular Entities: Prions and Viroids.
Chapter 2 Prokaryotes and Protists 9 lessons · 4.5 hrs
  1. 2.1 Prokaryotic Diversity

    Bacteria and archaea, prokaryotic metabolism and disease, and the protists.

  2. 2.2 Structure of Prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea
  3. 2.3 Prokaryotic Metabolism
  4. 2.4 Bacterial Diseases in Humans
  5. 2.5 Beneficial Prokaryotes
  6. 2.6 Eukaryotic Origins
  7. 2.7 Characteristics of Protists
  8. 2.8 Groups of Protists
  9. 2.9 Ecology of Protists
Chapter 3 Fungi, Plants and Seed plants 13 lessons · 6.5 hrs
  1. 3.1 Characteristics of Fungi

    Fungi and their ecology, the evolution of plants, and seedless and seed plants.

  2. 3.2 Classifications of Fungi
  3. 3.3 Ecology of Fungi
  4. 3.4 Fungal Parasites and Pathogens
  5. 3.5 Importance of Fungi in Human Life
  6. 3.6 Early Plant Life
  7. 3.7 Green Algae: Precursors of Land Plants
  8. 3.8 Bryophytes
  9. 3.9 Seedless Vascular Plants
  10. 3.10 Evolution of Seed Plants
  11. 3.11 Gymnosperms
  12. 3.12 Angiosperms
  13. 3.13 The Role of Seed Plants
Chapter 4 Animal Diversity 4 lessons · 2 hrs
  1. 4.1 Features of the Animal Kingdom

    Features and classification of animals and the history of the animal kingdom.

  2. 4.2 Features Used to Classify Animals
  3. 4.3 Animal Phylogeny
  4. 4.4 The Evolutionary History of the Animal
Chapter 5 Invertebrates and Vertebrates 14 lessons · 7 hrs
  1. 5.1 Phylum Porifera

    Invertebrate phyla through the chordates and vertebrates.

  2. 5.2 Phylum Cnidaria
  3. 5.3 Superphylum Lophotrochozoa: Flatworms, Rotifers, and Nemerteans
  4. 5.4 Superphylum Lophotrochozoa: Molluscs and Annelids
  5. 5.5 Superphylum Ecdysozoa: Nematodes and Tardigrades
  6. 5.6 Superphylum Ecdysozoa: Arthropods
  7. 5.7 Superphylum Deuterostomia
  8. 5.8 Chordates
  9. 5.9 Fishes
  10. 5.10 Amphibians
  11. 5.11 Reptiles
  12. 5.12 Birds
  13. 5.13 Mammals
  14. 5.14 The Evolution of Primates
Chapter 6 Plant Form and Function 6 lessons · 3 hrs
  1. 6.1 The Plant Body

    The plant body, stems, roots and leaves, water transport and plant responses.

  2. 6.2 Stems
  3. 6.3 Roots
  4. 6.4 Leaves
  5. 6.5 Transport of Water and Solutes in Plants
  6. 6.6 Plant Sensory Systems and Responses
Chapter 7 Plant Reproduction and Nutrition 6 lessons · 3 hrs
  1. 7.1 Nutritional Requirements of Plants.

    Plant nutrition and soil, reproductive structures, pollination and asexual reproduction.

  2. 7.2 The Soil
  3. 7.3 Nutritional Adaptations of Plants
  4. 7.4 Reproductive Development and Structure
  5. 7.5 Pollination and Fertilization
  6. 7.6 Asexual Reproduction
Chapter 8 The Animal Body, Homeostasis and Nutrition 7 lessons · 3.5 hrs
  1. 8.1 Animal Form and Function

    Animal tissues, homeostasis, and digestion and nutrition — the start of organismal biology's animal systems.

  2. 8.2 Animal Tissues
  3. 8.3 Homeostasis
  4. 8.4 Digestive Systems
  5. 8.5 Nutrition and Energy Production
  6. 8.6 Digestive System Processes
  7. 8.7 Digestive System Regulation
Chapter 9 Nervous and Endocrine Systems 15 lessons · 7.5 hrs
  1. 9.1 Neurons and Glial Cells

    Neurons and glia, the central and peripheral nervous systems, the senses and the endocrine system.

  2. 9.2 How Neurons Communicate
  3. 9.3 The Central Nervous System
  4. 9.4 The Peripheral Nervous System
  5. 9.5 Nervous System Disorders
  6. 9.6 Sensory Processes
  7. 9.7 Somatosensation
  8. 9.8 Taste and Smell
  9. 9.9 Hearing and Vestibular Sensation
  10. 9.10 Vision
  11. 9.11 Types of Hormones
  12. 9.12 How Hormones Work
  13. 9.13 Regulation of Body Processes
  14. 9.14 Regulation of Hormone Production
  15. 9.15 Endocrine Glands
Chapter 10 Musculoskeletal, Circulatory, Respiratory and Excretory Systems 12 lessons · 6 hrs
  1. 10.1 Types of Skeletal Systems

    Skeletons and muscle, gas exchange and breathing, and circulation.

  2. 10.2 Bone
  3. 10.3 Joints and Skeletal Movement
  4. 10.4 Muscle Contraction and Locomotion
  5. 10.5 Systems of Gas Exchange
  6. 10.6 Gas Exchange across Respiratory Surfaces
  7. 10.7 Breathing
  8. 10.8 Transport of Gases in Human Bodily Fluids
  9. 10.9 Overview of the Circulatory System
  10. 10.10 Components of the Blood
  11. 10.11 Mammalian Heart and Blood Vessels
  12. 10.12 Blood Flow and Blood Pressure Regulation
Chapter 11 Integrated Biological Systems: Homeostasis, Immunity, and Reproduction 9 lessons · 5 hrs
  1. 11.1 Osmoregulation and Osmotic Balance

    Osmoregulation and excretion, innate and adaptive immunity, and integrated homeostasis.

  2. 11.2 The Kidneys and Osmoregulatory Organs
  3. 11.3 Excretion Systems
  4. 11.4 Nitrogenous Wastes
  5. 11.5 Hormonal Control of Osmoregulatory Functions
  6. 11.6 Innate Immune Response
  7. 11.7 Adaptive Immune Response
  8. 11.8 Antibodies
  9. 11.9 Disruptions in the Immune System
Chapter 12 Animal Reproduction and Development 7 lessons · 3.5 hrs
  1. 12.1 Reproduction Methods

    Fertilization, human reproduction and its hormones, pregnancy, and embryonic development.

  2. 12.2 Fertilization
  3. 12.3 Human Reproductive Anatomy and Gametogenesis
  4. 12.4 Hormonal Control of Human Reproduction
  5. 12.5 Human Pregnancy and Birth
  6. 12.6 Fertilization and Early Embryonic Development
  7. 12.7 Organogenesis and Vertebrate Formation
Chapter 13 Ecology 5 lessons · 2.5 hrs
  1. 13.1 The Scope of Ecology

    The scope of ecology, biogeography, terrestrial and aquatic biomes, and climate.

  2. 13.2 Biogeography
  3. 13.3 Terrestrial Biomes
  4. 13.4 Aquatic Biomes
  5. 13.5 Climate and the Effects of Global Climate Change
Chapter 14 Population and Community Ecology 7 lessons · 3.5 hrs
  1. 14.1 Population Demography

    Population demography and growth, life histories, human population growth, community ecology and behavior.

  2. 14.2 Life Histories and Natural Selection
  3. 14.3 Environmental Limits to Population Growth
  4. 14.4 Population Dynamics and Regulation
  5. 14.5 Human Population Growth
  6. 14.6 Community Ecology
  7. 14.7 Behavioral Biology: Proximate and Ultimate Causes of Behavior.
Chapter 15 Ecosystems 3 lessons · 1.5 hrs
  1. 15.1 Ecology of Ecosystems

    Energy flow through ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.

  2. 15.2 Energy Flow through Ecosystems
  3. 15.3 Biogeochemical Cycles
Chapter 16 Conservation Biology 4 lessons · 2 hrs
  1. 16.1 The Biodiversity Crisis

    The biodiversity crisis, why biodiversity matters, threats to it, and conservation.

  2. 16.2 The Importance of Biodiversity to Human Life
  3. 16.3 Threats to Biodiversity
  4. 16.4 Preserving Biodiversity
Practice exam Practice final exam 100 questions
  1. Practice final exam — 100 multiple-choice questions

    A full-length practice final that mirrors the exam's content areas and question style. Your score feeds the readiness tracker, so you know when you're ready to book the real exam.

These chapters make up the CLEP Biology exam prep class. They cover every content area on the official exam outline, and some topics go further than the exam requires.

Take the CLEP exam for the fastest route to 6 credits. If it doesn't go your way, your plan also includes a backup course that earns the credit through coursework.

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Colleges that accept CLEP Biology

CLEP is recognized at more than 2,900 U.S. colleges, but each one sets its own minimum score and decides how many credit hours to award. Check yours before you book the exam.

Find my college Search 280+ school pages for CLEP policy, accepted exams, minimum scores and credit hours.
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Which CLEP exams the school accepts Minimum score required Credit hours awarded CLEP institution code ACE and NCCRS status

Browse college credit policies

University of Virginia38 exams accepted Cleveland State University36 exams accepted Keuka College36 exams accepted Heritage University35 exams accepted College of Central Florida33 exams accepted Olympic College32 exams accepted Commonwealth University of PA32 exams accepted Clayton State University29 exams accepted Mercy UniversityCLEP credit policy Reinhardt University17 exams accepted

Browse all colleges

Policies change. Every college page lists the date the policy was checked, and we recommend confirming minimum scores and credit awards with the Registrar before you schedule an exam. TransferCredit.org is an independent education service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the institutions listed.

Practice tests and study guides

Five questions in the style of the CLEP Biology exam, drawn from the chapters above. No sign-up needed — see where you stand before you buy.

Question 1 of 5
Take the full practice test Open the study guides
625+ quiz questions across 125 subchapters 100-question practice final Readiness tracker Written guide for every content area Unlimited retakes

Frequently asked questions

What is the passing score for CLEP Biology?
The credit-granting score is 50. At a score of 50 or above, the American Council on Education recommends 6 semester hours of credit, reflecting a full year of general biology. Each college sets its own policy, so confirm the score and credit hours your school awards.
How many questions are on the CLEP Biology exam?
Roughly 115 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes. Some are unscored pretest questions.
How much does the CLEP Biology exam cost?
The exam fee is $97, paid to College Board. Test centers may add a separate administration fee. Active-duty military can take CLEP exams at no cost through DANTES. TransferCredit prep is $19 per part, with lifetime access.
What topics are on the CLEP Biology exam?
Three roughly equal areas: Molecular and Cellular Biology (33%); Organismal Biology (34%); and Population Biology (33%). Part 1 of this course covers molecular and cellular biology, inheritance and evolution; Part 2 covers organisms, body systems and ecology.
Is the CLEP Biology exam hard?
It covers a full year of college biology at a fast pace, so it's one of the more demanding CLEP science exams. Most students prepare in six to ten weeks across both parts; students with recent AP Biology usually move faster.
Which colleges accept CLEP Biology for credit?
CLEP is accepted at more than 2,900 U.S. colleges and universities. CLEP Biology often satisfies a natural science requirement or a general biology sequence for non-majors. Check your own institution's policy before booking.
How long should I study for CLEP Biology Part 2?
Three to five weeks for this part is typical, after a similar stretch on Part 1. Work through the chapters in order, take the subchapter quizzes, and use the readiness tracker to decide when to book.
What happens if I fail the CLEP Biology exam?
You can retake a CLEP exam after three months. Part 2 also includes the backup ACE/NCCRS course Introduction to Biology II, which awards credit through coursework with no exam required.
Do I need both parts to pass CLEP Biology?
Plan on both. CLEP Biology is one exam that covers a full year of college biology in a single sitting. Part 1 covers chemistry, cells, metabolism, genetics and evolution; Part 2 covers viruses and microbes, plants, animals and their body systems, and ecology. Each part is a separate $19 course: Part 1 at transfercredit.org/courses/biology-1 and Part 2 at transfercredit.org/courses/biology-2.
What does CLEP Biology Part 2 cover?
The second half of a general biology year: viruses, prokaryotes and protists, fungi and plants, animal diversity from invertebrates to vertebrates, plant form, nutrition and reproduction, the animal body systems, reproduction and development, and ecology from populations and communities to ecosystems and conservation.
Should I take Part 1 before Part 2?
If you can. Part 2 assumes the cell biology, energy and genetics from Part 1, and the exam mixes all three areas, so finish both before you book.
How many credits is CLEP Biology worth?
ACE recommends 6 semester hours for a score of 50, the equivalent of a two-semester general biology sequence. The credit comes from passing the exam; the two parts of this course are how you prepare for it.
Does CLEP Biology include a lab?
No. There's no lab component, though some questions ask you to interpret experiments and data. Some colleges require a separate lab to count the credit as a lab science.
Does CLEP Biology cover plants?
Yes. Organismal biology includes plant structure and function with an emphasis on flowering plants: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds and fruit, water and mineral transport, alternation of generations in ferns, conifers and flowering plants, plant hormones, tropisms and photoperiodism. Part 2 covers plants.
Does CLEP Biology cover human anatomy?
Partly. Organismal biology covers the major animal systems with emphasis on vertebrates — digestive, respiratory, skeletal, nervous, circulatory, excretory and immune — but it isn't an anatomy and physiology course. Part 2 covers these systems.