CLEP College Composition Exam Prep Course
Full course with 450+ practice questions and a practice exam
Self-paced prep for the CLEP College Composition exam. 11 chapters covering all 4 content areas the exam tests and both timed essays, with a quiz after every subchapter. 50 multiple-choice questions in 55 minutes plus 2 essays in 70 minutes. A score of 50 earns 6 transferable college credits.
Self-paced prep for the CLEP College Composition Modular exam. 11 chapters covering all 4 content areas the exam tests, with a quiz after every subchapter. About 90 multiple-choice questions in 95 minutes, with no essays. A score of 50 earns 3 transferable college credits.
- 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
- Credits accepted at 2,900+ U.S. colleges
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.
$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.
- All 11 chapters and 70 lessons
- Five-question quiz after every subchapter
- Readiness score tracker
- Timed essay practice with scoring guide
- Lifetime access, no expiry
- All 28 CLEP prep courses
- Every chapter, lesson and quiz
- Readiness tracker per subject
- Backup ACE/NCCRS credit path
- Cancel or pause anytime
- Lifetime access to all 28 subjects
- All current and future courses
- 12-month ACE/NCCRS backup path
- Pay once, never renew
- All 11 chapters and 70 lessons
- Five-question quiz after every subchapter
- Readiness score tracker
- Timed essay practice with scoring guide
- Lifetime access, no expiry
- All 28 CLEP prep courses
- Every chapter, lesson and quiz
- Readiness tracker per subject
- Backup ACE/NCCRS credit path
- Cancel or pause anytime
- Lifetime access to all 28 subjects
- All current and future courses
- 12-month ACE/NCCRS backup path
- Pay once, never renew
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
Both routes, one plan
Buying CLEP College Composition prep also opens the ACE/NCCRS course in the same subject — English Composition I — 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 125-minute timer, and earn three semester hours of credit through coursework instead.
- English Composition I: 3 semester hours through coursework
- Unlocked automatically — no extra fee, no application
- CLEP can still be retaken after three months
Buying CLEP College Composition Modular prep also opens the ACE/NCCRS course in the same subject — English Composition I — 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 95-minute timer, and earn three semester hours of credit through coursework instead.
- English Composition I: 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.
Check your collegeCLEP College Composition exam format and topics
The exam tests the writing skills of a first-year composition course. It has 50 multiple-choice questions in 55 minutes and two essays in 70 minutes: an argument essay and a synthesis essay using two sources. The multiple-choice and essay scores count equally and are reported as one scaled score. Essays are scored by college English faculty, so results come one to two weeks after the test. Pass mark is 50.
| Content area | Weighting | Questions | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revision Skills | 40% | ≈20 | Organization, evidence, audience and tone, level of detail, coherence, sentence variety, thesis and topic sentences, emphasis, reasoning, point of view, transitions |
| Ability to Use Source Materials | 25% | ≈12 | Using reference materials; evaluating sources; integrating source material; documentation in MLA, APA and Chicago |
| Rhetorical Analysis | 25% | ≈12 | Appeals, tone, organization, rhetorical effects, use of language and evaluation of evidence |
| Conventions of Standard Written English | 10% | ≈5 | Parallelism and subordination; fragments, run-ons and comma splices; agreement; diction; modifiers; idiom; voice; logical comparison; punctuation |
| 4 content areas | 100% | ≈50 | Multiple-choice section · plus 2 essays in 70 minutes · score 50 for an ACE recommendation of 6 semester hours |
The two essays — agree or disagree with a statement, and synthesize two sources into an argument — are scored on a 0–6 scale by at least two readers, and count as much as the multiple-choice section.
How hard is the exam?
The multiple-choice section is mostly revising early drafts and analyzing passages, and 25% tests source use and citation. The essays are what make this version harder: two essays in 70 minutes, one of them synthesizing sources you haven't seen. Practicing timed essays against the 0–6 scoring guide is the best use of study time.
- Revision skills are 40% of the multiple choice
- Practice both essay types against the clock
- Know how to cite two sources inside an essay
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. Because essays are scored by faculty, results for this exam come one to two weeks after the test date rather than immediately.
- Passing score 50, for 6 semester hours
- Retake permitted after three months
- Free for active-duty military via DANTES
This version earns 6 credits because of the essays. The last chapter walks through both essay prompts with model responses at different score levels.
Check your collegeCLEP College Composition Modular exam format and topics
The Modular exam tests the same skills as College Composition in a multiple-choice-only format: about 90 questions in 95 minutes, some of them unscored pretest items. Most colleges award credit on the Modular exam alone, though some add their own essay requirement. Pass mark is 50.
| Content area | Weighting | Questions | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills | 40% | ≈36 | Organization, evidence, audience and tone, coherence, sentence variety, thesis and topic sentences, emphasis, reasoning, transitions, and sentence-level errors |
| Ability to Use Source Materials | 25% | ≈22 | Using reference materials; evaluating sources; integrating source material; documentation in MLA, APA and Chicago |
| Rhetorical Analysis | 25% | ≈22 | Appeals, tone, organization, rhetorical effects, use of language and evaluation of evidence |
| Conventions of Standard Written English | 10% | ≈9 | Parallelism and subordination; sentence boundaries; agreement; diction; modifiers; idiom; voice; logical comparison; punctuation |
| 4 content areas | 100% | ≈90 | 95 minutes · multiple choice only · score 50 for an ACE recommendation of 3 semester hours |
How hard is the exam?
Without essays, the Modular exam is all reading and judging writing: revising drafts, analyzing rhetoric and handling sources. It has more questions than the standard version, so pace matters — about a minute per question. Check whether your college adds its own essay before choosing this version.
- Revision skills are 40% of the exam
- Source use and rhetorical analysis are 25% each
- Confirm your college doesn't require its own essay
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 3 semester hours
- Retake permitted after three months
- Free for active-duty military via DANTES
The Modular version skips the essays, but the course's essay chapter still helps with the revision and source questions, which use the same skills.
Check your collegeCourse chapters and lessons
11 chapters across 76 instructional hours. Expand any chapter to see the lessons inside it.
Chapter 1 Foundations: Types of Writing, Rhetoric, and Critical Reading
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1.1 Types of Writing and Their Purposes
Types of writing, the rhetorical situation and appeals, critical reading, genre conventions, and voice and style.
- 1.2 The Rhetorical Situation
- 1.3 Rhetorical Appeals
- 1.4 Critical Reading Strategies
- 1.5 Genre Conventions
- 1.6 Writing Voice and Style
Chapter 2 The Personal and Literacy Narrative Essay
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2.1 What Is a Personal Narrative? Purpose and genre conventions of narrative writing
Personal and literacy narratives, storytelling techniques, prewriting, drafting and revising.
- 2.2 The Literacy Narrative
- 2.3 Storytelling Techniques
- 2.4 Prewriting and Invention Strategies
- 2.5 Writing the Narrative Draft
- 2.6 Revising the Narrative
Chapter 3 Rhetorical Analysis and Analytical Writing
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3.1 What Is Rhetorical Analysis? Purpose and academic expectations
Rhetorical modes and devices, analytical theses, structuring a rhetorical analysis and integrating evidence — rhetorical analysis, 25% of the exam.
- 3.2 Rhetorical Modes
- 3.3 Rhetorical Devices
- 3.4 Developing an Analytical Thesis
- 3.5 Structuring the Rhetorical Analysis Essay
- 3.6 Integrating Textual Evidence
- 3.7 Topic Sentences and Transitions
- 3.8 Recognizing Rhetorical Shifts
Chapter 4 Argumentation and the Argumentative Essay
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4.1 What Is an Argument? Claims, warrants, evidence, and backing (Toulmin model)
Claims, warrants and evidence, types of claims, debatable theses, logical fallacies, the claim-evidence-reasoning framework and counterargument.
- 4.2 Types of Claims
- 4.3 Developing a Debatable Thesis
- 4.4 Logical Fallacies
- 4.5 The Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) Framework
- 4.6 Counterargument and Concession-Refutation
- 4.7 Writing the Argumentative Conclusion
- 4.8 Revising for Argument Strength
Chapter 5 Research, Sources, and the Annotated Bibliography
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5.1 Choosing and Narrowing a Research Topic
Choosing a topic, types of sources, database and Boolean searching, the CRAAP test and annotated bibliographies — using source materials.
- 5.2 Types of Academic Sources
- 5.3 Navigating Library Databases
- 5.4 Boolean Search Strategies
- 5.5 Evaluating Sources: The CRAAP Test
- 5.6 The Annotated Bibliography
Chapter 6 Citation Formats: MLA and APA
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6.1 MLA 9th Edition
MLA 9th and APA 7th edition in practice, comparing styles, and signal phrases for integrating sources.
- 6.2 MLA in Practice
- 6.3 APA 7th Edition
- 6.4 APA in Practice
- 6.5 Comparing MLA and APA
- 6.6 Signal Phrases and Source Integration
- 6.7 Academic Integrity
Chapter 7 The Research Paper
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7.1 The Writing Process for Research Papers
The research paper: thesis, synthesis of sources, body paragraphs, introductions and conclusions, and revision.
- 7.2 Crafting a Research Thesis
- 7.3 Synthesizing Multiple Sources
- 7.4 Body Paragraphs in Research Writing — CER with integrated citations
- 7.5 Writing the Research Introduction and Conclusion
- 7.6 Revising the Research Paper
Chapter 8 Grammar, Mechanics, and Sentence-Level Writing
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8.1 Parts of Speech
Parts of speech, agreement, tense consistency, fragments, run-ons and comma splices, sentence variety and punctuation — Standard Written English.
- 8.2 Noun, Pronoun, and Verb Agreement
- 8.3 Verb Tense Consistency
- 8.4 Sentence Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
- 8.5 Varying Sentence Structure
- 8.6 Punctuation
- 8.7 Spelling
- 8.8 Editing vs. Proofreading
Chapter 9 Digital Writing, Multimodal Communication, and Presentations
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9.1 Writing for Digital Contexts
Writing for digital contexts, visual rhetoric, presentation design and delivery, and data visualization.
- 9.2 Visual Rhetoric
- 9.3 The Photo Essay
- 9.4 PowerPoint Design Principles
- 9.5 Oral Presentation Delivery
- 9.6 Data Visualization
Chapter 10 The Final Portfolio and Metacognitive Reflection
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10.1 What Is a Writing Portfolio? Purpose, conventions, and selection criteria
The writing portfolio, revising for a final draft, and reflective writing — the revision habits behind 40% of the exam.
- 10.2 Selecting and Revising Work for the Portfolio
- 10.3 The Metacognitive Reflection Essay
- 10.4 Setting Goals for English Composition 2
Chapter 11 The Timed Essays: Argument and Synthesis
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11.1 How the Essays Are Scored
How the essays are scored, planning an argument essay, writing a synthesis essay from two sources, citing inside a timed essay, and practice prompts.
- 11.2 Planning a 30-Minute Argument Essay
- 11.3 Writing the Synthesis Essay from Two Sources
- 11.4 Citing Sources Inside a Timed Essay
- 11.5 Practice Prompts and Model Responses
Practice exam Practice final exam
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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 College Composition and CLEP College Composition Modular exam prep class. They cover every content area on the official exam outline, and some topics go further than the exam requires.
Take either CLEP composition exam for the fastest route to first-year writing credit. If it doesn't go your way, your plan also includes a backup course that earns the credit through coursework.
See pricingColleges that accept CLEP College Composition
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.
Colleges that accept CLEP College Composition Modular
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.
Browse college credit policies
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 College Composition and CLEP College Composition Modular exams, drawn from the chapters above. No sign-up needed — see where you stand before you buy.