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- 40-page printable PDF
- 183 terms with examples
- 42 practice questions, answers explained
- 2-page cram sheet and study plans
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CLEP® Study Guide
Printable PDF · 40 pages
CLEP Social Sciences and History Study Guide
Everything the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam tests, in one PDF you can print. Built from the College Board's official outline, heaviest topics first.
- 183 key terms, each with an example
- 42 practice questions with every answer explained
- A 2-page cram sheet for the night before
- 2-, 4- and 8-week study plans built from the exam weights
Last updated 2026 · exam details checked against the College Board's published exam information in 2026
Look inside the guide
Real pages from the 40-page PDF.
What you get for $5
One chapter for each official content area, in the order the exam weighs them.
- 📘40pages, printable
- 🧭6chapters, heaviest first
- 🔑183terms with examples
- ✍️42practice questions, answers explained
- ⚠️18exam traps to avoid
- 📄2page cram sheet
Try 10 free Social Sciences and History questions
In the style of the real exam, from all 6 areas. About 10 minutes, with every answer explained and a score by area.
10 questions
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Question 1 · Government/Political Science
The Supreme Court rules that a law passed by Congress violates the First Amendment, so the law cannot be enforced. Which principle does this ruling illustrate?
Show the answer
Answer: C. Judicial review. Judicial review is the power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional and therefore invalid.
The trap: Popular sovereignty is tempting because Congress is elected by the people, but it is about where authority comes from, not a court voiding a law.
Judicial review is the power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional and therefore invalid.
The trap: Popular sovereignty is tempting because Congress is elected by the people, but it is about where authority comes from, not a court voiding a law.
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Question 2 · Geography
Map 1 has a scale of 1:10,000, and Map 2 has a scale of 1:5,000,000. Which statement is correct?
Show the answer
Answer: B. Map 1 is the larger scale and shows more detail of a smaller area. The fraction 1/10,000 is larger than 1/5,000,000, so Map 1 is large-scale: a small area with more detail.
The trap: Larger numbers in the ratio can look like "larger scale", but the bigger denominator means a smaller scale and less detail.
The fraction 1/10,000 is larger than 1/5,000,000, so Map 1 is large-scale: a small area with more detail.
The trap: Larger numbers in the ratio can look like "larger scale", but the bigger denominator means a smaller scale and less detail.
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Question 3 · Economics
A farmer can plant a field with corn, which would earn $8,000, or with soybeans, which would earn $6,500. He plants corn. What is his opportunity cost?
Show the answer
Answer: A. $6,500. The opportunity cost is the value of the next-best alternative given up, which is the $6,500 soybeans would have earned.
The trap: The $1,500 difference is his profit advantage over soybeans; it is not what he gave up.
The opportunity cost is the value of the next-best alternative given up, which is the $6,500 soybeans would have earned.
The trap: The $1,500 difference is his profit advantage over soybeans; it is not what he gave up.
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Question 4 · United States History
A newspaper in 1823 reports that the president has told Europe that any attempt to set up new colonies in the Americas will be treated as a threat to the United States. This policy is known as the
Show the answer
Answer: E. Monroe Doctrine. The president warned European powers away from the Western Hemisphere. That is the Monroe Doctrine.
The trap: The Truman Doctrine is also a presidential doctrine, but it came in 1947 and dealt with aid to countries resisting communism.
The president warned European powers away from the Western Hemisphere. That is the Monroe Doctrine.
The trap: The Truman Doctrine is also a presidential doctrine, but it came in 1947 and dealt with aid to countries resisting communism.
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Question 5 · Western Civilization
After 27 years of fighting, a city-state surrendered in 404 BCE, losing its fleet and its long walls to a rival league led by Sparta. This describes the end of the
Show the answer
Answer: D. Peloponnesian War. Athens lost to Sparta in 404 BCE, ending the Peloponnesian War, which left Greece weakened.
The trap: The Persian Wars also involved Athens and Sparta, but they fought on the same side against Persia.
Athens lost to Sparta in 404 BCE, ending the Peloponnesian War, which left Greece weakened.
The trap: The Persian Wars also involved Athens and Sparta, but they fought on the same side against Persia.
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Question 6 · World History
A historian studies how maize, potatoes, horses and smallpox crossed the Atlantic after 1492. Which concept does this describe?
Show the answer
Answer: B. Columbian Exchange. After Columbus's voyages, plants, animals and diseases moved between the Americas and the Old World, which is the Columbian Exchange.
The trap: The Atlantic slave trade also crossed the ocean, but it describes the forced movement of Africans, not the spread of crops, animals and diseases.
After Columbus's voyages, plants, animals and diseases moved between the Americas and the Old World, which is the Columbian Exchange.
The trap: The Atlantic slave trade also crossed the ocean, but it describes the forced movement of Africans, not the spread of crops, animals and diseases.
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Question 7 · Government/Political Science
A pollster wants to estimate the opinion of all registered voters in a state. Which method is most likely to produce a representative result?
Show the answer
Answer: E. Contacting voters chosen by chance from the official registration list. Choosing voters by chance gives everyone an equal chance of selection, so the sample can fairly represent the whole group.
The trap: An online poll that anyone can answer collects many responses, but people choose themselves, which biases the results.
Choosing voters by chance gives everyone an equal chance of selection, so the sample can fairly represent the whole group.
The trap: An online poll that anyone can answer collects many responses, but people choose themselves, which biases the results.
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Question 8 · Geography
A county planner places layers showing roads, flood zones and hospitals on one computer map to choose the best site for a new clinic. This tool is best described as
Show the answer
Answer: C. a geographic information system. Combining layered data about places on one digital map for analysis is what GIS does.
The trap: Remote sensing supplies images, but the planner is analyzing layers of data rather than collecting images.
Combining layered data about places on one digital map for analysis is what GIS does.
The trap: Remote sensing supplies images, but the planner is analyzing layers of data rather than collecting images.
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Question 9 · Economics
A basket of consumer goods cost $250 last year and costs $265 this year. What was the inflation rate over the year?
Show the answer
Answer: A. 6 percent. Inflation is the price change divided by the earlier price: $15 divided by $250 equals 0.06, or 6 percent.
The trap: Dividing $15 by the new price of $265 gives 5.7 percent, but inflation is measured against the earlier price.
Inflation is the price change divided by the earlier price: $15 divided by $250 equals 0.06, or 6 percent.
The trap: Dividing $15 by the new price of $265 gives 5.7 percent, but inflation is measured against the earlier price.
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Question 10 · United States History
The Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) most directly increased tensions between North and South because it
Show the answer
Answer: D. ruled that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories. By striking down limits on slavery in the territories, the Court sided with slaveholders and angered the North.
The trap: The ruling did not touch secession, and it did not free anyone. The freeing of enslaved people in rebel states came later with the Emancipation Proclamation.
By striking down limits on slavery in the territories, the Court sided with slaveholders and angered the North.
The trap: The ruling did not touch secession, and it did not free anyone. The freeing of enslaved people in rebel states came later with the Emancipation Proclamation.
The CLEP Social Sciences and History exam at a glance
The CLEP Social Sciences and History exam is a 90-minute, computer-based test from the College Board with about 120 multiple-choice questions. A score of 50 on the 20–80 scale earns an ACE credit recommendation of 6 semester hours, though each college sets its own policy. The exam covers 6 content areas; the heaviest is Government/Political Science at 20%.
- Questions
- About 120multiple choice
- Time
- 90 minabout 45 seconds a question
- Passing score
- 50on a 20–80 scale
- ACE credit
- 6semester hours
- Exam fee
- $97paid to College Board
- Calculator
- Nonot allowed
Source: official CLEP Social Sciences and History exam page.
What the exam covers
6 areas, heaviest first. The guide's chapters follow this order.
- Government/Political Science20%
- Geography20%
- Economics20%
- United States History13–15%
- Western Civilization13–15%
- World History13–15%
How it works
- 1Buy once, $5Secure checkout. No subscription needed.
- 2Download the PDFFrom your TransferCredit.org account, right away and any time later.
- 3Study the heaviest areas firstFollow the 2-, 4- or 8-week plan, then read the cram sheet the night before.
Questions students ask
What's in the full CLEP Social Sciences and History study guide?
40 pages: 6 chapters, one per official content area, heaviest first. 183 terms, each with a plain-English definition and an example, 29 key people, common traps and memory tricks, 42 practice questions with an answer key that explains every answer, question tactics, 2-, 4- and 8-week study plans and a 2-page cram sheet.
How much is the full CLEP Social Sciences and History study guide?
The full 40-page PDF is $5, a one-time payment. The 10 practice questions on this page are free, with no account.
What does the $29 plan include?
$29 a month gives you all 28 CLEP subjects: every CLEP study guide plus the full prep course for each subject, and you can cancel anytime. If you only need this exam, the guide on its own is a one-time $5.
How do I get the full guide?
Choose Buy this guide ($5) and check out. Then sign in to your TransferCredit.org account, then open the course and its Download Your Study Guide lesson. The PDF is yours to keep, and you can download it again from your account at any time.
Can I print the guide or use it on my phone?
Yes. It's a PDF, so it opens on phones, tablets and computers, and printing is allowed. Its tick boxes and answer bubbles work in PDF readers that support forms. Copying and editing are turned off.
Is this an official CLEP study guide?
No. CLEP® is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in producing this guide and does not endorse it. TransferCredit.org is independent. We built the guide from the official exam outline, and the exam details were checked against the College Board's published exam information in 2026.
Why is this study guide better than a generic review?
It follows the official outline area by area and spends the most pages on what the exam weighs most. Every term comes with an example, each chapter names the traps the exam sets, and the answer key explains why the most tempting wrong answer is wrong, not just which answer is right. It ends with a 2-page cram sheet for the night before.
What is the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam?
The CLEP Social Sciences and History exam is a 90-minute, computer-based test from the College Board with about 120 multiple-choice questions. A score of 50 on the 20–80 scale earns an ACE credit recommendation of 6 semester hours, though each college sets its own policy. The exam covers 6 content areas; the heaviest is Government/Political Science at 20%.
More questions about the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam (19)
How many questions are on the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam, and how long is it?
The exam has approximately 120 questions to be answered in 90 minutes, and some are pretest questions that will not be scored.
What is the passing score for CLEP Social Sciences and History?
The passing score is 50 on a 20–80 scale. At 50 or above, the American Council on Education (ACE) recommends 6 semester hours. Each college sets its own passing score and credit award, so check your school's policy before you book.
How much does the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam cost?
The exam fee is $97, paid to the College Board. Test centers may add their own administration fee. Eligible U.S. military service members can usually test for free through DANTES.
How many college credits is CLEP Social Sciences and History worth?
ACE recommends 6 semester hours for a passing score of 50. Your college decides how many credits it awards and which course they replace. Check your college's policy.
Is there a penalty for guessing on CLEP Social Sciences and History?
No. Your score counts only correct answers, so a wrong answer costs nothing. Never leave a question blank: rule out what you can and pick your best guess.
What topics are on the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam?
6 content areas, from the official outline: Government/Political Science (20%); Geography (20%); Economics (20%); United States History (13–15%); Western Civilization (13–15%); World History (13–15%).
Which CLEP Social Sciences and History topics should I study first?
Start with the three heaviest: Government/Political Science (20%), Geography (20%) and Economics (20%). Together they are about 60% of the exam, roughly 71 of 120 questions. The guide's chapters run in that order, heaviest first.
Is the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam hard?
It depends on what you already know. No single area dominates: the largest, Government/Political Science, is 20% and the smallest, World History, is 13–15%, so broad coverage matters more than deep expertise in one topic. Take the free diagnostic above to see where you stand in about 10 minutes.
What kinds of questions are on the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam?
The guide sorts them into 5 types: “Identify the term from a description”, “Cause and effect in history”, “Apply a concept to a scenario”, “Read data or a graphic” and “EXCEPT and NOT questions”. Every question has 5 answer choices. Try the 10 free questions above to see the style.
How long should I study for CLEP Social Sciences and History?
Use the diagnostic to decide. If you already know most areas, two weeks of daily review is often enough; if the subject is new to you, plan on eight. The full guide has 2-, 4- and 8-week plans built from the exam weights.
How should I pace myself on the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam?
On average you have about 45 seconds per question (90 minutes for 120 questions). Be past question 40 a third of the way through and past question 80 two-thirds through. If a question takes more than a minute, pick your best guess, mark it and come back.
What happens if I don't pass CLEP Social Sciences and History?
You can retake a CLEP exam after three months. Use the wait to work through the areas the score report and the diagnostic show you missed.
Do colleges accept CLEP Social Sciences and History for credit?
CLEP exams are accepted at more than 2,900 U.S. colleges and universities, but each school decides which exams it accepts, the score it requires and the credit it gives. Look up your college's CLEP policy before you book.
How up to date is this CLEP Social Sciences and History guide?
Last updated 2026. The exam details were checked against the College Board's published exam information in 2026. Exams change, so confirm the details on the official exam page before you register.
What should I do the night before the exam?
Read the cram sheet once, slowly. Check your test time, the location or remote-proctoring setup, and the ID you need. Then sleep: a rested brain recalls more than a crammed one. In the morning, skim the memory tricks and common traps, then stop studying.
Which economists should I know for CLEP Social Sciences and History?
Economics is 20% of the exam, and the outline includes major theorists and schools. Know Adam Smith (free markets and the "invisible hand"), Karl Marx (the critique of capitalism), John Maynard Keynes (government spending to fight recessions) and Milton Friedman (monetarism and the money supply).
What should I study first for CLEP Social Sciences and History?
Start with whichever of government, geography and economics you know least. They're 20% each and 60% of the exam together, while U.S. history, Western civilization and world history are 13–15% each.
Does CLEP Social Sciences and History cover world history outside Europe?
Yes. World history is 13–15% of the exam and covers Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America from prehistory to the present, including global themes and interactions. Western civilization is a separate 13–15% area.
Does the exam include sociology and psychology?
No. The current outline covers history, government and political science, geography and economics. Sociology and psychology have their own CLEP exams.
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CLEP® is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in producing this guide and does not endorse it. TransferCredit.org is independent and not affiliated with the College Board. © 2026 UPI Globale Edu Inc.