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CLEP® Study Guide
Printable PDF · 49 pages
CLEP Western Civilization II Study Guide
Official exam name: Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present
Everything the CLEP Western Civilization II exam tests, in one PDF you can print. Built from the College Board's official outline, heaviest topics first.
- 180 key terms, each with an example
- 60 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 49-page PDF.
What you get for $5
One chapter for each official content area, in the order the exam weighs them.
- 📘49pages, printable
- 🧭12chapters, heaviest first
- 🔑180terms with examples
- ✍️60practice questions, answers explained
- ⚠️36exam traps to avoid
- 📄2page cram sheet
Try 10 free Western Civilization II questions
In the style of the real exam, one from each of the ten heaviest areas. About 10 minutes, with every answer explained and a score by area.
10 questions
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Question 1 · Revolution and Napoleonic Europe
In June 1789 delegates of the Third Estate, locked out of their meeting hall, gathered on an indoor tennis court and vowed not to separate until France had a constitution. What did this action show?
Show the answer
Answer: B. The Third Estate claiming sovereignty for the nation. By vowing to continue as a National Assembly until a constitution existed, the delegates asserted that authority lay with the nation, not the king.
The trap: The Jacobins taking control is tempting because it is a revolutionary event, but they took control only in 1793, in the radical phase.
By vowing to continue as a National Assembly until a constitution existed, the delegates asserted that authority lay with the nation, not the king.
The trap: The Jacobins taking control is tempting because it is a revolutionary event, but they took control only in 1793, in the radical phase.
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Question 2 · The First World War and the Russian Revolution
A German planner argues that France can be beaten within weeks by marching through Belgium, leaving Germany free to turn on Russia. In 1914 the plan's most important political consequence was that it
Show the answer
Answer: E. drew Britain in by violating Belgian neutrality. Britain had pledged to protect Belgian neutrality, so Germany's invasion turned a continental conflict into one involving the British Empire.
The trap: Giving the United States an immediate reason to join the war is wrong: America entered in 1917, mainly because of submarine attacks.
Britain had pledged to protect Belgian neutrality, so Germany's invasion turned a continental conflict into one involving the British Empire.
The trap: Giving the United States an immediate reason to join the war is wrong: America entered in 1917, mainly because of submarine attacks.
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Question 3 · Politics and diplomacy in the Age of Nationalism, 1850–1914
Which statement best explains how Germany was unified under Prussian leadership?
Show the answer
Answer: D. Bismarck's wars with Austria and France, using realpolitik. Prussia defeated Austria in 1866 and France in 1870–1871 under Bismarck, whose realpolitik emphasized power over ideals.
The trap: The Frankfurt convention is tempting because it aimed at unity, but that assembly failed in 1849 when the Prussian king refused its crown.
Prussia defeated Austria in 1866 and France in 1870–1871 under Bismarck, whose realpolitik emphasized power over ideals.
The trap: The Frankfurt convention is tempting because it aimed at unity, but that assembly failed in 1849 when the Prussian king refused its crown.
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Question 4 · The Second World War and contemporary Europe
In 1940 German aircraft attack British airfields and cities for months, but Britain's fighters and radar prevent Germany from winning control of the air, and a planned invasion is canceled. Which event is this?
Show the answer
Answer: C. The Battle of Britain. The Luftwaffe's failure to defeat the RAF meant Germany could not safely cross the Channel, so Britain stayed in the war.
The trap: Blitzkrieg in France is wrong: that was a fast ground and air campaign that succeeded in six weeks, not an air campaign that failed.
The Luftwaffe's failure to defeat the RAF meant Germany could not safely cross the Channel, so Britain stayed in the war.
The trap: Blitzkrieg in France is wrong: that was a fast ground and air campaign that succeeded in six weeks, not an air campaign that failed.
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Question 5 · Absolutism and Constitutionalism, 1648–1715
A ruler tells his court that he answers only to God, requires leading nobles to live at his palace, and cancels religious toleration for a minority. This ruler is most likely
Show the answer
Answer: A. Louis XIV of France. Only Louis XIV matches all three clues: divine right, a court at Versailles that kept nobles close, and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.
The trap: Oliver Cromwell is wrong: he ruled after Parliament executed a king who claimed divine right, and he did not run a court of nobles.
Only Louis XIV matches all three clues: divine right, a court at Versailles that kept nobles close, and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.
The trap: Oliver Cromwell is wrong: he ruled after Parliament executed a king who claimed divine right, and he did not run a court of nobles.
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Question 6 · Period of Enlightenment
An eighteenth-century writer argues that government should be divided into legislative, executive and judicial branches so that no single group can become a tyrant. Whose ideas does this reflect?
Show the answer
Answer: E. Baron de Montesquieu. Dividing government into three branches that limit one another is Montesquieu's separation of powers, set out in The Spirit of the Laws.
The trap: Rousseau is tempting because he also wrote about legitimate government, but his general will concerned popular sovereignty, not dividing government into branches.
Dividing government into three branches that limit one another is Montesquieu's separation of powers, set out in The Spirit of the Laws.
The trap: Rousseau is tempting because he also wrote about legitimate government, but his general will concerned popular sovereignty, not dividing government into branches.
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Question 7 · The Industrial Revolution
A village in 1780 loses its shared pasture when Parliament approves fencing it into large farms, and many laborers soon leave for nearby towns. Which long-term effect does this illustrate?
Show the answer
Answer: D. A growing pool of wage workers available for factories. Enclosure helped landowners farm more efficiently and pushed villagers off the land, producing the labor force that mills and mines needed.
The trap: A sharp fall in food production is wrong: enclosure and new techniques raised output, which also fed growing cities.
Enclosure helped landowners farm more efficiently and pushed villagers off the land, producing the labor force that mills and mines needed.
The trap: A sharp fall in food production is wrong: enclosure and new techniques raised output, which also fed growing cities.
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Question 8 · Economy, Culture, and Imperialism, 1850–1914
A speaker in the 1890s argues that European nations rule Africa because strong peoples naturally dominate weaker ones, as in nature's "survival of the fittest". Which idea is the speaker applying?
Show the answer
Answer: B. Social Darwinism. Applying survival of the fittest to nations and races to justify imperial rule is Social Darwinism, a misuse of Darwin's biology.
The trap: Natural selection is tempting because the language is Darwin's, but Darwin's theory described biological change and made no claim about ranking nations.
Applying survival of the fittest to nations and races to justify imperial rule is Social Darwinism, a misuse of Darwin's biology.
The trap: Natural selection is tempting because the language is Darwin's, but Darwin's theory described biological change and made no claim about ranking nations.
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Question 9 · Europe Between the Wars
In 1930 a Soviet village is ordered to merge its private plots into one state-controlled farm, and the wealthier peasants are deported. This policy is
Show the answer
Answer: C. collectivization. Merging peasant plots into state farms and attacking kulaks defines collectivization, which aimed to control grain and feed industrial workers.
The trap: A five-year plan for steel is wrong: five-year plans set targets for heavy industry, not the structure of village farming.
Merging peasant plots into state farms and attacking kulaks defines collectivization, which aimed to control grain and feed industrial workers.
The trap: A five-year plan for steel is wrong: five-year plans set targets for heavy industry, not the structure of village farming.
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Question 10 · Political and cultural developments, 1815–1848
A minister in a central European state argues that universities and newspapers should be closely watched because they spread dangerous liberal and nationalist ideas. Which development of the period put this argument into practice?
Show the answer
Answer: A. The Carlsbad Decrees. The Carlsbad Decrees imposed censorship and university supervision in the German states in 1819 to fight liberal and nationalist movements.
The trap: The Frankfurt Parliament is tempting because it involved German nationalism, but it came in 1848 and sought to promote unification, not to suppress these ideas.
The Carlsbad Decrees imposed censorship and university supervision in the German states in 1819 to fight liberal and nationalist movements.
The trap: The Frankfurt Parliament is tempting because it involved German nationalism, but it came in 1848 and sought to promote unification, not to suppress these ideas.
The CLEP Western Civilization II exam at a glance
The CLEP Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present 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 3 semester hours, though each college sets its own policy. The exam covers 12 content areas; the heaviest is Revolution and Napoleonic Europe at 10–13%.
- Questions
- About 120multiple choice
- Time
- 90 minabout 45 seconds a question
- Passing score
- 50on a 20–80 scale
- ACE credit
- 3semester hours
- Exam fee
- $97paid to College Board
- Calculator
- Nonot allowed
Source: official CLEP Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present exam page.
What the exam covers
12 areas, heaviest first. The guide's chapters follow this order.
- Revolution and Napoleonic Europe10–13%
- The First World War and the Russian Revolution10–12%
- Politics and diplomacy in the Age of Nationalism, 1850–19148–10%
- The Second World War and contemporary Europe8–10%
- Absolutism and Constitutionalism, 1648–17157–9%
- Period of Enlightenment7–9%
- The Industrial Revolution7–9%
- Economy, Culture, and Imperialism, 1850–19147–9%
- Europe Between the Wars7–9%
- Political and cultural developments, 1815–18486–8%
- The Scientific View of the World5–7%
- Competition for empire and economic expansion4–6%
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 Western Civilization II study guide?
49 pages: 12 chapters, one per official content area, heaviest first. 180 terms, each with a plain-English definition and an example, 57 key people, common traps and memory tricks, 60 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 Western Civilization II study guide?
The full 49-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 Western Civilization II exam?
The CLEP Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present 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 3 semester hours, though each college sets its own policy. The exam covers 12 content areas; the heaviest is Revolution and Napoleonic Europe at 10–13%.
More questions about the CLEP Western Civilization II exam (21)
How many questions are on the CLEP Western Civilization II exam, and how long is it?
It has 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 Western Civilization II?
The passing score is 50 on a 20–80 scale. At 50 or above, the American Council on Education (ACE) recommends 3 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 Western Civilization II 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 Western Civilization II worth?
ACE recommends 3 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 Western Civilization II?
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 Western Civilization II exam?
12 content areas, from the official outline: Revolution and Napoleonic Europe (10–13%); The First World War and the Russian Revolution (10–12%); Politics and diplomacy in the Age of Nationalism, 1850–1914 (8–10%); The Second World War and contemporary Europe (8–10%); Absolutism and Constitutionalism, 1648–1715 (7–9%); Period of Enlightenment (7–9%); The Industrial Revolution (7–9%); Economy, Culture, and Imperialism, 1850–1914 (7–9%); Europe Between the Wars (7–9%); Political and cultural developments, 1815–1848 (6–8%); The Scientific View of the World (5–7%); Competition for empire and economic expansion (4–6%).
Which CLEP Western Civilization II topics should I study first?
Start with the three heaviest: Revolution and Napoleonic Europe (10–13%), the First World War and the Russian Revolution (10–12%) and Politics and diplomacy in the Age of Nationalism, 1850–1914 (8–10%). Together they are about 32% of the exam, roughly 38 of 120 questions. The guide's chapters run in that order, heaviest first.
Is the CLEP Western Civilization II exam hard?
It depends on what you already know. No single area dominates: the largest, Revolution and Napoleonic Europe, is 10–13% and the smallest, Competition for empire and economic expansion, is 4–6%, 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 Western Civilization II exam?
The guide sorts them into 5 types: “Identify and describe”, “Cause and effect”, “EXCEPT questions”, “Source passage” and “Order and comparison”. Every question has 5 answer choices. Try the 10 free questions above to see the style.
How long should I study for CLEP Western Civilization II?
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 Western Civilization II 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 Western Civilization II?
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 Western Civilization II 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 Western Civilization II 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.
What's the difference between Western Civilization I and II?
Western Civilization I runs from the ancient Near East to 1648. Western Civilization II covers 1648 to the present. They're separate exams, each worth 3 credits.
Which historical figures should I know for CLEP Western Civilization II?
Key figures include Louis XIV, Peter the Great, Isaac Newton, John Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau, Napoleon, Metternich, Karl Marx, Bismarck, Cavour, Lenin, Stalin, Mussolini and Hitler. Questions may describe a figure's political viewpoint and ask you to identify them, or ask you to spot a person wrongly paired with an event.
Does CLEP Western Civilization II cover the Industrial Revolution?
Yes. The Industrial Revolution is 7–9% of the exam, covering the agricultural and industrial revolutions, their causes, the economic and social impact on the working and middle classes, and the British reform movement.
Which ideologies should I know for CLEP Western Civilization II?
Political and Cultural Developments, 1815–1848 (6–8%) covers conservatism, liberalism, nationalism and socialism, and later areas add Marxism, fascism and Soviet communism. Know how each shaped events such as the revolutions of 1830 and 1848 and the unification of Italy and Germany.
Does the exam cover events after World War II?
Yes. Postwar and contemporary Europe, including the Cold War, decolonization, European integration and postwar culture, is part of the final area.
Does the exam use maps and images?
Yes. Some questions ask you to interpret maps, political cartoons, images and quotations.
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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.