CLEP raw/scaled score explanation?

The good news is, I've taken two CLEPs, including the oft-dreaded Humanities General CLEP, and managed to pass them both. I have a laundry list of other CLEP tests in my "to-do" queue, and feel confident that I am well on my way to my degree (finally, after all these years).

My question: Can someone, in layman's terms, explain how the CLEP scores are scaled?

I understand that a scaled score of 50, for example, will be accepted at TESC for credit. That is good for me, because I scored 74 scaled on my Intro to Computers CLEP and a 66 scaled on my Humanities CLEP.

I've read several posts here the figure 40-45% raw has been thrown out as equating to a scaled score of 50. However, I'd like to know a little bit more about how they arrive at the scaled score. Hoping someone here can be of assistance.



Thanks in advance!
Cheers.

 

I found this on another site - helps a little to explain it:

 

Are you asking how they compute your scaled score from your raw score? I'm not sure if anyone actually knows that for sure, but I'm pretty certain it is different for each test. For awhile, I just assumed that the scaled score was intended to be equivalent to a certain percentile of those who took the test. However, if it is, I think even that differs in each test.

Here is my example of how I think the scores work (or rather, my example of how no one really knows what your score means) On Test A, Bob scores a 40 (out of 90) raw score. Bob recieves a scaled score of 50. On Test A, a scaled score of 50, is intended to represent the 30th percentile. On Test B, Bob scores a 40 (out of 90) raw score. Bob recieves a scaled score of 45. On Test B, a scaled score of 45, is intended to represent the 35th percentile of society.


Okay...so am I completely wrong? Beats me hehe, but from what I've read and my own testing, this is what I have come up with. ^_~

 

Basically, yes. I'm just trying to figure out what I would "likely" score on the real tests, based on my performance on the various practice exams. For example:

I just took a 125 question practice exam for the Social Sciences & History general CLEP exam. I got about 80% of the questions right. Keep in mind, even though I haven't been to school in years, I am used to a 7 or 10 point grading system (like most folks). So an 80% is passing, albeit with a B or C, depending upon the scale used. Out of the 125 questions, I got roughly 100 or so right. So my raw score (number of questions right) would be 100. I'm just trying to figure out what that would be scaled.

TESC requires a 50 or better scaled score to gain credit for the exam - I figure my score would be better than a 50, just not sure how much.

The concept of answering less than half the questions right and still passing still baffles me - lol. Again, I'm used to the old traditional ways of testing - you miss half the questions and thats an F - hehe. Out of 125 questions, if you get 45% of them right (56 questions), then you pass? wow.

I understand the concept, I guess - they figure if you can get 40-45% (?) of the CLEP questions right, then you must know something about the subject being tested. But still ...


Cheers.

 

I picked up a brochure at my local college that was produced by Collegeboard about this. It had a chart showing raw score compared to scaled score. I can't find a soft copy to link to so all I have is the hard copy which I threw away last week. From looking at the numbers I would estimate the raw scores (number of questions you got right) to be bell-curved into the scaled scores. It seemed to have a median around the 50 point mark. It also showed how those scores correlated to percentile rank of people who have taken each test.

FYI, your 74 on the Computers test puts you in the 99th percentile. Good job.

 

Unixman,
Good thread, this has bothered me too. I know that 50% on the sample test indicates a pass, however I don't want to just pass, I want an A. I think I end up overstudying because I want to make sure I score an A, and I don't know what percentage on the sample test equates to an A.

I took the Principles of Management CLEP yesterday after scoring about 75% on the sample test. I wanted to study a bit more, but I'd already scheduled the test so I went ahead thinking I might get lucky and squeek by with a low A. I scored 75, which is pretty high, Excelsior considers 60 an A.

I think I'll aim for 65 or 70 percent on the next one and see what sort of score that gets me.

 

That one is next on my to-do list. I'm taking one every week or two right now. Any insights for me as to what to study, what to avoid?

Today I took the Social Sciences & History General CLEP, for which TESC grants 6 credits. My scaled score was a 66 or 64 (can't remember which). That was done with very little in the way of study. For the record, I am pretty up with current events and history, but the session I had seemed to have more questions relating to Sociology and Psych than history. So if anyone is planning on taking this test - don't avoid studying the fundamentals of those 2 areas like I did. I would have definitely have scored higher had I studied those two.

So far, I've earned 15 credits via CLEP in two weeks time. I'm taking English Comp the day after tomorrow, and will hopefully reel in another 6 credits then.

After that, I have Principles of Management, Business Law, and Principles of Marketing ...

Cheers.

 

BTW, today I asked the lady at my local CLEP testing center about this, and she wasn't familiar with it. The only thing she had (from the Collegeboard folks) was a list of the CLEPs available, and what raw scores are recommended by ACE to obtain credit.

If you manage to come up with a copy of it at some point, would love to see a quick scan of it.

 

If you could pick up another one of these, and scan it in, or type up the information, I'm sure there are tons of test takers who would be extremely greatful to get this information.

 

OK, I misspoke. The brochure I referred to is entitled "What Your CLEP Score Means". It is an 8.5" x 11" paper folded in half, with printing on all four pages (outside x2 and inside x2). The first page is subtitled "Student's Score Report" and has a few paragraphs explaining how the raw score and the scaled score are not the same.

Page 2 consists of a table, "Table 1: Relationship between CLEP scaled scores and final course grades" which relates CLEP subject exams (not the general exams) with ACE recommended letter grades for scaled score cutoffs. For example, on the Principles of Management exam, ACE recommends the following grades for respective scores: 56+=A 55-52=B 51-46=C 45-43=D and 42 and lower=F. Also ACE recommends the C letter grade as the minimum for credit. These figures vary test to test and are the minimum, however your school probably has its own standards and these can likely be obtained from your school's registrar's office or from your advisor. All in all this table is not of much use since your school will have its own standards.

Page 3 consists of a table, "Table 2: Percentile Ranks for the Subject Exams". This table shows how each subject exam's scaled scores relate to the percentile rank of all testers. This information is interesting, but useless in relation to figuring how you will perform on the test. Page 4 is a table with the same data but for the General Exams vice the Subject Exams.

Hence, the brochure I spoke of earlier is fairly useless. Sorry for the misinformation.

Having said all that, I can point you to the information for which you are looking. Each CLEP test has a study guide published by Research & Education Association. These are the bright rainbow colored books, usually 200-250 pages, and boast "3 Full-Length Practice Exams" on the cover. Don't mistake the large "CLEP Official Study Guide" book which covers either all the Subject exams, or all the General exams, or all the exams together, I'm not sure which, for the individual test study guides. I don't know if that overview book has the information. However, I know the books that are study guides for each individual test, seen here http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/087891904X/qid=1069215148/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-5106941-5641709?v=glance&n=507846, have a chart that shows a raw score to scaled score conversion. I have the Principles of Marketing book and the chart is located on page 9, and is called "Raw Score Conversion Chart". These books can usually be checked out at local libraries. I suggest you look there.