What age to start taking exams

My son is a Junior in High School. What age can he start taking CLEPs and Dantes??? The colleges he is looking at all accept the exams.

 

I say go for it! I think I'd have done well on some at that age and not others.

If nothing else, taking these tests will improve his test taking skills very much.

Where he may face a challenge, these tests are not as hard when you have real-time life experience in the subject area. Not too many 16 year-olds have much real life experience in business law.

If, like most kids his age, he's deep into computer technology; he should go for those comp and MIS exams.

If he's an avid reader then Analysing and Interpreting Literature won't be too much of a drain.

If he's had math beyond algebra and did well then any of the technical maths and the CLEP math general should be a go.

Even if the 4-year he wants to go to won't accept the test, he can use those at one of the Big Three for an AA. I'm betting your HS has an agreement with local community college that allows seniors to take college courses...

I personally think it's a great idea for the right kind of kids...

 

My kids will!

Just think of the money you could save. I'd say a smart high school kid could easily knock out 30 credits by examination. That's a year of tuition. I hope my kids will be able to do it. I sat an exam when I was in the Navy and there was a high school girl (didn't know her age) taking a some Math CLEP. Not sure of age requirements. Most kids are 18 before they graduate. They can at least knock some out before leaving high school if that is the age limit.

 

To be absoluetly sure, you can call CLEP or Dantes directly. But my research has shown that there is NO age requirement.

I agree with marcus and coach. Don't overdue it, but knock out what you can as early as you can.

I know of a young girl who has skipped several grades and will be 16 years old when she graduates high school. I am encouraging her to start CLEPing NOW to get a head start on an AA degree.

Now a follow up question to this will be "Would the SCHOOL allow her to enroll at that age?"

 

Clcharlie,


As far as I know, I do not think someone has to attain a certain age before being eligible to take CLEP exams. Even if there is a certain age, your son should be old enough. My youngest sister took CLEP exams, AP exams, and DANTES exams while she was still in high school. As a result, she was enrolled in a New Jersey State University as a sophomore. She was lucky enough to get a full scholarship, so the cost savings wasn't much of an issue. But, she was able to get her Bachelor's Degree in 3 yrs. After graduating, she enrolled in a Master's of Physical Therapy program. She is going to graduate in about 2 weeks and is already slated to get a job in an area hospital starting at approx $55,000 per year. Not bad for someone who just turned 23.

 

My goal is not to get him to CLEP out of school, but to reduce my cost. Electives for example....

He has looked at the DSST Business math, Algebra and the Natural Science and knows most of the answers just from the work he is doing in school now.

I still want him to enjoy the experiences of college life. But if this will allow him to work towards his Masters while others are working on their B.S., Then I think this will be a good idea...

 

My point exactly. You can test out of as many or as little requirements as:

a) The school will allow.
b) What the student can handle.
c) What is most appropriate for the student.

No need to thrust a whole bunch of tests on him. Just let him take them as time and motivation (and cost) permit.