The CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) Natural Sciences exam provides an opportunity for students, particularly nonscience majors, to earn college credit by demonstrating their understanding and knowledge of the natural sciences. This exam is well-suited for students seeking to fulfill general education or distribution requirements in science without the need for specialized, in-depth study in any particular area of science. Below is an expanded overview and detailed explanation of the exam, incorporating broader insights into the curriculum and the types of knowledge and skills tested.

Purpose and Audience of the Exam

• Target Audience: The exam is designed for nonscience majors who need to meet general education requirements in science. It is not intended for science majors.

• Objective: The primary goal is to assess a comprehensive understanding of basic scientific principles and the ability to apply these principles across a variety of contexts. The exam emphasizes conceptual understanding over the memorization of factual details, reflecting the breadth of knowledge expected from a well-rounded liberal arts education.

Exam Structure and Content

The CLEP Natural Sciences exam consists of approximately 120 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 90 minutes. It includes a mix of scored and unscored pretest questions. The exam content is broadly divided into two main categories: Biological Science and Physical Science, each accounting for about 50% of the exam questions.

Knowledge and Skills Required

The exam evaluates a range of abilities, including:

• Fundamental Knowledge: Understanding of basic facts, concepts, and principles of science (40%).

• Comprehension and Interpretation: Ability to interpret and comprehend scientific information presented in various formats (20%).

• Application of Scientific Principles: Skills in both qualitative and quantitative application of scientific principles, with a stronger focus on qualitative aspects (40%).

Detailed Content Breakdown

Biological Science (50%)

1. Origin and Evolution of Life, Classification of Organisms (10%): Understanding of life's origins, evolution processes, and the classification systems used in biology.

2. Cell Organization, Division, Genetics, Bioenergetics, Biosynthesis (10%): Insights into cellular structure and function, mechanisms of cell division, genetic inheritance, energy transformation, and biosynthetic pathways.

3. Structure, Function, Development in Organisms, Patterns of Heredity (20%): Knowledge of organismal biology, including anatomical and physiological adaptations, developmental biology, and the principles of genetics.

4. Population Biology with Emphasis on Ecology (10%): Concepts related to the dynamics of populations, ecological interactions, and environmental science.

Physical Science (50%)

1. Atomic and Nuclear Structure, Properties, Elementary Particles, Nuclear Reactions (7%): Basic understanding of atomic theory, nuclear physics, and the properties of subatomic particles.

2. Chemical Elements, Compounds, Reactions, Molecular Structure, Bonding (10%): Fundamentals of chemistry including the periodic table, chemical reactions, molecular geometry, and chemical bonding.

3. Heat, Thermodynamics, States of Matter; Classical Mechanics; Relativity (12%): Principles of heat energy, laws of thermodynamics, classical mechanics, and the basics of Einstein's theory of relativity.

4. Electricity and Magnetism, Waves, Light, Sound (4%): Basic concepts in electromagnetism, wave behavior, optics, and acoustics.

5. The Universe: Galaxies, Stars, Solar System (7%); The Earth: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Structure, Geologic Processes, History (10%): Overview of astronomy, earth science, including the structure and composition of the Earth, atmospheric science, and oceanography.

Scoring and College Credit

• ACE Recommendation: A score of 50 is recommended for granting 6 semester hours of college credit.

• Institutional Autonomy: Colleges and universities have the autonomy to set their own credit-granting policies, which may vary from the ACE recommendation.

The CLEP Natural Sciences exam offers a pathway for students to demonstrate their broad understanding of scientific principles and concepts across both the biological and physical sciences. By focusing on the application of these principles and the comprehension of scientific information, the exam aligns with the educational objectives of a liberal arts education, offering a holistic view of science that is applicable to everyday understanding and the resolution of contemporary issues.