I don’t see too many people taking on the Chemistry CLEP without a solid background in the subject—and for good reason. Let me be clear: high school chemistry alone isn’t going to cut it here. This is a six-credit CLEP exam, which means it covers the equivalent of a full year of college-level chemistry, not just a semester. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, the good news is that the exam can be passed. If you’re already bringing some chemistry knowledge to the table and you’re willing to put in the time to fill in the gaps, you’ve got a real shot at success. Here's what some folks have said about this one from online and our feedback submissions: The key insight from those who passed is that this exam rewards broad conceptual understanding over deep mathematical ability. You need to understand *why* things work the way they do in chemistry, not just how to plug numbers into formulas. Plan for a minimum of 6–8 weeks of serious, consistent preparation. Cramming is not a viable strategy here. A few more tips: - 75 questions in 90 minutes — pacing matters enormously - An on-screen calculator is available (handles basic arithmetic and scientific notation; no logarithms, square roots, or quadratic functions) - A periodic table is available during the exam, but it is sometimes shown with only element symbols and no additional data — don't count on having atomic weights at all times - Many questions present a numbered list of statements and ask which combination is correct (e.g., I only, I and II, I, II, and III) - A widely recommended pacing strategy: sweep through the entire exam answering only what you can identify quickly, then return to questions requiring calculation or deeper thought One more important heads-up: if your degree program requires a lab component for your science credit, this exam likely won’t fulfill that requirement. You’ll definitely want to check in with your academic advisor before committing a bunch of study hours, just to make sure this exam aligns with your degree plan.