Find out if the college you are attending or would like to attend accepts credits from the College-Level Examination Program. You will also want to know how many credits it will accept and for which courses. The college catalog or the admissions office will have this information.
Register for the test or tests you want to take on the official CLEP website (see Resources). You will have to pay a fee--as of 2009, CLEP charged $72 a test--plus an administrative fee of $15 to $20. However, the CLEP exam is usually free for active duty military personnel and veterans; the CLEP website has the latest information on who qualifies for a military-funded exams.
Do not register for more tests than you can reasonably study for in the time from registration to test day. Remember to register only for tests that your school has approved.
Know what the test conditions will be. You will be tested in a regional testing center. Many test centers now use computers to administer the tests. Most of the tests are fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice. You will be given 90 minutes to complete 120 questions. The English composition test is written.
Study for the test and take at least one practice exam. Collegeboard.com offers study materials for a fee, and it also offers links to websites offering a wealth of other study materials, many of which are free. Unless you know it all cold, plan on taking time over the course of several weeks to study the material that would normally be covered in a college exam. Take a practice exam, and re-study anything that you were unsure about, or that you missed.
Practice good test-taking skills. On the day of the test, eat something before going in. Some people don't perform well on empty stomach. Be a little early. Rushing in at the last moment will put you on edge and you might not do as well. Bring a watch to help keep track of the time in case there is no clock on the wall.
Carefully listen to and follow instructions from the proctor.
Don't rush, but do pace yourself. Don't worry about people who are finishing before you. People who take longer to finish often do better than those who dash out quickly. If you have time, check your work.