Familiarize yourself with the topics covered on the exam. To effectively prepare for a CLEP test, you must become familiar with the content of the exam. The CollegeBoard's website provides detailed lists of the content for each exam. A link to the CollegeBoard "Exam Descriptions" webpage is provided in the resources section of this article.
Study information from a textbook that is assigned for the class. If you know another student who is taking, or has taken, the class for which you wish to take the CLEP test, ask her what book was assigned. If you don't know any students who have taken the course, then ask a college librarian or professor which book you should use. You can either buy a new or used copy, or see if it is available in a library. Using the content list obtained from the CollegeBoard, study the content and focus on the information with which you are least familiar.
Take practice exams. An effective way of studying for an exam is by taking practice tests to gauge your progress and to reinforce concepts that will appear on the exam. The CollegeBoard has made official practice problems available through its "CLEP Official Study Guide" or through individual "Exam Guides" for individual subjects. Each exam is 90 minutes long, and most are composed of about 90 questions. Check the specific requirements of the exam you wish to take, and practice in the time allotted for the exam under exam conditions to prepare yourself for exam day. A link to the CollegeBoard's CLEP "Product Listing" website is provided in the resources section of this article.