CLEP Study Guide
What's on the exam, which units to prioritize, the best free resources — and a 3-minute check to know if you're ready.
Pass Rate
55-65%
Published CLEP data
Prep Time
15-25h
Typical for first attempt
Units
5
Covered on the exam
CLEP Introductory Psychology covers the breadth of an introductory psychology course. Exam: 95 questions, 90 minutes. Passing (~56 correct) earns 3 college credits (~$1,200 tuition savings). Topics: History and approaches (2-3%), biological bases (8-10%), sensation/perception (6-8%), states of consciousness (4-6%), learning (8-10%), cognition/memory (8-10%), language (3-4%), developmental (7-9%), motivation/emotion (6-8%), personality (5-7%), testing and individual differences (5-7%), abnormal psychology (12-14%), treatment (5-7%), social psychology (8-10%), statistics and research (3-5%).
Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior
neurons and neurotransmitters · brain structures · peripheral nervous system
Unit 2: Cognition, Memory, and Learning
classical conditioning · operant conditioning · observational learning
Unit 3: Developmental Psychology
Piaget's stages · Erikson's stages · attachment theory
Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality
attribution theory · conformity · obedience
Unit 5: Clinical and Abnormal Psychology
DSM-5 categories · anxiety disorders · mood disorders
CLEP Introductory Psychology rewards students who've seen the question patterns, not just the definitions. Budget half your prep for recall and half for applying concepts to scenarios.
These are the best free resources for CLEP Introductory Psychology. Use them, then come back here for exam-format practice and a pass-probability check.
Modern States: Introductory Psychology
Modern States (College Board partner)
Free full video course. Earn the free CLEP voucher after 70% completion.
OpenStax: Psychology 2e
OpenStax (free, peer-reviewed)
Matches CLEP Intro Psych unit outline exactly.
Khan Academy: Behavior (MCAT)
Khan Academy
MCAT behavior review covers CLEP Intro Psych deeply.
YouTube: CrashCourse Psychology
YouTube
40 episodes mapped to the CLEP Intro Psych outline.
Before you study anything, know where you stand. You'll get a pass-probability, a weakest-unit callout, and an estimate of hours to ready. No signup.
Don't re-watch content you already know. Drill the 1-2 units flagged as weak. Exam-format flashcards + MCQs give you the question patterns, not just terms.
Simulate the real CLEP under time pressure. Hit 50+ and you're ready to book the test. Miss it, and you'll know exactly which unit to revisit.
Full CLEP Introductory Psychology prep
Complete breakdown, units, resources, pricing.
3-day pass plan
Day-by-day plan if you're testing this week.
How hard is CLEP Introductory Psychology?
Difficulty factors, pass rates, what trips people up.
Exam-aligned flashcards
Free preview — 12 cards generated to the CLEP blueprint.
Free Am I Ready assessment. No credit card, no signup.
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