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100+ Free CLEP Principles of Management Practice Questions

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Key Facts: CLEP Principles of Management Exam

100

approximate number of multiple-choice questions on the exam

College Board

90 minutes

time limit for the computer-based exam

College Board

20-80

scaled score range, with 50 the ACE credit-granting score

College Board / ACE

45-55%

of the exam covers the functional aspects of management

College Board

3

semester hours of credit typically granted for a passing score

College Board

$97

CLEP exam fee, plus a test-center administration fee

College Board

The CLEP Principles of Management exam has approximately 100 multiple-choice questions answered in 90 minutes and is scored from 20 to 80, with 50 the ACE-recommended credit-granting score worth about 3 semester hours. The largest content area is the functional aspects of management (45-55%) — planning, organizing, leading, and controlling — followed by organization and human resources (15-25%), operational aspects (10-20%), and international management and contemporary issues (10-20%). About 80% of questions test terminology, concepts, and management theory, while roughly 10% test factual recall and 10% test application to problems (source: College Board, clep.collegeboard.org).

Sample CLEP Principles of Management Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CLEP Principles of Management exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the four basic management functions involves defining goals, establishing strategies to achieve them, and developing plans to coordinate activities?
A.Planning
B.Organizing
C.Leading
D.Controlling
Explanation: Planning is the first management function. It involves setting goals, deciding on the strategies to reach them, and developing the plans that integrate and coordinate organizational work. Without planning, the other functions lack direction.
2Frederick W. Taylor is best known for which contribution to management thought?
A.Scientific management
B.The hierarchy of needs
C.The 14 principles of management
D.Theory X and Theory Y
Explanation: Frederick Taylor is regarded as the father of scientific management. He used time-and-motion studies to find the one best way to perform each task and advocated matching workers to jobs and paying them based on output.
3Henri Fayol identified a set of administrative functions and principles. How many principles of management did Fayol propose?
A.5 principles
B.10 principles
C.14 principles
D.20 principles
Explanation: Henri Fayol proposed 14 principles of management, including division of work, unity of command, scalar chain, and esprit de corps. He also defined the five managerial functions of planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling.
4According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which need must generally be satisfied before a person is motivated by self-actualization?
A.Esteem needs
B.Physiological needs
C.Safety needs
D.Social needs
Explanation: Maslow arranged needs in a hierarchy: physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization. Esteem needs sit directly below self-actualization, so they are generally satisfied before self-actualization becomes the dominant motivator.
5In Herzberg's two-factor theory, factors such as salary, company policy, and working conditions are classified as which type of factor?
A.Hygiene factors
B.Motivators
C.Growth factors
D.Achievement factors
Explanation: Herzberg called extrinsic factors such as salary, company policy, supervision, and working conditions hygiene factors. Their absence causes dissatisfaction, but their presence does not actively motivate; true motivation comes from motivators like achievement and recognition.
6A manager who assumes employees dislike work, avoid responsibility, and must be closely controlled is operating under which of McGregor's assumptions?
A.Theory Y
B.Theory Z
C.Theory X
D.Theory A
Explanation: Douglas McGregor's Theory X describes managers who assume workers are lazy, dislike work, and need coercion and tight control. Theory Y, by contrast, assumes workers are self-directed and seek responsibility.
7The management function of organizing is primarily concerned with which activity?
A.Arranging and structuring work to accomplish goals
B.Monitoring results and correcting deviations
C.Inspiring and motivating employees
D.Forecasting future conditions and setting objectives
Explanation: Organizing involves arranging and structuring work, assigning tasks, grouping activities into departments, and allocating resources so that organizational goals can be accomplished. It determines who does what and who reports to whom.
8The controlling function of management is best described as the process of
A.dividing work into specialized tasks
B.establishing the organization's mission and strategy
C.monitoring performance, comparing it with goals, and correcting deviations
D.selecting and training new employees
Explanation: Controlling is the process of measuring actual performance, comparing it against established standards or goals, and taking corrective action where necessary. It closes the loop between planning and results.
9Mary Parker Follett and Elton Mayo are most closely associated with which school of management thought?
A.The human relations movement
B.The classical scientific school
C.The quantitative management school
D.The bureaucratic school
Explanation: The human relations movement emphasized social factors, group dynamics, and employee satisfaction. Mary Parker Follett stressed cooperation and group power, while Elton Mayo's Hawthorne studies highlighted how attention and social conditions affect productivity.
10Max Weber's ideal bureaucracy is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT
A.selection and promotion based on personal connections
B.a clear hierarchy of authority
C.formal rules and procedures
D.division of labor with specialization
Explanation: Weber's ideal bureaucracy stressed impersonal, merit-based selection and promotion based on technical qualifications, not personal connections. Its other features include a clear hierarchy, formal rules, division of labor, and impersonality.

About the CLEP Principles of Management Exam

The CLEP Principles of Management exam lets students earn college credit for the material covered in a one-semester introductory management course. It has approximately 100 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 90 minutes, covering the functional aspects of management (planning, organizing, leading, and controlling), organization and human resources, operational aspects of management, and international management and contemporary issues. The exam is computer-based and scored on a 20-80 scale, with the American Council on Education (ACE) recommending a score of 50 for credit.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

90 minutes

Passing Score

50 (on a 20-80 scale)

Exam Fee

$97 plus a test-center administration fee (College Board)

CLEP Principles of Management Exam Content Outline

45-55%

Functional Aspects of Management

Planning and decision making, organizing, leading (motivation, leadership, communication), controlling, organizational behavior, and management theory.

15-25%

Organization and Human Resources

Organizational structure and design, staffing, recruitment, training, performance appraisal, and labor relations.

10-20%

Operational Aspects of Management

Operations and production management, productivity, quality control, and information systems.

10-20%

International Management and Contemporary Issues

Globalization, social responsibility and ethics, diversity, technology, and emerging management trends.

How to Pass the CLEP Principles of Management Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 50 (on a 20-80 scale)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 90 minutes
  • Exam fee: $97 plus a test-center administration fee

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CLEP Principles of Management Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn the four management functions cold — planning, organizing, leading, and controlling — since functional aspects make up 45-55% of the exam.
2Memorize the major theorists and what each is known for: Taylor (scientific management), Fayol (14 principles), Maslow (hierarchy of needs), Herzberg (two-factor), and McGregor (Theory X/Y).
3Distinguish content (need-based) motivation theories from process theories such as Vroom's expectancy theory and Adams's equity theory.
4Practice applying concepts to short scenarios — about 10% of questions ask you to apply principles to a specific management problem.
5Review organizational structures (functional, divisional, matrix), departmentalization, and span of control, plus the controlling cycle of setting standards and taking corrective action.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the CLEP Principles of Management exam and how long is it?

The exam has approximately 100 multiple-choice questions and a 90-minute time limit. Some questions are unscored pretest items that the College Board uses to evaluate future questions.

How is the CLEP Principles of Management exam scored?

It is scored on a scaled range of 20 to 80. The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends a score of 50 for granting credit, though each college sets its own policy.

How much college credit does the exam grant?

A passing score typically earns 3 semester hours of credit for a one-semester introductory management course, but credit awards vary by institution.

What topics does the exam cover?

The largest area is the functional aspects of management — planning, organizing, leading, and controlling (45-55%). It also covers organization and human resources, operational aspects of management, and international management and contemporary issues.

Which management theorists appear on the exam?

Expect questions on Frederick Taylor (scientific management), Henri Fayol (administrative principles), Abraham Maslow (hierarchy of needs), Frederick Herzberg (two-factor theory), and Douglas McGregor (Theory X and Theory Y), among others.

How much does the CLEP Principles of Management exam cost?

The CLEP exam fee is $97, plus a separate administration fee charged by the test center where you take the computer-based exam.