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Key Facts: CLEP Social Sciences and History Exam

120

approximate number of multiple-choice questions

College Board

90 minutes

total time limit for the exam

College Board

20-80

score range, with 50 the ACE credit-granting score

College Board / ACE

6

semester hours of credit recommended for a passing score

American Council on Education

40%

of the exam is history (U.S., Western, and world)

College Board

$97

CLEP exam fee plus a test-center administration fee

College Board

The CLEP Social Sciences and History exam has about 120 multiple-choice questions and a 90-minute time limit. Content is roughly 40% history (U.S., Western civilization, and world history), 20% government/political science, 20% geography, and 20% economics. It is scored on a 20-80 scale, with 50 the American Council on Education (ACE) recommended credit-granting score, typically earning six semester hours of credit. The exam fee is $97 plus a test-center administration fee (source: College Board, clep.collegeboard.org).

Sample CLEP Social Sciences and History Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1The Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776, was primarily drafted by which member of the Continental Congress?
A.Thomas Jefferson
B.George Washington
C.Benjamin Franklin
D.John Adams
Explanation: Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, which the Second Continental Congress adopted on July 4, 1776. A committee that included Franklin and Adams reviewed his draft, but Jefferson wrote the bulk of the text and its statement of natural rights.
2The system of checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution is designed primarily to achieve which goal?
A.Concentrate authority in the presidency
B.Prevent any single branch of government from gaining excessive power
C.Give states veto power over federal laws
D.Eliminate the judicial branch's role in lawmaking
Explanation: Checks and balances divide federal power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches so each can limit the others. This prevents any one branch from dominating, reflecting the framers' fear of concentrated power.
3In economics, opportunity cost is best defined as which of the following?
A.The dollar price printed on a good
B.The total revenue a firm earns in a year
C.The value of the next-best alternative forgone when a choice is made
D.The interest charged on a business loan
Explanation: Opportunity cost is the value of the best alternative given up when a decision is made. Because resources are scarce, choosing one option means sacrificing others, and that sacrificed value is the true economic cost of the choice.
4A map's scale tells the reader which of the following?
A.The direction of true north
B.The elevation of mountains shown
C.The political boundaries of countries
D.The relationship between distance on the map and actual distance on the ground
Explanation: Map scale expresses the ratio between a distance measured on the map and the corresponding distance on the Earth's surface. It allows readers to convert map measurements into real-world distances.
5The Renaissance, which began in Italy in the 14th century, is best characterized by a renewed interest in which of the following?
A.Classical Greek and Roman art, literature, and learning
B.Feudal manorial agriculture
C.Strict monastic isolation
D.The rejection of all secular subjects
Explanation: The Renaissance was marked by a revival of interest in the art, literature, and philosophy of classical Greece and Rome. Humanism placed renewed emphasis on human achievement and the study of classical texts.
6Which 1215 English document is widely regarded as an early limit on the power of the monarch and a foundation of constitutional government?
A.The Edict of Milan
B.The Magna Carta
C.The Treaty of Tordesillas
D.The Code of Hammurabi
Explanation: The Magna Carta, signed by King John in 1215, established that the monarch was subject to law and protected certain rights of nobles. It became a foundational symbol for later constitutional and rule-of-law traditions.
7In a market economy, the equilibrium price of a good occurs where which two curves intersect?
A.Marginal cost and average cost
B.Total revenue and total cost
C.Supply and demand
D.Production possibilities and indifference
Explanation: Market equilibrium is reached where the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded, the point at which the supply and demand curves intersect. At that price there is neither a surplus nor a shortage.
8The U.S. Civil War (1861-1865) was fought primarily over which central issue?
A.Tariff rates on imported manufactured goods alone
B.Control of overseas colonies
C.The adoption of the gold standard
D.The expansion of slavery and the question of states' rights to maintain it
Explanation: The central issue of the Civil War was slavery, particularly its expansion into new territories, and the related dispute over states' rights to preserve the institution. Eleven Southern states seceded to protect slavery, leading to war.
9The Industrial Revolution, beginning in Britain in the late 18th century, was driven largely by which technological development?
A.The mechanization of production powered by steam and water
B.The invention of the printing press
C.The domestication of horses
D.The discovery of the New World
Explanation: The Industrial Revolution centered on the mechanization of manufacturing, especially textiles, powered by water and then steam engines. Factory production dramatically increased output and transformed economies and societies.
10Which branch of the U.S. federal government has the power to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional?
A.The executive branch
B.The judicial branch
C.The legislative branch
D.The states acting jointly
Explanation: Through judicial review, established in Marbury v. Madison (1803), the judicial branch can declare laws unconstitutional. This power lets the courts check the legislative and executive branches.

About the CLEP Social Sciences and History Exam

The CLEP Social Sciences and History exam is a College Board credit-by-examination test covering material from a broad range of introductory social-science and history courses. It contains approximately 120 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 90 minutes and is computer-based. History accounts for 40 percent of the test, while government/political science, geography, and economics each make up about 20 percent. Scores range from 20 to 80, and the American Council on Education recommends a score of 50 for the award of six semester hours of college credit.

Exam sponsor: College Board. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

120 questions

Time Limit

90 minutes

Passing Score

50 (on a 20-80 scale)

Exam / Certification Fees

$97 plus a test-center administration fee

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

40%

History

United States history, Western civilization, and world history, covering major eras, events, figures, and historical interpretation.

20%

Government / Political Science

U.S. institutions and the Constitution, comparative politics, international relations, civil liberties, and political behavior.

20%

Geography

Physical, cultural, and regional geography plus population, land use, and core geographic skills.

20%

Economics

Scarcity and choice, markets, economic measurements, monetary and fiscal policy, trade, and economic schools of thought.

Preparing for the CLEP Social Sciences and History Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 50 (on a 20-80 scale)
  • Exam length: 120 questions
  • Time limit: 90 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: $97 plus a test-center administration fee Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CLEP Social Sciences and History: Suggested Study Strategy

1Because the exam is broad, prioritize the 40% history content first, then split time across economics, geography, and government.
2Learn to read maps, charts, and graphs quickly — many geography and economics questions are based on interpreting visual data.
3Memorize core economics relationships such as supply and demand, opportunity cost, and the difference between monetary and fiscal policy.
4For government, focus on the U.S. Constitution, the three branches, and landmark Supreme Court principles.
5Take timed practice sets — about 45 seconds per question — so you can finish all 120 questions in 90 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam and how long is it?

The exam has approximately 120 multiple-choice questions and a 90-minute time limit. It is delivered on a computer at a CLEP test center.

What score do I need to pass the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam?

Scores range from 20 to 80, and the American Council on Education recommends a credit-granting score of 50. Most institutions that grant CLEP credit use 50, but individual colleges set their own policy.

What topics does the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam cover?

Roughly 40% is history (U.S., Western civilization, and world history), and about 20% each goes to government/political science, geography, and economics — a broad survey of introductory social science.

How much college credit can I earn from this CLEP exam?

The American Council on Education recommends six semester hours of credit for a passing score of 50, though the amount and applicability of credit are determined by each college or university.

How much does the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam cost?

The CLEP exam fee is $97, paid to the College Board, plus a separate administration fee charged by the test center, which varies by location.

Is the CLEP Social Sciences and History exam all multiple choice?

Yes. The exam consists entirely of multiple-choice questions; there is no required essay. Some questions present maps, charts, graphs, or excerpts to interpret.