You may be wondering: Are CLEPs for me? Is a CLEP practice test even worth it? To answer these questions thoroughly, we sat down with an absolute Peterson’s legend and learner, Tayah, to discuss CLEP, DSST, and all things credit-by-exam. Tayah secured not 6 or 24 credits, but 52 college credits through credit-by-exam. We’ve gathered some of the most insightful snippets of our conversation. Find them below!
Tayah’s Background and Educational Goals
Two North Stars defined Tayah’s roadmap to university: minimizing time and eliminating debt. Because she was financing her own education, she turned to credit-by-exam and testing out of various courses to help save time and money. This strategic approach allowed her to bypass the traditional pace without sacrificing the quality of her education.
The numbers behind her journey tell a story of incredible discipline:
| Milestone | Traditional Timeline | Tayah’s Timeline |
| Degree Type | 5-Year Accounting Degree | 5-Year Accounting Degree |
| Time to Completion | 5 Years post-HS | 1 Year post-HS |
| Funding Source | Often Loans | Self-Funded |
By the time her peers were settling into their sophomore year dorms, Tayah was walking across the stage of a reputable state university with a professional degree in hand. She proved that with enough grit, you don’t have to choose between a prestigious credential and financial independence—you just have to work strategically to accomplish both.
Motivation and Credit-by-Exam Journey
Behind every strategic mission lies a spark of inspiration. For Tayah, that spark came at age 13, when her mother discovered Credits Before College. Through this resource, they found Peterson’s. While most middle schoolers were focused on the transition to high school, Tayah and her mother were busy architecting a credit-earning master plan.
A Partnership in Planning
The philosophy of acquiring college credits during high school became Tayah’s roadmap. It wasn’t just about working harder; it was about working smarter in earning CLEP credits through:
- Targeting the Goal: She identified the specific state university she wanted to attend.
- Mapping the Transfers: Together with her mother, she meticulously researched which exams the university would accept for credit.
- Execution: Shortly after, she began the process of studying for and passing exams, stacking up college credits years before she would ever set foot on a university campus.
Exams Taken and Preparation Strategy
Tayah built her strategy by funneling high school requirements into high-value college credits. Whenever possible, Tayah aligned her high school curriculum with her long-term university goals. If she took a U.S. History class to graduate high school, she would also take the U.S. History CLEP. By layering a bit of targeted supplemental study on top of her daily schoolwork, she was able to walk into a CLEP testing center and effectively earn double credit for the same subject matter.
The 75% Rule: A Masterclass in CLEP Practice Test Prep
To ensure she never wasted a testing fee or a trip to the center, Tayah treated Peterson’s practice exams as her gatekeeper. Her preparation wasn’t a matter of luck; it was a rigorous, data-driven feedback loop:
- The Repetition: She took practice exams repeatedly, not to memorize answers, but to master the logic.
- The Deep Dive: She scrutinized every single answer—both correct and incorrect—until she understood the “why” behind the result.
- The Green Light: She knew she was ready for the CLEP exam when she consistently and confidently scored 75% on her CLEP practice test.
The Result: Years Ahead of the Game
The payoff for this discipline was staggering: Tayah successfully transferred 52 credits to her university through credit-by-exam alone. She walked onto campus not as a freshman, but with well over half of her degree already secured in her back pocket.
The CLEP exams she took:
- American Government
- American Literature
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- Biology
- College Algebra
- College Composition
- Financial Accounting
- History of the United States I
- History of the United States II
- Information Systems
- Introductory Psychology
- Principles of Macroeconomics
The DSST exams she took:
Was Tayah Nervous to Take these Exams?
In short, yes! She was initially nervous about taking the exams, especially when she started at age 13, but finding CLEP test prep material was a big help. She wants to encourage all that “you definitely can take these college exams,” no matter your age, so long as you find solid prep material.
“I tried to use flashcards and learned that they don’t fit my learning style super well. So I focused on Peterson’s practice exams, and that was a BIG thing for me. I would take practice exams over and over, review all my right and wrong answers to understand, and then take them again. You could see the continual improvement in my ending score when I did this.”
More Tests = More Confidence
As she completed more tests, they became less anxiety-inducing, and she gained greater comfort and confidence on exam day. “The difference in temperament between my first exam and my last exam was night and day. The first exam, I was so nervous and could barely sleep, but the last exam, I was like Oh yeah, I have my exam tomorrow, but I’ll be fine.”
The early exposure to high-stakes standardized testing became a secret weapon for her future career. By the time she faced the CPA exams, she had honed her test-day mindset and strategies:
“Taking those CLEP practice tests early on really helped me succeed on the CPA exams,” Tayah reflects. “Even though not all tests are the same, the skills you learn in standardized testing—how to prepare and how to manage your learning style—are completely transferable.”
Tayah’s Roadmap for the Hesitant Student
If you’re standing where Tayah was at 13, or even at 30, feeling a mix of ambition and nerves, her advice is simple: “Just try it.” Unlike a failed college course, there is no permanent scar on your transcript if you don’t pass a credit-by-exam. It is a low-risk, high-reward gateway to a faster degree. To make the most of the journey, she suggests a three-pillar approach:
- Audit Your Learning Style: Whether it’s flashcards, videos, or a CLEP practice test, find the resource that “clicks” for you and double down on it.
- The Slow Start Strategy: If she could go back, Tayah would tell her younger self to start small. Take one exam to learn the rhythm of the process, then gradually increase your pace as your confidence grows.
- Trust the Process: The mental muscle you build while prepping for a CLEP exam today is the same muscle you’ll use for the ACT, SAT, or professional certifications tomorrow.
The Impact
By the time she reached her late teens, Tayah wasn’t just a student; she was a professional-in-waiting who had dismantled a traditional five-year accounting path through sheer foresight and a strategic partnership with the right prep tools.
She didn’t just attend university—she mastered it. Tayah’s journey is proof that the traditional timeline is just a suggestion. You have the power to win back months of your life and save thousands of dollars by proving what you already know.
Ready to start your own accelerated journey? Peterson’s is here to make conquering your CLEP test day as fluid as possible. Start today!
