Introductory Psychology
Introductory Psychology covers the whole first-year psychology survey, from the biology of behaviour to social psychology and disorders. It is one of the most widely accepted CLEP exams and often satisfies a general education science or social science requirement.
Start practice testAbout this exam
The exam samples thirteen areas, including research methods, the nervous system, sensation and perception, learning, memory, motivation, development, personality, disorders, therapy and social behaviour. Each area contributes only a handful of questions, so breadth matters more than depth.
Expect to recognise classic studies and the researchers behind them, apply a concept to a short scenario, and read simple graphs. Terminology is heavily tested, so the vocabulary is worth drilling.
This is a good starting exam for students new to CLEP, because the material is interesting on its own and the question style is straightforward.
Topic breakdown
Topic weights published by College Board.
How to study for this exam
- Drill the vocabulary first. A large share of questions are answerable purely from knowing what a term means.
- Learn the classic studies as short stories: who ran it, what happened, what it showed.
- Keep the biology section from being a blind spot; neurons, neurotransmitters and brain structures appear reliably.
- Use timed practice tests to build speed, since the exam rewards quick recognition rather than long reasoning.
How the practice test works
- Choose all units or a single unit to focus on.
- Set the number of questions and a time limit, or practise untimed.
- Filter by difficulty to warm up or push yourself.
- Retake as many times as you like — every attempt is free.
- Your recent sessions stay on this device so you can review them.
Common questions
Is this a good first CLEP exam?
Yes. The content is accessible, widely accepted for credit, and the question style is close to what most students expect.
How much maths is involved?
Only basic statistical literacy: means, correlation, and reading a graph. No calculation-heavy questions.
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