Grades

In September 1995, Excelsior College began transcripting credit-by-examination results with a letter grade if appropriate information on converting scores to grades was available. Especially for our students who transfer to another institution or who apply to graduate school, we believe there is a benefit in including the largest possible number of credits in the GPA, thus providing a clearer picture of the student’s accomplishments than simply a Pass or Credit grade.

The grade to be transcripted is based on a chart of credit recommendations that is regularly updated to reflect changes reported by the testing agencies. For CLEP Subject Examinations, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs), Excelsior College Examinations, and UExcel exams taken during the current year, letter-grade conversions are published in our annual Student Guide to Credit by Examination at Excelsior College: The Assessment Catalog. Please note the following exceptions:

• Letter grades are not awarded for the CLEP General Examinations, the GRE Subject Tests, or any exam series that does not provide cut-point recommendations for grades of B and A (see below for explanation of cut-point determination).
• Letter grade conversions are not available for some older versions of CLEP, DSST, and ECEs.

Determining Grades

The American Council on Education (ACE) has long recommended that colleges award credit for test scores that are at or above the level earned by students who would receive a grade of C in the equivalent course. In evaluating a testing program, ACE approves the passing score it would recommend for the award of credit, and Excelsior follows ACE recommendations.

Whether a letter grade can be awarded depends on the type of technical information provided by the testing agency. National testing programs like Excelsior College Examinations, UExcel, CLEP, and DSST using norming and/or standard setting procedures that allow the mapping of scores to different levels of competency (pass/fail; proficient/marginal/weak; highly competent/competent/needs improvement; or a traditional numeric or letter grade scale). When scores are mapped to the full range of passing grades (A, B, and C), Excelsior College uses that information to assign letter grades for the exam. If information is missing, Excelsior College simply transcripts a passing grade for scores at or above the level recommended by ACE.
 

For High School and Home School Students

High schools throughout the United States can offer Excelsior College Examinations as an option for earning college-level credit. Hundreds of colleges and universities accept academic credit earned through ECEs.

In brief:

• Students and their guidance counselors should determine if a particular exam will fulfill the necessary requirements.
• Students study for the exams at their high schools. Free content guides are available online and in print upon request. Recommended textbooks and other study resources are available for purchase online from our bookstore.
• Students take the exams at a Pearson VUE Test Center.
• After the exam students may request an official examinations transcript be sent to the college or university of their choice.