Biology
3 free practice tests · 115 questions each · 1h 30min · No sign-up required
About This Exam
The CLEP Biology exam covers the material typically taught in a two-semester introductory college biology course. It tests your knowledge of molecular and cellular biology, organismal biology, and population biology, including ecology and evolution.
What's Covered
- Molecular and cellular biology (33%) — chemical composition of organisms, cells, enzymes, energy transformations, cell division, DNA structure and function, protein synthesis, gene regulation, and biotechnology
- Organismal biology (34%) — structure and function in plants and animals, including nutrient and water transport, reproduction, development, organ systems, immune response, nervous and endocrine systems, and behavior
- Population biology (33%) — principles of ecology, energy flow and nutrient cycling, population dynamics, community structure, evolution by natural selection, speciation, classification, biodiversity, and conservation
For the official exam description, see the College Board CLEP Biology page.
Study Tips
- Master cell biology fundamentals. Understand the structure and function of organelles, membrane transport, and the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
- Know metabolic pathways in detail. Be able to trace the steps of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, the electron transport chain, and photosynthesis (light reactions and the Calvin cycle).
- Understand genetics from Mendel to molecular biology. Know how to solve genetics problems involving monohybrid crosses, dihybrid crosses, sex-linked traits, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium calculations.
- Study evolution thoroughly. Understand natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, speciation mechanisms, and the evidence for evolution (homologous structures, fossils, DNA comparisons).
- Don't neglect ecology. Questions on energy flow, trophic levels, biogeochemical cycles, population growth models, and community interactions appear regularly on the exam.
How to Register
Register at clep.collegeboard.org. The exam costs $97 and can be taken at a testing center or remotely. Check with your college for their CLEP credit policy and minimum score requirements before registering. Military service members, their spouses, and eligible veterans may be able to take the exam at no cost through DANTES funding.
About Our Practice Tests
All questions are original and written to match the difficulty, format, and topic coverage of the real exam based on official exam descriptions. We offer two modes: Practice Mode gives you instant feedback and explanations after each question, and Test Mode simulates the real exam with a timer and no feedback until you submit. Both modes are completely free with no account required.
Sample Practice Questions
Review these sample questions to get a feel for the exam. For the full interactive experience, use the Practice Tests above.
- A) Ionic bond
- B) Covalent bond
- C) Hydrogen bond
- D) Van der Waals interaction
- E) Metallic bond
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) Covalent bond
Explanation:
A covalent bond forms when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. This type of bond is common between nonmetal atoms and is the primary bond holding organic molecules together.
- A) Nucleus
- B) Ribosome
- C) Mitochondrion
- D) Golgi apparatus
- E) Lysosome
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) Mitochondrion
Explanation:
The mitochondrion is the primary site of aerobic respiration, where most ATP is produced through the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation.
- A) convergent evolution
- B) common ancestry
- C) genetic drift
- D) artificial selection
- E) spontaneous generation
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) Common ancestry
Explanation:
Homologous structures share a common anatomical origin despite potentially different functions, indicating that the organisms descended from a common ancestor.
- A) homozygous dominant individuals
- B) homozygous recessive individuals
- C) heterozygous individuals
- D) the dominant allele
- E) the recessive allele
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) Heterozygous individuals
Explanation:
In the Hardy-Weinberg equation, 2pq represents the expected frequency of heterozygous individuals in a population at equilibrium, where p is the frequency of the dominant allele and q is the frequency of the recessive allele.
- A) stroma
- B) thylakoid membranes
- C) cytoplasm
- D) mitochondrial matrix
- E) cell wall
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) Thylakoid membranes
Explanation:
The light-dependent reactions occur in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll absorbs light energy to split water, generate ATP via chemiosmosis, and reduce NADP⁺ to NADPH.