College Composition Modular
1 free practice test · 90 questions · 1h 35min · No sign-up required
About This Exam
The CLEP College Composition Modular exam measures writing skills taught in most first-year college composition courses. Unlike the standard College Composition exam, the Modular version is entirely multiple-choice — no essays are required during the CLEP test itself (though individual institutions may require a separate writing sample).
What's Covered
- Revision Skills (40%) — improving early drafts of essays, including organization, coherence, thesis development, evidence evaluation, audience awareness, sentence variety, and rhetorical effects
- Ability to Use Source Materials (25%) — evaluating and integrating sources, understanding citation formats (MLA, APA, CMS), distinguishing primary and secondary sources, and avoiding plagiarism
- Rhetorical Analysis (25%) — analyzing purpose, tone, audience, and rhetorical strategies (ethos, pathos, logos); identifying logical fallacies and evaluating the effectiveness of arguments
- Conventions of Standard Written English (10%) — grammar, syntax, sentence boundaries (fragments, run-ons, comma splices), agreement, parallel structure, punctuation, diction, and active/passive voice
For the official exam description, see the College Board CLEP College Composition Modular page.
Study Tips
- Revision Skills is the largest category at 40%. Practice identifying weak thesis statements, irrelevant sentences, poor transitions, and choppy sentence structure in sample paragraphs.
- Know the basics of MLA and APA citation. You don't need to memorize style guides, but understand the differences between in-text citation formats (Author, Year, p. # for APA vs. Author Page for MLA).
- Be fluent with rhetorical appeals: ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic/evidence). The exam frequently asks you to identify which appeal dominates a passage.
- The grammar section is only 10% but it's easy points. Review comma splices, fragments, run-ons, subject-verb agreement, pronoun case, and parallel structure.
- For rhetorical analysis questions, always consider the author's purpose and audience first. These two factors determine tone, evidence selection, and organizational strategy.
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, minimum score requirements, and whether they require an additional writing sample beyond the multiple-choice exam. 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) Newspapers have existed for hundreds of years.
- B) The collapse of local journalism poses a direct threat to democratic accountability in American communities.
- C) Some people still read newspapers.
- D) Technology has changed how people get their news.
- E) Many journalists have lost their jobs.
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) The collapse of local journalism poses a direct threat to democratic accountability in American communities.
Explanation:
A thesis statement should present a clear, arguable claim that the rest of the essay supports. Option B directly states the essay's central argument — that losing local journalism threatens democratic accountability — and every sentence in the paragraph supports this claim.
- A) Bilingual education is becoming more popular in many schools across the country.
- B) Many parents want their children to learn a second language.
- C) A 2012 study published in the journal Cognition found that bilingual individuals outperformed monolinguals on tasks requiring cognitive flexibility and attentional control.
- D) Speaking two languages is a useful skill in today's world.
- E) Some critics argue that bilingual education takes time away from other subjects.
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) A 2012 study published in the journal Cognition found that bilingual individuals outperformed monolinguals on tasks requiring cognitive flexibility and attentional control.
Explanation:
Effective evidence is specific, verifiable, and directly relevant to the claim. Option C cites a specific study with a publication name, date, and measurable findings. The other options are vague generalizations or counterarguments that don't directly support the thesis.
- A) Nevertheless
- B) As a result
- C) On the other hand
- D) Similarly
- E) In contrast
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) As a result
Explanation:
'As a result' signals a cause-and-effect relationship. The contamination (cause) leads to recyclable materials ending up in landfills (effect). The other transitions signal contrast or comparison, which don't match the logical relationship between these sentences.
- A) In my opinion, I believe the government should address the crisis now.
- B) I believe the government should address the crisis now.
- C) The government should take action to address the crisis at this point.
- D) In my personal opinion, the government should act now.
- E) I personally believe that, in my opinion, the government should address the crisis.
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) I believe the government should address the crisis now.
Explanation:
'In my personal opinion' and 'I believe' are redundant — both express the writer's viewpoint. 'Take action to address' can be simplified to 'address.' 'At this point in time' is wordy for 'now.' Option B eliminates all three problems while preserving the full meaning.
- A) Sentence 1
- B) Sentence 2
- C) Sentence 3
- D) Sentence 4
- E) None of the sentences should be removed
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) Sentence 3
Explanation:
Sentence 3 introduces an irrelevant personal anecdote that disrupts the paragraph's focus on how social media has changed political communication at a systemic level. The other sentences all contribute to the paragraph's central argument about political transformation.