The Student Learning Center willingly provides special test accommodations for all candidates who qualify for non-standard test administrations. Franklin students who believe they qualify for special accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services for assistance with this process.
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) provides computer-based, multiple-choice standardized tests that award students college credit for what they already know. CLEP tests are $80 and take 90 minutes to complete*. Please note there is also a $20 administration fee assessed for all CLEP tests completed at Franklin's testing center (so the total cost to the student is $100.00).
*The College Composition CLEP contains approximately 50 multiple-choice items to be answered in 50 minutes and two mandatory, centrally scored essays to be written in 70 minutes (for a total of 120 minutes). Shortly after each administration of the College Composition examination, college English faculty from around the country score the essays via an online scoring system. Students usually receive their scores three to four weeks after testing.
Most CLEP score reports are available immediately after the test is completed. However, processing may take up to five weeks. It’s best to complete exams before submitting your graduation application. You may repeat unsuccessful attempts to pass a CLEP after a six-month period.
Students living outside of Central Ohio will need to visit the CLEP website to locate an official CLEP testing center. GoArmyEd students should speak with their Academic Advisor prior to taking a CLEP examination because registration may differ.
Credit by examination is under review and is subject to change. Please check with your Academic Advisor or the SLC for the most up-to-date information.
SLC Test Center Policies
DSST credit by exam program gives students the opportunity to receive college credit by completing internet-based, multiple choice standardized exams. DSST tests are $80 and take approximately two hours to complete*. Please note there is also a $20 administration fee assessed for all DSST tests completed at Franklin University's testing center (total cost per DSST test is $100.00).
*The Principles of Public Speaking contains both a two hour multiple choice section as well as a 20 minute speech prep and presentation section. Online examinations will require the speech to be recorded in the voice capture functionality built into the exam. The student will be given a specific topic on which to speak and will have 10 minutes in which to prepare the speech. Speeches will be graded be College Speech Faculty.
DSST Tests Available at Franklin
Register to Take a DSST
DSST Exam Prep
Most DSST score reports are available immediately after the test is completed. However, processing may take up to four weeks. It’s best to complete exams before submitting your graduation application. You may repeat unsuccessful attempts to pass a DSST after 90 days.
Credit by examination is under review and is subject to change. Please check with your Academic Advisor or the SLC for the most up-to-date information.
Out-of-class testing is the most common service provided by the SLC. Students do not need to make appointments to take out-of-class exams. Students must take their tests prior to their instructor's assigned deadline and during our hours of operation. As with all testing, a government issued photo ID is required.
Local Students
Central Ohio students take proctored exams at the Main Campus in downtown Columbus or at the Dublin Testing Center.
Central Indiana students take proctored exams at the Indianapolis Location Testing Center.
Online Students
Students unable to travel to campus must find a proctor to administer the test and complete the Proctor Form on the Course Website. Proctors must be approved by SLC Testing Specialists. Exams can be sent directly to proctors via email, or fax.
Need help finding a proctor?
Try the National College Testing Association. Learn more about proctor expectations.
SLC Test Center Policies
You will take either computer- or paper-based placement exams. Students taking placement tests must meet with their Enrollment Advisor or Academic Advisor before taking exams. View our Test Descriptions and Study Guides below.
Franklin University has established the following placement testing procedures that must be followed while taking assessments:
- On the day of the assessment, you should be sure to take a valid, government-issued photo ID. This can be a driver’s license, passport, state ID, or military ID.
- Notebooks or books are not permitted during the tests. Scrap paper will be provided if needed.
- You must have your Placement Assessment Form emailed to the SLC by an Academic Advisor or an Enrollment Advisor.
- Personal belongings must be stored in a locker or left in your vehicle. (Calculators are permitted for MATH 150 and 160.)
- You will be asked to sign the Placement Testing Agreement when you begin your first assessment.
Placement exams are designed and used to determine the best fit for students as they begin Franklin Courses.
- Franklin uses ACCUPLACER tests to determine Re-Entry math and Reading and Writing placements. For more information about ACCUPLACER visit College Board.
- Your Enrollment Advisor will notify you about placement exams that are required before enrollment
- Want to be sure you know what to expect when taking placement exams? Then check out Student Information for Placement Testing.
- It is recommend that students take time to prepare for placement tests. In order to assist with this, study guides and practice tests are provided.
Study Guides and Practices Tests
SLC Test Center Policies
The Portfolio Credit Program is a way to earn credit for college-level learning. Through a specially structured project, a student can demonstrate quality of learning in a specific subject and request credit for a related Franklin University course.
To be awarded college credit in this way, learning gained from experience must have several characteristics:
- General applicability in many situations
- Theoretical and practical foundation in a specific subject area (not routines, skills or procedures)
- Quality similar to that expected of classroom students who pass the related course
Prior Learning Portfolio Checklist
| 1. |
Table of Contents |
_______ |
| 2. |
Autobiography |
_______ |
| 3. |
List of Course Outcomes |
_______ |
| 4. |
Narrative (each outcome numbered) |
_______ |
| 5. |
Documentation (each item lettered) |
_______ |
| 6. |
Two copies (one for evaluation; one kept in your possession) |
_______ |
| 7. |
Each page numbered / lettered |
_______ |
Portfolio Credit Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Prior Learning Portfolio?
It is a notebook divided into six sections:
- A table of contents
- An autobiography introducing you, your education, and your work background
- A list of the course outcomes used to compose the portfolio
- A narrative stating what you know and where you learned each course outcome
- Copies of documents providing evidence of knowledge and application
- Your name, address, phone number(s), and email
Can a portfolio be submitted for any course?
A portfolio cannot be submitted for Capstone courses and courses for which a proficiency test is available. In addition, some Program Chairs have identified courses for which portfolio credit will not be given. With the assistance of your Academic Advisor, you will need to determine whether or not a course qualifies for portfolio credit before beginning the process.
How many portfolio credits can I earn?
The total number of portfolio credits and proficiency test credits available depends upon your academic program and transfer credit situation.
Can I just read the book and explain what I know in an essay?
No. You must obtain the knowledge at an earlier time, hence the phrase "prior learning." The documentation you provide will serve as evidence that you have applied the knowledge in a practical manner.
How much does a portfolio credit evaluation cost?
The cost is $50 per credit hour for your evaluation. The fee is non-refundable, so if you do not pass, there is no refund.
Am I on my own, or does someone help me with my portfolio?
The Testing Specialist in the Student Learning Center (SLC) can help you, but you must know the content material. The SLC only assists to make sure you have formatted and organized the information properly. Although the Testing Specialist is not an evaluator, he/she can tell you if your material is substantially lower in quality than that of other portfolios that have received credit.
How do I know if I can earn the credit?
Carefully analyze the course outcomes on the syllabus as if they were essay exam questions. If you can write a solid, appropriately detailed essay for each one and support your claim of knowledge with written documentation, then you have a good chance of receiving credit.
Who evaluates my portfolio?
The Program Chair or a faculty member who regularly teaches the course evaluates the portfolio.
When can I expect to know the outcome of my evaluation?
Faculty evaluators have 30 days from the time they receive the portfolio from the SLC. This means you must submit your portfolio by the trimester prior to graduation so that you can take the course if credit is not granted.
Do I get a grade?
As with transfer credit, a letter grade is not given – only the credit. Your portfolio will be kept in the SLC and will not be returned to you. You may request it from the SLC.
Is there any appeal process if my portfolio isn't awarded credit?
Yes, you may file an appeal by following the Academic Grade Appeal Process, which is outlined in the Academic Bulletin.
Steps & Tips To Prepare a Prior Learning Portfolio
- Meet with the Academic Advisor for your major and work out a chronological plan so you know which courses you need for your degree program, and which may qualify for portfolio credit.
- Make a preliminary list of the courses for which you believe you have previously gained college-level learning using your chronological plan and the Academic Bulletin.
- Contact the SLC in Fisher Hall to request copies of course syllabi, which list course outcomes for the courses you chose in step No. 2.
- Compare your learning with the course outcomes stated on the syllabus, and make a final selection of the course for which you wish to prepare a portfolio.
- Construct an outline of your portfolio. It might help to go back to the previous explanation of the six parts of the portfolio and write a brief description of what you plan to include in each of these sections. When you have the outline completed, schedule a meeting with the respective Lead Faculty responsible for the course to go over your plans.
- Begin gathering documentation of your prior learning. This can include work samples, copies of training certificates, letters of testimonial or evaluation, or other such materials.
- Meet with the Testing Specialist in the SLC to see a sample portfolio and discuss ways to go about writing the required sections. Call 614.947.6800 to make an appointment that should last about 30 minutes. Alternately, you can contact the Testing Specialist and send your documentation electronically.
- After completing your portfolio, return it electronically to the Testing Specialist, or make an appointment at the SLC for a "draft check" to ensure that it has all the required information. Payment is due at this time in your process. Visit RegisterBlast to make your payment.
- Revise and submit the final portfolio to the Testing Specialist, who will send it to the evaluator.
Tips for Writing the Autobiography
There are two approaches to writing an autobiography. The first type is an expanded résumé, and the second type is a reflective essay. The expanded résumé generally provides more specific career information, while the reflective essay provides more opportunity to demonstrate insight and creativity. The evaluators do not have a preference for one type over another.
To write an expanded résumé, simply start with a résumé you have written for a class, a job search, or some other purpose. Then write a paragraph for each major segment, making sure that the connections between sections and the motives you had for self-directed learning are clearly stated. Although some students start with their first important, professional-level jobs and leave out part-time work, others do include part-time jobs, especially those that were significant contributors to growth and self-directedness or that contributed to the development of competencies documented in the portfolio.
To write a reflective essay, review your life and list five to 10 major events in chronological order. After you compose the list, focus on your pathway toward self-direction as a learner and the competencies in the course for which you are requesting credit. Also think about your motivations for significant transitions and the growth that resulted from your experiences. Finally, write a paragraph about each major phase in your life, being sure to explain the transitions between phases so that the story can be easily understood by a reader who does not know you.
Tips for Gathering and Organizing Documentation
Documentation includes work samples, certificates, letters, commendations, reference book tables of contents, training course outlines, newspaper articles, military records, photographs, publications, audiovisual presentations, licenses, and any other materials that help prove your competence. Because the portfolio will not be returned to you, original documents should not be submitted, only photocopies. Finally, separate the documents by letter as appendices.
Instructions for Writing the Narrative
The narrative must follow a structured format so the evaluators can easily discern the level of your competence. Below is a brief explanation of the format that must be followed for each course outcome. In a well-written portfolio, information about each outcome includes approximately one and a half pages of text. The format may be clearer if you look at a completed portfolio while reading the explanation. Sample portfolios are available at the SLC.
- Course outcomes statement – State the competence you are trying to demonstrate.
- Experience – List the resources you used to gain your competence, including but not limited to: books, coursework, individuals, projects, workshops, and work assignments.
- Learning – Compose an essay explaining what you know about the course outcomes. Since many course outcomes are complex, consider the limit implied in the outcome statement, and include information on any secondary topic.
- Documentation link – Explain how the document substantiates your learning. Briefly identify how the documents in the appendices relate to your competence in the outcomes statement.
A government-issued photo ID is required for all testing services. In addition, you must agree to comply with the SLC testing policies as outlined at the beginning of each exam.
