If you're planning to take the Introductory Psychology CLEP, I have one thing to say before you start studying:

This is not just a psychology test.

I took this exam the same day I sat for the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP. I walked in feeling confident — I had just finished the Human Growth and Development CLEP a few weeks earlier, which covers a ton of overlapping material. Theories, key figures, developmental stages. I thought I had a head start.

I scored a 62. Lower than I expected. And I've been rating this exam as a Level 2 difficulty on our site for years — based on when I last took it back in 2007.

I've since moved it to Level 3.

Why? Because They Refreshed the Exam.

The official College Board fact sheet lists the biological basis of behavior at just 8–9% of the test. What it doesn't tell you is that biology is woven into almost every other category on that list.

Cognition questions? Many focus on the parts of the brain responsible for memory. States of consciousness? You need to know the neurological stages of sleep. Psychological disorders? Expect questions on physiological causes — not just symptoms.

If you go in treating this like a pure psychology exam, you're leaving points on the table.

What You Actually Need to Study

In the video, I walk through the full breakdown — starting with the biology content most people underestimate:

Brain anatomy — cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland
The nervous system — central vs. peripheral, somatic vs. autonomic, sympathetic vs. parasympathetic
States of consciousness — sleep stages, hypnosis, meditation, psychoactive drug classes
Psychological disorders — DSM-5, causes, symptoms, treatments

Then we move into the psychology side — the theories, the key figures (Freud, Skinner, Pavlov, Maslow, Bandura, Erikson), research methods, memory, intelligence, and social psychology.

It's a lot. But it's all covered in the free study guide.

The Good News

You're reading this before you take the test. That already puts you ahead of where I was.

The students who do well on this exam aren't just the ones who know psychology — they're the ones who know it was never only psychology. Now you do too.

We also have a Quick Prep Bundle available for this exam — free until midnight on May 13th. If you're taking this test in the next couple of months, grab it now before it goes away.

Good luck on your exam. We're cheering for you.

— Justin

Introductory Psychology Video Review!