UExcel® in the News
| For Immediate Release: | 2 April 2010 | |
| PR Contacts: | Pearson VUE Adam Gaber 212-641-6118 |
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| Excelsior College Ellen G. Lahr 518.608.8280 |
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| View on StudyUSA.com | ||
UExcel®, a credit-by-exam program
If you already have knowledge in several sciences and other fields, you may be able to test out of introductory U.S. university courses and enter university at a higher level with UExcel®, a credit-by-exam program developed by two recognized leaders in education.
Bloomington, Minn., April 2, 2010 — An alliance between Pearson (www.pearson.com) and Excelsior College (www.excelsior.edu), the UExcel program provides college- and university-bound students with computer-based examinations that can be taken to earn college credit. If the student passes the exam, credit is awarded on a transcript from Excelsior College (an accredited American institution of higher learning) which may then be transferred to a college or university of the student’s choosing.
International students can take UExcel examinations, which are available at Pearson VUE test centers worldwide, before leaving their home country to receive credit for advanced classes they have taken. UExcel tests may be used to fulfill lower-level requirements and, because the tests are in English, they demonstrate that motivated students are able to succeed in a university setting in the US. Students can earn up to six credits each in Calculus, College Writing (university-level), Physics, Political Science, Introduction to Psychology, and Statistics. Additionally, UExcel will introduce a Spanish exam later this year.
The tests are appropriate for students entering university who have studied specific subject matter as part of their secondary school education or are willing to study on their own prior to taking the tests. The www.UExcelTest.com Web site includes information on the content areas covered by each exam, as well as study resources and practice tests for those interested in self-study.
The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and made college credit recommendations for UExcel examinations. A list of colleges and universities that agree to accept recommendations from ACE are located at www.UExcelTest.com/credit/accept/. Thousands of American colleges and universities accept credit-by-examination as academic credit. Students are encouraged to contact the college or university of their choice to inquire about their transfer policy for credit by exam.
Most large universities—especially public institutions—will still require international students to sit for placement examinations in math, science and English. However, students who have advanced learning in any of the UExcel subject areas may be able to use these tests to bypass an introductory 100-level course requirement and be placed into an intermediate-level course instead. This can be especially helpful to students who can only afford a few years of tuition in the United States.
Registration, delivery and official transcripts are processed through Pearson, the largest provider of educational materials worldwide. For more information about the program, please visit www.UExcelTest.com.
About UExcel
UExcel is a credit-by-examination program that gives students the chance to turn their knowledge into college credit. An alliance between Pearson and Excelsior College, UExcel offers computer-based examinations that can be taken at thousands of test centers around the world. UExcel examinations feature immediate scoring, grading, and learning resources, and are ideal for independent learners, international students, or anyone else who would like to accelerate the completion of their degree or reduce the overall cost of their tuition.
About Pearson
Pearson is an international media company with market-leading businesses in education, business information, and consumer publishing. Prentice Hall, Addison Wesley, and Longman are just a few of Pearson’s prestigious education brands. Pearson VUE is the computer-based testing business of Pearson.
About Excelsior College
Excelsior College (www.excelsior.edu) is an accredited, nonprofit distance learning institution that focuses on removing obstacles to the educational goals of adult learners. Founded in 1971 and located in Albany, NY, Excelsior is a proven leader in the assessment and validation of student knowledge. It offers more efficient and affordable access to degree completion through multiple avenues: its own online courses and college-level proficiency examinations, and the acceptance in transfer of credit from other colleges and universities as well as recognized corporate and military training programs. Excelsior College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
