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From first breath to final days; human development is the most personal science there is. Understand how people grow, change, and develop across the entire lifespan.
Learn the science of human development across the lifespan
Written by the Flying Prep Team
Reviewed by Alex Stone, who earned 99 credits via CLEP & DSST
This exam is perfect for future teachers, counselors, nurses, and anyone working with specific age groups. Parents find it illuminating!
Content breakdown:
A score of 50 earns credit at most institutions
Scores of 60+ show strong developmental psychology knowledge
CLEP scores are valid for 20 years
How do we understand human development? This section covers major theories - psychoanalytic (Freud, Erikson), cognitive (Piaget, Vygotsky), behavioral, and ecological approaches. Each theory offers different lenses for understanding how humans grow and change. Knowing the theories helps you interpret developmental phenomena.
How do we study development scientifically? This section covers research designs - longitudinal (following people over time), cross-sectional (comparing age groups), experimental, and observational methods. Understanding methodology helps you evaluate developmental claims and understand how knowledge is built.
Bodies change from conception through old age! This section covers physical growth, brain development, motor skills, and biological aging. You'll understand prenatal development, puberty, and the physical changes of aging. Biology provides the foundation for psychological development at every stage.
How do we come to see, hear, and perceive the world? This section explores how sensory and perceptual abilities emerge in infancy and change across the lifespan. From newborn vision to age-related sensory changes, you'll understand how our window on the world develops.
How does thinking develop? From infant object permanence to adolescent abstract reasoning to adult wisdom, cognitive abilities transform across life. This section covers Piaget's stages, information processing approaches, and how thinking changes - and sometimes declines - throughout the lifespan.
Language acquisition is one of childhood's miracles! This section covers how children learn to speak, read, and use language. From first words to grammar mastery to bilingualism, you'll understand the trajectory of language development and factors that influence it.
We develop in relationship! This section covers attachment, identity formation, moral development, and social relationships across life. From infant-caregiver bonds to adolescent identity crises to adult intimacy, you'll understand how emotional and social lives unfold through the decades.
How does personality form and change? This section explores temperament in infancy, personality traits across life, and the nature-nurture question. You'll understand continuity and change in personality from cradle to grave.
How do learning and intelligence develop? This section covers IQ, multiple intelligences, learning styles, and how cognitive abilities change across life. You'll understand giftedness, intellectual disability, and the controversial but important topic of intelligence testing.
Context matters! This section explores how family dynamics, schooling, peers, and culture shape development. Parenting styles, educational influences, and societal forces all contribute to who we become. Development happens in environments that can nurture or hinder growth.
Preparing your assessment...
Week 1: Foundations - Major theoretical perspectives Week 2: Prenatal & Infancy - Conception through age 2 Week 3: Early Childhood - Ages 2-6 Week 4: Middle Childhood - Ages 6-11 Week 5: Adolescence - Puberty through identity formation Week 6: Adulthood - Early and middle adulthood Week 7: Late Adulthood - Aging, death, dying Week 8: Review & Practice
2 months
Recommended.
~7 hours/week
Two valid IDs required.
Retakes after 3 months.
The difficulty level is moderate, requiring both memorization of developmental theories and application to scenarios. The challenging aspect involves distinguishing between similar theories - for example, differentiating Piaget's concrete operations from formal operations, or identifying which of Erikson's eight stages applies to specific age ranges. Questions testing Social and Emotional Development and Cognitive Development require deeper understanding than simple recall. The exam assumes familiarity with major theorists and their contributions, plus ability to recognize developmental patterns across age groups. Students with psychology background or professional experience working with children typically find the content manageable. Those without prior exposure need additional study time to master theoretical frameworks and developmental milestones.
The American Council on Education recommends a minimum scaled score of 50 out of 80 points for college credit. This translates to answering approximately 55-65% of questions correctly, though the exact conversion varies by test form. Most colleges accept the ACE recommendation, but some institutions require higher scores - commonly 55 or 60 points. Check with your target school's registrar or credit transfer office for their specific requirements. Some colleges award different credit amounts based on score ranges, offering additional credits for scores above 65 or 70. Military education benefits and corporate tuition reimbursement programs typically follow ACE guidelines. Since there's no penalty for guessing, answer every question to maximize your score potential.
Study duration depends on your background in psychology and experience with human development concepts. Mental health professionals, educators, or parents with strong observation skills typically need 25-35 hours of focused preparation. Those with some college psychology coursework should plan for 45-60 hours of study time. Complete beginners require 80-100 hours to master theoretical frameworks, developmental stages, and research methods. Distribute study sessions over 6-8 weeks rather than cramming. Spend 60% of your time on Social and Emotional Development, Cognitive Development, and Learning and Intelligence topics since these represent 42% of exam questions. Use practice tests to gauge readiness - consistently scoring 65% or higher indicates preparation for the actual exam.
Create detailed comparison charts for major theorists, organizing by developmental domain and age range. Master Piaget's four cognitive stages, Erikson's eight psychosocial crises, and Kohlberg's moral development levels since these appear frequently. Use case studies to practice applying theories to real scenarios - this skill is crucial for scenario-based questions. Focus heavily on Social and Emotional Development topics including attachment styles, peer relationships, and identity formation. For Biological Development, memorize critical periods, teratogen effects, and brain development timelines. Create age-based developmental milestone charts covering physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains. Practice identifying research methods and ethical considerations in developmental studies. Take multiple practice exams to build familiarity with question formats and improve time management skills.
No calculator is provided or permitted for this exam. The Human Growth and Development CLEP focuses on theoretical knowledge, developmental concepts, and qualitative understanding rather than mathematical calculations. Questions involving research methods might reference statistical concepts like correlation or significance, but won't require computational work. Age-related questions ask about developmental stages and milestones using qualitative descriptors rather than precise numerical calculations. When statistics appear in questions, they're presented as part of the context rather than problems to solve. Focus your preparation on memorizing theories, stages, and developmental patterns rather than mathematical skills. The exam tests conceptual understanding of human development across the lifespan, making calculator use unnecessary for success.
Prioritize Social and Emotional Development since it represents 18% of questions - master attachment theory, Erikson's psychosocial stages, moral development, and peer relationship patterns. Cognitive Development (12%) requires solid grasp of Piaget's stages, information processing theory, and executive function development. Learning and Intelligence (12%) covers conditioning theories, observational learning, and multiple intelligence models. These three areas combine for 42% of total questions. Theoretical Perspectives (10%) demands memorization of major theorists and their contributions. Biological Development (10%) focuses on prenatal development, brain maturation, and physical growth patterns. Family, School, and Society (10%) examines environmental influences and cultural factors. Language Development, Personality Development, and Perceptual Development each contribute 7-8% of questions, making them secondary priorities during focused preparation.
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