CLEP Principals of Marketing (feedback please)

Hi Everyone,

I am currently studying for the CLEP Principals of Marketing exam. I have Instantcert and the Passyourclass (eBay) Guide.

I am a little nervous because this is the first exam that I have not also had an REA or COMEX book to study from in addition to Instantcert and Passyourclass.

Also, the Peterson's site does not contain any practise exams for this subject.

This exam is pass/fail (>50) for Excelsior.

I took the 46-question sample exam in the Official CLEP book and scored a 74% after one initial reading of the Passyourclass guide. I have done a lot more studying since then!

Part of me feels ready to just take the exam, but another part of me is freaking out because, after earning 31 credits in the last month, I am used to taking several full-length mock exams and having an REA or COMEX book to supplement my learning before I sit an exam. So I instinctively feel a little insecure and underprepared this time.

I have read a couple of reports from people who actually FAILED this exam...and I do not want to be added to their number.

Can anyone who has taken this exam reassure me that Instantcert and Passyourclass are enough to pass this exam comfortably? Or should I hold off on taking the exam until i can get my hands on a copy of REA or COMEX?

I just don't want to sit down at the test computer and suddenly find that there is a whole bunch of information that I have never even seen before (ie, due to no additional study material and no full-length mock exams).

Your feedback on this exam would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,
Beholdweb

 

Beholdweb,

I would suggest going with your gut feeling and get REA or COMEX or some online study guide. I used REA only and barely passed. Was a bit tougher than I expected.

Dan

http://www.knowthis.com/tutorials/marketing/principles_of_marketing.htm

 

Beholdweb, you should be fine

I took this exam and found it to be extremely easy. Instacert should be plenty. Make sure with Instacert, that you read the answers, as they are more likely to be in the actual CLEP exam, than the Instacert questions.

Check out the thread, in the forum section, over at www.degreeforum.com as they have additional tips on this CELP exam.

Good luck.

 

I haven't taken the Marketing CLEP (just wanted to qualify that right up front), but I am a "veteran" of several others. One previous poster found the exam difficult and advised you to obtain additional study guides, the other found the exam easy and advised that you look up (search) previous inputs from this forum as well as stick with Instacert.

Both Ultimale and FWD are right. If the additional study guides have worked for you in the past, by all means use them. It never hurts to have that extra confidence in your step as you go in to take the test. Having said that, this forum is a valuable resource to draw on others experience, and there is a wealth of that here. That's what finally prompted me to join instead of simply "lurk". Best of luck! Please post your success.

Dave

 

Thanks for your advice everyone.

I have ordered the REA guide from half.com, just to make myself feel a bit more confident going into this exam!

It's worth waiting an extra week if it will ensure a pass.

It's true, I feel virtually naked without a textbook and a full-length mock exam to cover my behind. :0)

I guess I am just set in my ways now as far as studying for each exam. I know what works for me and I know when I feel comfortable enough to sit each exam....and right now I don't feel comfortable taking the Marketing exam.

So I will wait a few more days...read the REA book, take a mock exam....and then hopefully pass, and pass well.

Thanks again,
Beholdweb

 

I took this long before I knew about Instacert. The REA book was more than enough to pass; probably even overkill.

Be sure you fully understand the four 'P's. Also, there was a lot on this test about pricing.

 

To be honest, you sound like you're good to go, but if you really need a book to feel comfortable, my suggestion would be the Barron's Business Review Series volume on Marketing.

Here's the book's Amazon page

Good luck with the exam!

 

Just a quick update...

I took the CLEP Principles of Marketing exam today and passed with ease.

Instantcert, REA, and Passyourclass were ample prep for this exam.

Based on the specific version of the exam I took today, I would say make sure you understand the following:

Four P's
Price Elasticity of Demand
Vertical Marketing Systems
Vertical and Horizontal Channel Integration
Product/Market Opportunity Matrix
Segmentation Variables
Product Life Cycle

Also, I had quite a few questions about Direct Marketing.

A lot of the questions require not only that you know the terminology, but that you also understand how to apply the knowledge to given situations...

Eg, They give you a scenario and then ask you to decide which option (A - E) would be the best approach to the given situation.

Hope this proves helpful to someone,
Beholdweb

 

Good job!!!!!


Abner

 

Congrats!!

What will you be taking next?

 

Hi LiveFromHouston,

Next on my list I have...

Principles of Management (early next week)
Principles of Supervision (same day as above due to overlap)
Intro to Business (late next week, hopefully)
Intro to World Religions (week after next, hopefully)

It is hard to plan ahead with exact time-frames, because a lot of the timing depends on how long it takes me to feel confident enough to take the exam. The average so far seems to be about 2-5 days worth of study per exam (so I am not complaining). But it is hard to know how long it will take to study until you actually do it.

Luckily, my local university (UPitt) allows me to simply call a day or so ahead of time to schedule each CLEP exam. There is no need to mail in registration forms or anything...it's wonderful! For one of my exams, I was even able to call in the morning and schedule it for the afternoon. You can't beat that!

I do have to order the DANTES exams a week or so ahead of time, so that takes a little co-ordination and advanced planning.

So far, I have earned 34 credits in 40 days. It's crazy...and I love it!

 

I have passed the Clep Principles of Mgmt and will take the Marketing on Jan 3rd ......

Yes I have studied the mgmt using instacert for like a 3-4 days and recieved a score of 53 ...I felt If I put more commitment and time with my studying ..I would have recieved a higher score so I will aim it for my principles of marketing

 

AGS,

Congratulations on passing the Principles of Management exam. A 53 is right in the borderline/risky area though. I would definitely put more effort into studying for the Marketing exam. I found it to be a little bit harder than the Management exam.

It is better to study a bit more and put yourself above the low 50s if possible. That way you will avoid the risk of "not quite passing". I'd hate for you to get a 49 when a 50 would have been a pass.

Put in the extra effort, it will pay off for you in the end. Having said that, a pass is a pass, so anything above a 50 is just as good as a score in the high 70s as far as the amount of credit awarded goes.

Certainly though, you should study until you feel confident you can pass with at least a bit of room to spare.

Good luck AGS,
Beholdweb

 

Good Job!!!


Abner

 

Thankyou for your responses!!!

Hey thankyou for the word of encouragements ....

I have recieved my other scores on the other clep subjects like over the 60's .......

I am very good in the history and humanities......

Yes , a 53 is a borderline score .....


But On my marketing i will take more time with it than try to do a one shot deal .....

thanks all

happy holidays...

i hope you all pass your exams on CLEP with 70s and 80s...

 

Any new insight to this exam? Other than instacert, what else should I use to study for this exam. I hope that with 1 text and instacert I can pass this exam the first week of December. Any suggestions?

 

Unless things have changed, get the COMEX book. This alone should prepare you and if you add Instantcert it should be a slam dunk.

 

I'm taking this test tomorrow at 5 pm. I will be using Instacert & Barron's Business Review Marketing 3rd edition. Any area's I should focus on? Wish me luck!

 

I just got back from taking Principles of Marketing, passed with a 57. I completely "threw caution to the wind". I used instacert.com for about an hour. I never even cracked a book. I guess it's a common sense exam.

Next up for me:

Micro & Macro

 

Excelsior did not give me a letter grade, I got a "P". FYI