CLEP American Government

My daughter used the following materials to prep for the American Government CLEP:

The College Board Official CLEP Guide:

http://www.amazon.com/College-Board-Official-Study-Guide/dp/0874477883/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230545244&sr=1-2

Cliff Notes American Government Quick Review:

http://www.amazon.com/American-Government-Cliffs-Quick-Review/dp/0764563726/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230545300&sr=1-1

The Complete Idiot's Guide to American Government:

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-American-Government-Second/dp/1592573282/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230545373&sr=1-1

She passed this CLEP (53) - but by her own admission she should have studied more.

Shawn

 

I took this one a while back, so I don't remember much. But I do remember walking out of there thinking the exam title should be changed from American Government to American Political Science. I just remember thinking that would be more appropriate. Know all about unions, political parties, and how the primary system works. Know the constitution backward and forward, all about due process, and the key Supreme Court cases (Marbury vs. Madison, Brown vs. Board if Education, etc,)

Links:

http://www.politicalresources.net/usa1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_political_terms

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html

 

I purchased some prep book that was a photo copy of another book. I failed this one due to poor prep. I found it to be tougher then some...but I was not fully prepared. Don't take this one lightly.

 

We memorized the glossary from the Cliffs American Government site. That was a huge help. I also had them memorize the significant SC cases. Make careful study of the Civil Liberties and Civil Rights chapters of whatever you use. Know your ammendments.

The Cliffs American Government and AP American Government and Politics were our main sources. Lots of practice questions helped.

 

I took this one "cold" with no study, but I'm also a bit of a history and politics junkie. I remember there being several questions on the different branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial), including the checks and balances, as well as the line of Presidential succession.

 

A Few Old CLEP American Government Threads

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29778
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27408
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26179
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22115
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15640
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13346
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12292
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8595
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8555
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8521
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8078
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6533

 

CLEP American Government

Video was the key to my success on this exam. I purchased Standard Deviants 2 DVD set: American Government from Amazon for $31.99 and then rented 2 others from Netflix, “Just the Facts: US Constitution” and “Just the Facts: Bill of Rights and Amendments. I did read the Cliff Quick Review of American Government through once as well.

I watched each DVD twice and read the Cliff book once. That got me a 67.

 

Edited for links.