Thread: American Lit CLEP

I have been studying for a few weeks, and I have one more week to study before I want to take the test. I work full time and am in two actual classes, but my work for both classes is done for the entire week.

I scored very well on my Analyzing and Interpreting Lit CLEP. I found it to be quite simple. So that section of the test should be rather easy for me.

I have been studying using the Idiot's Guide to American Literature and the summaries on SparkNotes. I have Flashcards made with the authors, but I was wondering if anyone could give me a better focus on the stories and poetry?

Is there anything in particular I should be memorizing? I am going to be making up theme/motif/symbol flashcards tonight. I also plan on going through the whole Norton Anthology website American Lit section this weekend, since I just found that in some of the other posts.

Originally Posted by argentnox

I have been studying for a few weeks, and I have one more week to study before I want to take the test. I work full time and am in two actual classes, but my work for both classes is done for the entire week.

I scored very well on my Analyzing and Interpreting Lit CLEP. I found it to be quite simple. So that section of the test should be rather easy for me.

I have been studying using the Idiot's Guide to American Literature and the summaries on SparkNotes. I have Flashcards made with the authors, but I was wondering if anyone could give me a better focus on the stories and poetry?

Is there anything in particular I should be memorizing? I am going to be making up theme/motif/symbol flashcards tonight. I also plan on going through the whole Norton Anthology website American Lit section this weekend, since I just found that in some of the other posts.

I wouldn't waste time with the Norton Anthology- too specific. The Idiot's Guide is perfect, and you absolutely need to be able to match titles with authors. I would say that everything major you expect to be on- will be, all the big names and their works were touched on. There was a little analyzing and themes- but included passages, so not too bad. I had a few character questions, but I felt that The Idiot's Guide was good preparation. I don't recall too much current stuff (1970-current) but it seemed to me that the overwhelming majority of of my questions were from colonial days-WW2. I studied around 3 weeks using only that book- and scored in the high 60's.

I think with that exam, there is a large plateau level where the "prepared" and "very prepared" will both fall score-wise. I think that there were a few very very specific questions about plots most people probably wouldn't know unless they had read the books (The Spy, James Fenimore Cooper). I think the result (one more point) doesn't correlate to the work necessary to get that extra point (reading the entire Leatherstocking series). I found a handful of those types of questions- but since you don't have time to read the 3000+ titles possibly covered on the exam, The Idiot's Guide is the way to go.

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Thank you! All I care about is passing it and jumping right into studying for English Lit. Then comes Humanities, since I will have just covered the literature portion of it. :D

Also, has anyone taken the Peterson practice tests and the most recent American Lit CLEP who can tell me how much different they are? I took the first Peterson practice test after not too much studying and got a 44%. I am waiting to take the next for this weekend. Then I am going to take the third a few days before my actual CLEP test to see what areas I need to brush up on.

Originally Posted by argentnox

Also, has anyone taken the Peterson practice tests and the most recent American Lit CLEP who can tell me how much different they are? I took the first Peterson practice test after not too much studying and got a 44%. I am waiting to take the next for this weekend. Then I am going to take the third a few days before my actual CLEP test to see what areas I need to brush up on.

>>

I used the Peterson's tests for every exam I took (if it was available). I very much enjoyed having a measure, and usually did all 3 before taking the exam. Most people will say they are harder than the real deal, I don't know if that's true- I always think everything is hard until it's over lol.

I ended up doing pretty well on the exam...in the high 60s (as I recall...my printout is at home, and I am at work). I think the Petersons tests were somewhat harder, but they are good practice.

Hi

I am taking the exam the end of next week. I was wondering if you remember any specific exam feedback? OR if you have any other advice or suggestions that you think might be helpful?

Stephen