I have a little advice seeking to do. I have taken 90+ credits via testing, using CLEP, DSST, TECEP and other methods. I'm very comfortable studying over a weekend and knocking out a test or two. I need to PASS the following tests in a short period of time and was wondering if anyone could help strategize: CLEPS Freshman College Composition (not offered beginning July 1) History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 American Government Biology Psychology UExcel Political Science I'm currently taking a bunch of American History classes so I think the History of US 1 and 2 won't be hard. I'm not too concerned with Freshman College Composition either. Is there anything to worry about on American Government? The biggie here is the CLEP Biology exam. I'm not well educated in this but need to get past this or the Chemistry exam. If I don't pass one, I can always take the other, but don't want to double up studying efforts. Any ideas on this one? Thanks
The American Government CLEP is notoriously difficult. The only strategy I can think of is to sign up for something like Instantcert and study, study, study.
Thanks for the response about American Government. I searched it on the board here and it seems that a bunch of people had have problems with it. I guess I'll take a practice, see how I score and go from there in my studies. None of this stuff intimidates me, it's just a matter of time and effort. Any thoughts on CLEP Biology?
My daughter passed American Government using Cliff Notes, The Idiot's Guide to American Government, and taking Peterson's and College Board Practice Tests. She got a 53, which was her lowest score on a CLEP. Shawn
Shawn - Thanks for the study materials. Seems like the American Government CLEP has stung a lot of people. I'm going to review the fact sheet and take a bunch of practice exams to start.
I took Western Civ I in a traditional class from a prof whose passion was ancient civilizations, so I haven't taken the CLEP. I did however evaluate the Collins Outline for the subject against the CLEP exam fact sheet as a review during my prep for Ethics in America (nerd, I confess). Collins plus some encyclopedia research would probably get you there. I borrowed it from the library. Phillip
I just took Freshman Composition with about 4 hours of study using Pearson's online study. Crushed it with 75+. Today was the last day to take it and I was semi-nervous. Next will be Psychology and then the three History CLEPs. Any strategies?
------------------------------------------- for psych Introducing Psychology <------------------------- highly recommended, its written with LOTS of comic like illustrations http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1840460598/ref=pd_sim_b_5/102-7065133-9815307?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155 Psychology (Barron's Ez-101 Study Keys) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812095804/qid=1136566314/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-7065133-9815307?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 Cracking the GRE Psychology Subject Test, 7th Edition http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375764925/qid=1136566388/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/102-7065133-9815307?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 Standard Deviants Psychology video <------------------------- highly recommended, you might be able to find it at a public library http://www.sdlearn.com/product_p/ge1924.htm those are easily enough for CLEP Intro Psych, and if you study really them really hard they're enough for Excelsior's Abnormal Psych exam I bought this dvd set on sale for $99 and used it with the books and video listed above to pass Excelsior's Life Span Developmental Psych exam http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/coursedesclong2.aspx?cid=197 it is an EXCELLENT video it is not on sale right now, but the dvd goes on sale often, almost every other month my local public library has a copy, but I'm glad I bought it because I like it so much ------------------------------------------- for history I'm studying for the CLEP Western Civilazation 1 and 2 and the DANTES Western Europe Since 1945 and Excelsior's World Conflicts Since 1900 and I'm reading this http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Review-Global-History-Geography/dp/0764133640/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277942428&sr=1-1 which I really like -------------------------------------------
Thanks for your advice. I'll look into all of these. I'm not too scared of any of the upcoming ones. I'm definitely worried about the Biology one and now the American Government. Does anyone have any experience and strategies for American Governement? I just took a Peterson's practice, without any study and got a 55/100. What's the passing grade on the CLEP?
here's what i did for bio http://forums.degreeinfo.com/clep-dantes-other-exams-credit/32519-clep-easier.html#post319161 the book is a little light on plant bio and the also in animal/plant classifications: kingdoms, families; but I think I only had one or 2 question on classifications and just a few questions on plants, and like I said, I watch pbs a lot here's some ok free videos http://learner.org/resources/series179.html I thought American government was difficult probably because I figured, "hey, I'm american. I pay attention to what's going on in washington, congress and the courts. I know this stuff". So I only casually looked through Cliff's American Government book. Amazon.com: American Government (Cliffs Quick Review) (9780764563720): Paul Soifer, Abraham Hoffman, D. Stephen Voss:… Looking at the sample questions in the CLEP Official Study Guide I should have known better and studied more. Sample Question: A President who defers selection of the district court judges to the senators from the states in which the vacancy occurs is practicing: A) logrolling B) preferential treatment C) senatorial prerogative D) senatorial courtesy E) judicial selection THANK GOD FOR MULTIPLE CHOICE ! If that would have been fill in the blank, I would have left it blank. I only got it right because they gave me the answer. It had to be either C or D and D seemed the most obvious. That's the way most of the test was for me. I sat there with almost every question thinking, thank god for multiple choice, thank god for multiple choice but I guess if you're an american history buff and you're really into civics then you'll do well but if you think you're going to do well just because you're an american and pay attention to what's going on in washington, then you'll be in trouble I passed, but it was the lowest score for my CLEPs so far after the exam I wnet back and looked at the Cliff's book and it really does cover everything on the exam, but in preparing for the exam I didn't do more than just thumb through it
ah, too late to edit the learner.org vids have a LOT of fluff but if you fast forward you'll find some good info SOMETIMES
I'm going to take the rest of the Peterson's CLEP practices online and then the CLEP Official Guide practice tests for American Government, US History 1&2 and I think I'll be able to knock those three out that way.
Out of your list, I've taken: US History I US History II American Gov Psychology By far, the Pysch was the easiest of the bunch. I also found that there was a fair amount of overlap between the US History and the American Gov (important bills, court rulings, etc). I don't remember any of them being particularly difficult, but they will certainly favor people who are good at remembering dates and names. I also used InstantCert and would highly recommend them.
Some of the video programs used for college TV instruction are available here: Annenberg Media I took American Govt and Astronomy courses this way.
Vewdew - Thanks for your insight. I imagined that the US History CLEPs and American Gov have some overlap. American Government based on what I can tell from the one practice I took seems more technical in nature, in terms of remember dates, structures, rights, etc. The US History practice test I took seems very date and more biographically oriented than American Goverment.
