a little CLEP help, please

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by ellenDJ, Sep 20, 2002.

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  1. ellenDJ

    ellenDJ New Member

    well, I've taken 4 Cleps, and passed 2. Passed the 2 US hisory's, but not the Eng.Comp or the Am.Govt.
    I've been reading contradictory advice on getting through the exams from books, sites, etc.....
    Some say make sure you answer all questions and others say if you don't know something leave it blank. Which is it?
    Also, some recommend the Comet books, the REA books, then some say they suck. ?? (i have cracking the clep, the clep guide book, and of course review guides and textbooks for subjects)
    I really thought I was prepared for the Govt. exam. After taking the practice exam (after studying for a week straight, at 4-5 hours a day)and getting 48 out of 50 right, I was ready. Or so I thought.
    And the Eng.Comp, well, that WAS my fault, not practicing writing essays enough before the exam. But GEEZ I really thought I'd whip the Am.Govt.
    So...if there's any Clep test taking tips out there, I'd REALLY love to read them.
    Thx!
    :confused:
     
  2. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    Ellen, I have taken 3 exams and have found that they are more difficult (in my opinion) than those in the college board book. I have since gotten the princeton review book which seems harder and I hope that better prepares me for the natural sciences exam that I am taking today. Princton shows detailed answers after the test also explaining all of the choices, it is a great tool for learning the subject.
    Don't know if this helps, just my experience so far.
    John
     
  3. bgossett

    bgossett New Member

    From the College Board web site:
    "Make educated guesses.
    Be sure to answer every question in the exam -- you will not have additional points deducted for questions answered incorrectly."
    http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/prep_hint_mc.html

    This advice changed with the transition to computer-based testing. On the older paper-and-pencil tests, there was a penalty for incorrect answers and the decision to guess was based on one's level of confidence in being able to eliminate one or more of the answer choices.
     
  4. Orson

    Orson New Member

    Ellen--

    Ellen--

    I've taken about a dozen CLEPs, and like you, I'm mystified by the Am Government exam. My background IS in American history
    (I have the major requirements in history done before taking this exam). Therefore I expected to do well.

    On taking the sample exam, I projected results to just barely get "A" level score. Then I systematically studied for a week (American Government, Wilson, 6/e), selecting areas based upon my weaknesses and had time enough left to quickly review everything I didn't cover in depth. I sat the exam in August and scored "B" level by one point! Going backwards through studying!!!? This was just too strange; it's never happened before to me!

    It took about an hour to finish, and I felt confident. In fact I was so confident that one question, the notroious "63," which queried a graph of male voting patterns by age in several presidential questions, I had to challenge. While most (out of three) questions based on it had obvious answers, this one did not--all answers were either wrong outright or too ambiguous to answer (e.g., the "greatest" changes sought for by the question could be from one age group, or else another: there simply was no "correct" answer.

    Given this equivocal problem, after giving it three minutes two different times, I brought it to the test administrator's attention. I explained to her my cuncundrum-- a doctoral candidate herself! She indicated agreement with my puzzlement when I suggested it go to the authorities attention. Since I could not find an unambiguous answer, I left it blank.

    Just getting a response to my complaint from ETS this week, they simply say their qualified authorities think otherwise!

    So--my conclusion. Certain CLEPs just are harder than others. I don't know why--I dont' know how. I'm just writing-off this one as a bad experience.

    I was very miffed at having my intellegence and systematic preparation dissed instead of rewarded. Then having my critical faculties dissed on a specific THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE issue had me fuming. No other exam experience has been so unsatisfying for me or so contrary to my preparation and self-knowledge. Apart from anarchy, there's no point in fighting City Hall.

    --Orson

    PS Are the exam questions MORE difficult than in the sample book? I think this is more a perception question.

    My sense it that the sample book questions are representative of the median difficulty questions, not of the really easy ones nor the really hard ones, both of which occur proportionately less often than those in the middle. Therefore if your aim is mastery of the material, you are still sure to miss ten or twenty CLEP questions.
    One must just get used to the fact that one could study forever and still not be able to remember everything nor know all possible question-answers. Take enough exams and you'll get used to this disconcerting truth.
     
  5. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    Well, I passed the Natural Sciences exam although I really did not think that I could. Based on the exam score I got in the Princeton Review, I scored appropriately. Using Lawrie Miller's advice of getting at least 50% correct on the practice test, then sitting the actual exam has worked out well. Maybe the American Govt. test is just an anomaly (sp?) and is not indicative of the CLEP tests overall?
    I have to take this test to get my degree so thanks for the forewarning!!!!
     
  6. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I have passed 7 CLEP and 9 DANTES exams and the only one I failed was the American Gov CLEP. I passed the sample tests but they were nothing like the real test. Don't judge alll the CLEP exams on this one.
     
  7. DulciMark

    DulciMark New Member

    What's different between the sample and the real test? Besides the number of questions, that is. I have this exam scheduled for next month, and am studying the HarperCollins Intro to Govt college outline. Is there hope, or is it a waste of time?
     
  8. ellenDJ

    ellenDJ New Member

    I just picked up the HarperCollins book myself. With 6 months to wait to take it again, I'll need all the help I can get. What I found the biggest problem with the Am.Govt exam was it was LOADED with ambiguity! There was not a clear answer to be found on alot of the answer choices. And not only two answers that could be read the same, but alot had 3 or 4 that could be read very similar. I walked away thinking I had done as well as the 2 US History exams I took, which I passed with no problem. So, reading other responses finding the same problem with this exam, I may change my mind on even re-taking it.
    This is one test that is not indicitive of the practice exam in the CollegeBoard book.
    So Iam really hoping that this exam is a complete anomaly to the rest, because I really need these credits to finish my degree, as most of us here do. And if anyone has found other exams of the same difficulty, let us know!
    (My next one will probably be Intro-Sociology next week. Havn't heard any complaints about this one, so I think I'm good-to-go)
    :)
     
  9. DulciMark

    DulciMark New Member

    According to the pass rates for military test-takers, published at

    http://www.voled.doded.mil/dantes/exam/index.htm

    the American Government exam has the second lowest pass rate (9%). It's second only to General Chemistry (5%). Good thing I have a month to study.

    BTW, the Intro to Sociology exam has a much higher pass rate at 57%.
     
  10. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    I now think that I would like to skip this test. Any suggestions on a replacement?
     
  11. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    I cannot say I share the concern expressed here about the CLEP American Government exam. I thought the official CLEP practice exam material reflected the level of difficulty of the actual test, pretty nearly. It was not my impression that this exam was notably more difficult than any other CLEP exam.

    From BA in 4 Weeks . . .

    TUESDAY . . .

    · CLEP American Government . . .


    . . . 3:00PM "American Government". Examinees educated in the the United States should have little problem with this exam. If however, like me, you were educated in the ways of another, less confusing and more civilized political system, you may benefit from a primer. I used no primer. . .

    BOOKS
    Barron's EZ-101 Psychology $6.95
    HarperCollins Outline Ethics $12
    Harper Collins Introduction to Government $13
    Barron's Business Lib Human Resources $16.95
    www CIA World Fact Book $free
    . . .


    Lawrie Miller, BS Political Science (Concentration), USNY
    http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks

    .
     
  12. Cory

    Cory New Member

    I thought that the sample test for the American Government CLEP was on par with the actual test. I am not sure how I feel about the Excelsior College grading cutoffs for this test, but that is a separate issue. I found the test itself to be exactly what I expected, and my very fast preparation (one week) for this test was adequate for the material tested. I did not study using a Poli Sci 101 textbook; I used a couple of books on politics from the library.

    My score on the American Government test was a 67, and the scoresheet reported that I was in the 94th percentile. According to Excelsior, an "A" on this test is a 71, and a "B" is a 65. I spent about one week studying, and if I had spent more time studying, I have no doubts that I would have scored at least a 71; however, it is a bit off-putting to score in the 94th percentile on a test and only get a "B!" With the "pass" grade being a 50 and my score being 17 points above that, I really can't complain. If I had spent more time, I would have had the "A," and as it stands with only one week of study, I still did better than most on this test.

    In the final analysis, I don't know what to say. This is one of two "B's" that I have via testing, and my only "B" from a CLEP test. I spent about one week, studied from two books, and I scored in the 94th percentile. Having taken 19 CLEP tests at this point, I didn't find it particularly hard, in fact, I finished this test in about 45min. I am, of course, disappointed that according to Excelsior I only scored a "B" on this test, but considering how much I didn't study for it and the fact that I am not a Poli. Sci teacher, I don't know where the bar should be for this test. I can say that if the 94th percentile is in the "B" range, there aren't a lot of "A's" given for this test; however, I don't think that it is difficult to get at least a 50 on this test!
     
  13. blahetka

    blahetka New Member

    I took the english comp, and did well. Not as well as on the others, but likely about a B.

    I've found the more qualitative the subject, the more subjective the answers can be. English Comp was the most subjective of the CLEPS I took, and I scored the worse in it. I even did quite well on the Economics tests.

    I don't think this subjectiveness is the sole domain of the CLEPs. I sat for the CBEST (required to teach K-12 in California). I did well on the Math and on the two written essay questions. However, I did not do as well as I expected on the "Reading" section (I actually scored lower than I did on the GMAT portion similar to this part of the CBEST). Working with my sister-in-law (she is working on her B-CLAD) on this part of the test, I had to really scratch my head when we were doing the sample tests and the book's answer was different than the one we chose. Often times the explanations made less sense than the "correct": answer. The only thing we could think as far as strategy was "forget any other knowledge you may have- use only the information in the passage to answer the questions." However, we found there were times when that strategy failed. She is getting ready to take the CBEST for the 3rd or 4th time, and this time she is working with a friend that has taken the test and also teaches English.

    The only advice I have is to study, take the questions VERY literally, and if you do not know a question still take a guess. One of the people I work with suggested to someone studying for a similar type test to, "Guess if you don't know, but always use the same letter (eg. a, b c, d, e) when you guess." I dopn't know about a blanket "always pick the same letter when you guess," but at least try to eliminate one or two of the answers before you do guess.

    One strategy that worked for me when I took my Series 7 and Series 66 exams was to:

    Read the question
    Read all the answers
    Read the question again

    If you do that, you will reduce the potential for skipping words like "always", "never", or "all are correct except." For the CA insurance exam I was given the suggestion of reading the answers FIRST, then reading the question. The idea is that it is easier to remember answers than try to pick a correct answer.

    One last thing is "do not second guess yourself." Once you answer a question don't go back to it (with the exception of those you purposely guessed on, and even then don't change them unless you had a sudden blaze of insight). If you do, you will invariably pick the wrong answer. One guy I know second guessed about 50 questions on his Series 7 and failed it by about 20 points. He may have passed if he hadn't done that.

    Good luck!
     
  14. Orson

    Orson New Member

    Yes, EllenDJ. Thus far (9 or 10 Cleps), the Am Gov't is the only anomalous exam where the level of difficulty in the Collegeboard CLEP book of sample tests is not accurately reflected in the exam.

    I am, of course, and I believe unlike Lawrie, referring to the computer administered Am Gov exam.

    However, I whatever the source of my difficulty, in general, I did not find the exam too ambiguous--only one question. In fact, at the half-way mark in my exam, I was quite willing to believe and report here that the exam was easy! It was the second 45 questions that I found more challenging, and it was in that half that I found the notorious question number 63. The second half also had most of the interpretation of data type of questions. These were not so much "difficult" as more time-consuming--but with plenty of time to spare, it didn't matter, just chug trhough 'em!

    --Orson

    PS I'm sitting for the comparatively easy TESC exam "intro to politics" soon. Please pipe up and let me know if anyone would appreciate a report.
     
  15. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    I am given to understand that, while the medium of delivery may have changed and the answer penalty discarded, the pool of questions remains essentially the same.

    Again, It was not my impression that this exam was notably more difficult than any other CLEP exam.

    Lawrie Miller
    BA in 4 Weeks
    http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks

    .
     
  16. Orson

    Orson New Member

    I agree, however..

    I agree with Lawrie that "It was not my impression that this exam was notably more difficult than any other CLEP exam."
    Compared with my experiences with CLEP US hist I and II, Sociology, Computer Science, Management, I see no readily apparent difference in difficulty in Am Gov't.

    However, I also concede that their may be greater ambiguity or some other problem here. How else does one understand the amazingly low military pass rates for this exam--second lowest? And the exceptionally high test levels required by Excelsior? Given the this, I anticipated that it might be easy...and I initially believed it was, but my test results proved me wrong.

    Furthermore, in all the above tests, I have never--except with Am Gov't--experienced a decline in score between sample testing and study prepped test results! (In fact, solely based upon study required and test results, Management seemed the easiest--more comparable to DANTES tests like "Intro to Business" or "Here's to your Health" than other CLEP exams.)

    Or could the body of material tested simply have a wider range of difficulty? I'm challenging reliabilty, here.

    --Orson

    PS I've taken about six other advanced Poli Sci courses, and sat in on maybe four more; it's not like it's not a lively interest of mine! (I've participated in several political campaigns; led protest of draft registration under President Carter for a few years, including several public speaking appearances; once I co-rewrote the State party platform of a minor party; have published numerous articles on American politics through the years; and I expect to submit my first research paper for publication in American political history in the new year.)

    SO I'm still quite stunned to prep and score only modestly-well for Am. Gov't--it hardly strikes me as a fair measure of my "achievement" in the subject.
     
  17. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    I took the exam today and passed with a 50 (barely) and felt that the test was difficult. Honestly though, I only spent about an hour studying by taking the practice test in the college board book and then reviewing my answers. Overall, I don't believe that the test difficulty was too much different from the college board book.
     
  18. Orson

    Orson New Member

    Hey, John...

    Congratulations, John. I shudder to think what all my overtusying didn't do for me!

    I have wracked my brain to imagine how I could make helpful suggestions for others. Confounding things is the fact that I not only used a major textbook (American GOvernment, James Q. Wilson) to prepare, but I also read several chapters and studied the glossary of the HarperCollins American Government text.

    Perhaps relying only on the latter will improve score results? Given that two people indicate they are using this to prepare, we will have a very small test to find out....?

    --Orson
     

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