Dismal pass rate for American Government clep

Hi,

Anybody have any insight about the very low pass rate for the American Government clep? I'm planning on taking this clep on the heels of US history 1&2. I'm hoping this may improve my chances for a good score.

Thanks

ML

 

I did quite well on this CLEP after a week of studying in a situation that sounds similar to your own. If you are going to Excelsior College, they have the 'A' cutoff set very high, but just getting a 50 (pass) is not difficult. I really didn't find the exam difficult at all, and all I did to prepare was to read a couple of Poli Sci related books before taking the test.

 

If I remember correctly, my test had a large percentage of questions related to the US Constitution and amendments, as well as rules followed by both houses of government, that is basically what I studied, 100% on the internet with google as my guide, I passed the test with only three days of study. Every American should be able to pass easily (I was educated out of the US), and I don't understand the failure rate.
To me it is more a failure of learning institutions than a failure of the individuals, and of course, the opposite would be true of a test with a high success rate, the failure would be on the individual.

Bottom line, study the Constitution and amendments, visit the websites of Congress and Senate, study the rules (such as what is neede to override a veto, what happens in a tied vote, what happens if the President dies, what is a "whip", Speaker of the House, requirements for a Senator, for a Representative, for President) and you should do ok. If you regularly read a newspaper you should know most of that already (unless you read the sports page mostly).

Guillermo Hernandez

 

I also don't understand why that test has a poor pass rate. I didn't study for it at all, and I nearly aced it. If you paid attention during high school civics, it shouldn't be a problem.


Bruce

 

I have not had a civics class in over 20 years, took Am. History 1&2, and scored a B on the test. Very little study, only used the CLEP college board book.

 

I must be the dunce of the universe. I passed 21 CLEP/DANTES/ECE exams but I failed the Government CLEP, I think I scored a 47 when I needed a 50 to pass. I did study from a "not-so-wonderful" guide but I never did like politics.

Good luck.

 

Insight? Yeah, here's some.

Have you seen the myriad polls which-- if you believe them valid-- demonstrate that the average American has no idea at all what a U.S. Senator does, let alone how he/she does it? Nor, for that matter, can they identify a single cabinet-level secretary, a single sitting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or any congressman, more than one or two governors, what ANY of these people are responsible for, or the means by which a bill becomes law. They can't identify more than two political parties. They can't tell you the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, can't identify more than one of the rights or freedoms enumerated in the Bill of Rights, can't associate ANY of them with a specific amendment, and generally play no part at all in the process of governance which affects their life from cradle to grave.

The pass rate on the American Government CLEP is, IMHO, pretty high for these standards.