It has been awhile, but I went the DANTES route at TESC. I picked up 9 credits. You can get more information at www.tesc.edu
I would choose CLEP because, more than likely, they will receive the broadest institutional acceptance of all the exams listed.
Michael: Were the Dantes difficult? I would like to make good scores. Gus: How are the CLEP exams? Did you find them difficult? Keep in mind I do not like Lit. and humanities at all, so I will have to force myself to study for these. How about the Lit.? Would you choose Amer. or English?
CLEP and DANTES in comparison: CLEP - instant results, some exams count as 6 credits, all credit is lower level, five answers to choose from, minimum pass is a 50, must buy book for practice exams. DANTES - several weeks for results, slightly cheaper, some upper level credit awarded, four answers to choose from, minimum pass is in the 40's, practice exams free online. If it was the same exam, I would take the CLEP. If you do not pass, you will know instantly and can sign up for the DANTES. I have CLEP'd a few credits now (33) and I think they are fairly easy. I don't know how I have done on my DANTES since they have not sent me the results yet, but I believe I scored high on all of them so far. My CLEP scores are high 60's, so I will compare my DANTES when I know them. I have spent an equal time studying for each exam (~2 days each), so it should be a fair comparison. I'll let you know.
Thanks, That is the kind of info. I was looking for. I think I will start out the clep route, and take dantes next. Both offer a few the others do not, so I will have to take some of each. Any ECE exams?
Scott, It has been a few years, but DANTES exams weren't bad. I tested out in areas that I had job related experience though. The results came timely and if you go with TESC they work with you.
I did all the Dantes first so that I could wait for the scores. I hate not knowing how I did on the tests. They seem harder in practice questions, but that is because I have been taking the upper level Dantes. Overall, I would guess that the cleps are easier because they have better pass rates. Plus you gotta love the instant scoring.
I haven’t taken any of the exams you have listed, so I can’t comment on them. The best I can do is share my general views concerning exams such as the CLEP. First, you must feel comfortable with high-stakes exams. This one is for all the marbles. If you normally don’t test well, then the added pressure of the all-or-nothing nature of these exams will surely be to your detriment. Second, make sure the exams you have selected meet your needs concerning credit acceptance (including transfer), fulfilling prerequisites, and duplication of credit. Third, there is a big difference if the exam is taken just for credit (Pass/Fail) or for a letter grade. That is, there is a big difference if you want to get a good grade. For example, some schools require a raw score as high as 73 points (out of a possible 80) for a grade of “A.” That does not permit you to miss many questions, adding even more to the pressure. If you just need those 50 points for a passing score, that makes your life (and your studying habits) a whole lot easier. Fourth, the sample tests, the books on CLEP examinations, etc. don’t tell the whole story. You will have to study the entire text used in a college course with a similar title. Keep in mind that not only do you not know what details to emphasize, but you will also miss several question simply due to the fact that different terminology or examples were used. Fifth, educated guessing is to your advantage. If you can eliminate one or more obviously wrong answers, the odds of guessing correctly increase dramatically. Overall, my opinion is that CLEPs favor breadth over depth. In other words, be prepared for a few questions concerning almost everything of importance in your subject. The exams themselves aren’t difficult; what’s difficult and agonizing is not knowing what to emphasize in your studying. As a result, those who study with the intention of earning a high score usually ended up learning more than if they had taken the course in a traditional manner. What CLEP exams have you taken so far, Scott, and how did you do?
I have never taken any of these exams which is why I am asking these questions. I really know very little about these.
I agree with this point. My wife often asks me before an exam, "How do you think you will do?" My response is, "Good...provided I studied the right material." Even with the College Board website suggestions I never feel 100% confident that I am reading the correct material. The CLEP Humanities exams have me a bit worried though. However, the DANTES Ethics exam was not too difficult for me.
I have taken 8 CLEP exams, 3 ECE exams, and 11 DANTES exams. I feel the DANTES were easier. I was able to get all the results right away because I took them on a military post (I was told pass or fail and I had to wait for the actual result). Like with any testing, the test is easy if you know the information but I have to say that I scored higher on the DANTES exams without studying than I scored on the CLEP exams without studying. I scored the lowest on the ECE exams. What exams/subjects are you looking at
Randell, It looked like from the passing percentage DANTES was easier. I am looking at the following for sure: DANTES Intro to Business Principlesof Financial Acct. Principles of Public Speaking Intro. to Computing Management Info. Sys. Foundations of Education Technical Writing Ethics in America Intro. to World Religions CLEP Undecided any suggestions? ECE Undecided any suggestions? Thanks, Scott
I took the following CLEP exams (albeit quite a few years ago). Just keep in mind that my talents, such as they are, lie in reading, writing, and other non-quantitative subjects. Freshman College Comp w/Essay (6 credits) - Not really difficult, there were sections on sentence completion, grammar correction, and word definitions. The essay portion consisted of writing a complaint letter to a company (you weren't graded on the form, just the content). Analyzing & Interpreting Literature (6 credits) - Not difficult either, you're given a passage of literature and then asked multiple choice questions regarding what the author's message was, what the characters were saying, etc. Humanities (6 credits) - Fairly difficult. I did put in some study time although I didn't go crazy. My mark wasn't spectacular as a result, but I passed with a comfortable margin. Questions dealt with the whole range of subjects; art, music, literature, architecture, philosophy, etc. American Government (3 credits) - I guess it would be moderately difficult if you don't have a basic grasp of political science. The questions dealt with the construction of government, branches of power, and important political documents like the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, etc. If you read a daily paper and watch news regularly, I don't foresee a problem. US History I & II (3 credits each)- These were more difficult than the others I took, I didn't have a problem because I'm a history junkie, but someone who hasn't read a lot of history or done some studying would have a problem for sure. Part I dealt with the early settlers through the Civil War, Part II was Resconstruction-present.
Thanks Bruce, I know I need to take some of these, but I will be honest and say that I will have to do a lot of studying. While I made good grades I did not learn a lot. I tend to pick up on things quick, but if I am not interested in them I learn long enough to get through them, and move on. I retain the things I am interested in, but most of these subjects were not what I was interested in. I think if I study for some of these for a few days I can pick up a lot. Scott
I think you'll find that the exams are not as difficult as you're expecting. I'm not telling you to not study, but don't lose too much sleep or get an ulcer worrying about it. If you think you have a decent grasp of the subject, I'm sure you'll get a passing grade. Good luck!
plcscott, Here is my opinion on the exams I took- DANTES Intro to Business - no study, very easy Intro. to Computing - no study, very easy Management Info. Sys. - no study, very easy Technical Writing - no study, very easy Ethics in America - no study, very easy CLEP Humanities - required study - comex book English- easy but I used the comex book Analy and Interp Lit - not easy - used REA book History I - very easy - used REA book General Math - easy - used comex book Sociology - very very easy - used REA book History and Social Science - not easy - used comex book ECE I took 3 exams and only becasue I needed them for upper level credit
other easy DANTES exams- Criminal Justice Intro to Law Enforcement Here’s to you Health HR Management
Hi Scott, One thing that needs to be said is that different people will have different feelings on the difficulty (or lack thereof) of a certain test. For instance, I thought Analyzing and Interpreting Lit. was extremely easy (scored 70+, no new study), thought History & SS was extremely easy (scored 70+, no new study), although other posters here had difficulty with these tests. On the other hand, I didn't do too great on English (without essay, scored 59) and I really worry about the Humanities exam. If you have any questions about specific tests, please post. Good luck, Tony
Agreed! I am taking US History 1 on Monday morning and I have not studied yet. I am fairly confident that I will score high enough for an "A." I'll study tonight and a few hours Sunday and I should be fine. I have read the occasional biography of some key historical figures, so someone else may need more study. I noticed you are going to take the DANTES Intro. to World Religions. I have heard that is a difficult exam. I also noticed you are taking DANTES Priciples of Financial Accounting. Have you considered the CLEP Principles of Accounting? It is 6 credits instead of 3 (DANTES) and it has a better pass rate.
