Looking for experiences of taking the Excelsior credit exams. How hard were they? How much study is involved etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Em
I've taken a bunch of them. The subject matter is generally harder than CLEP or Dantes, but if you've prepared well, the tests are fair and pretty logical. I find the CLEPs easiest to study for, but hardest to take. Excelsiors are also tough because they're three hour exams, with many many questions to sit through. I always need to take an unscheduled break! Which exams are you interested in taking?
I am considering the English Composition and the World Religion exams. Are the Excelsior Exams considered better than the CLEP exams from colleges point of view? Em
When you say "considered better" do you mean in terms of granting credit, type of credit, etc? I don't think there is really any difference - a school will either accept the credit and then tell you if it's lower or upper level and how it applies to your degree program. I think CLEPs and ECEs are often different, with neither "better" than the other.
I'm almost positive I heard the World Religions exam was going to be discontinued, so check with Excelsior and make sure they're still offering it
I've found the EC exams pretty easy. You do have to study a bit more but it's easier to find the correct text books since they tell you the exact book to use. My favorite exams are DSST followed by CLEP. They are just easier and I can find text books that will work at my local library.
I have taken all of the ECE exams required for an AS-Nsg except English Comp and my CPNE. My English is set for 07/29/09 and my CPNE is set for 09/11/09-09/13/09. If you are already a nurse and are taking nursing exams...hit those first...the material is fresh and easy. I used iStudySmart and only got the study workbooks...they have answer keys int he back. I went through the books and circled all the answers and then studied the books test by test....breezed through the ECE's...but my base knowledge I had already being an LPN. I CLEP'd Sociology, Humanities and Natural Sciences (for some extra fluff--didn't study at all). ECE'd Micro, A&P, Lifespan & Dev Psych, NC 1-7, and oh yeah...Inf Lit. You can do that in 2 nites....istudySmart has ECE workbooks for everything...actually...msg me...maybe we can work a deal...i have mine and won't be needing them...