DOD FY 2011 CLEP DSST Pass Rates

Discussion in 'CLEP, DANTES, and Other Exams for Credit' started by Shawn Ambrose, Jan 2, 2012.

Loading...
  1. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Amusing how the pass rate for Spanish is 92%. I guess that explains all the "Yo soy el Army" bumper stickers I've seen. :cool:
     
  3. Fortunato

    Fortunato Member

    According to Wikipedia, there are just shy of 3 million active and reserve personnel in the United States Armed Forces. According to these stats, out of nearly 3 million people eligible to receive free college credit through CLEP/DSST testing, less than 100K took advantage of the opportunity. For those who have served (Thank you!), how was the CLEP/DSST option and benefit presented to you? Could we do a better job making our service members understand the tremendous value that free CLEP/DSST testing represents?
     
  4. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

  5. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    I can tell you that I didn't know about this until I came to this board. My last couple of years in the Guard, I gave the education brief in my unit and I discussed the free CLEP/DSST/EXE Exams.

    From my perspective, the perceptions to overcome are:

    1. Confidence - many soldiers don't believe they can do it.

    2. Transferability - Many soldiers believe the credits won't transfer.

    I'm working with a First Sergeant now to give an education brief to his unit. But you're right, we need to do a better job, because IMHO, this is the best education benefit the military has, in both time and money.
     
  6. dcan

    dcan New Member

    From my experience (Active AF) this is the #1 issue that blocked me from pursuing this sooner and is also the #1 concern I've heard from virtually everyone I've ever spoken to about it. There seems to be a significant fear of college among the troops, and I include myself in that statement until about a year ago.

    Now that I think about it, I would also add that free tests are cool, but what good are they if you don't pursue a degree? And free degrees are cool, but what good is free if you struggle with a hard class and then have to pay back nearly $1,000 in tuition? That can cripple a young enlisted Airman/Soldier/Sailor/Marine. So I think it's a fear thing as well. Fear of paying back because you might fail, and fear of failure because you came from a broken education system that sucked out your soul. Just tell someone "yeah, you have to take a year of math" and they start to freak out. Tell them they should "just test out of it, it's easy" and they look at you like you just walked through a wall. Because college is hard, man, didn't you get the memo? And so they don't do college, and if they aren't doing college right then, well then what's the purpose of studying for a test?

    No, that is not everyone and not even necessarily a majority, but in my experience I'd say lack of confidence brought on by fear of failure in turn brought on by horrible K-12 education is a major factor. And for some the idea of educating yourself may have been talked down as a cultural thing. Can't get yourself all educated and make yourself separate from your peer group, right?
     
  7. Ladac12

    Ladac12 New Member

    Dear Shawn,
    What is the difference between IBT and PBT on the results for pass rates? same test different results. I am about to take the Environment and Humanity si I was curious on the different pass rates.
    Thank You,
    Richard
     
  8. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    PBT = Paper Based Test; IBT = Internet Based Test.

    PBT's will be phased out for DOD personnel by 30 December 2012

    DANTES Exams CLEP
     
  9. 29palms

    29palms New Member

    I saw that. The reason 92 percent pass has obviously got to be from the Latin population enrolled in college. It's their first language for most, so why wouldn't they take it? It's a given. I don't have a "Yo soy el Army" sticker on my car, however I do have "U.S. Marine Corps license plates honorably discharged". And with that, I had to show proof at the tax collectors to receive those.
    But check out the other cleps. I see most people FAIL taking those. Which reinforces what I've known all along. You better know some subject matter before you roll the dice. At least read 100 percent and hope that you retain 70.
     
  10. 29palms

    29palms New Member

    I was in reserves when my time was coming up to get out, I was approached by an admin type that told me about a new GI bill for college. This was sometime in 1985. The deal was that this commenced the minute I signed up and had to do 6 years in the reserves straight. Never mind the previous active duty and reserve time I had acrued up to that time. That wouldn't count towards the new GI bill. Secondly, I was distinctively told that if I failed to meet that commitment for whatever reason, that I would have to PAY BACK all that money I had used in doing college. At that point I was thinking....."SCREW THIS, I'M JUST WANTING TO GET THE HELL OUT"!!! I really don't have any regrets.
     

Share This Page