TECEP Exams

Discussion in 'CLEP, DANTES, and Other Exams for Credit' started by TomC32, Jun 13, 2003.

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  1. TomC32

    TomC32 New Member

    Anyone out there deal with Thomas Edison State College and their TECEP exams? The price is going up to $118 per credit hour or $354 per test.

    While I am all for the speed and ease of taking a test, wouldn't it be much easier to take an online, self paced course, and just hammer it out? For example, take a course from Fort Hays for about $300, and get the opportunity to have the tests broken up in segments - 3 easier tests, as opposed to the chance for failure on one large test from TESC.

    Just curious as to your thoughts, plus any input from people who have actually taken these exams.

    I guess one could plan their degree to where they take 4-5 TECEP exams all in line, and actually enroll for a short term, then have all the test credits transferred.

    Tom C
     
  2. calidris

    calidris New Member

    I took and passed the TECEP CIS-311-TE Database Management exam in May '03 to satisfy the Database Concepts requirement for a BS-CIS degre from Excelsior College.

    For me, I have generally been satisfied with testing my way towards my degree. I can study when time is available which is very important to me given my long commute and unpredicitable and often heavy work schedule. Also, I can use materials of my own choosing to prepare for each exam as long as they cover the test topics. I can even digress a bit from the test outline to spend additional time studing topics that interest me. I have been able to purchase older editions of popular textbooks for a few dollars each and use them to prepare for the exams I've taken. Then I can schedule each exam when I feel I'm ready.

    I must say that I don't care for Excelsior's reliance on ICCP exams for the BS-CIS degree but a discussion of this belongs in another thread.

    As far as TESC is concerned, I had no problems registering for, finding an acceptable proctor (a local librarian), taking this exam and getting my grade forwarded on to Excelsior. I think the price is a bit high for what one gets but it was still generally cheaper than taking a course from an accredited college.

    Overall I thought the CIS-311-TE exam was very easy for a 3 credit upper level exam. There were a a number of questions that I thought were poorly worded and I commented on this in the comments section of the exam (I don't expect ever hear back from TESC though). I thought the outline provided by TESC for this exam was too short. A more detailed outline would have been most helpful. The practice exam available from TESC was too short (only 14 questions) but consistent with the type and level of difficulty of questions on the actual exam. TESC only provided the correct answers to the practice exam without explanations which IMHO is a great disservice to test takers.

    I must say that testing my way towards my degree has not been easy. There've been plenty of times where it would have been nice to have been able to ask a teacher for help in getting past a block. Also, finding appropriate textbooks for each exam with solved practice problems has been somewhat of a problem. But in the final analysis, I have nearly completed the requirements for my BS-CIS (6.33 credits to go!!!) using this method while every other approach I hav tried has not worked for me. I took my first college course in 1968 and after both parttime/evening and fulltime attendance at a junior college, completed an AS in 1976. Since then I have taken courses by nearly every other method available (correspondence/video/online/classroom) without being able to finish a degree. None of my employers encouraged pursuing a degree by exam nor did any of them offer reimbursement for this approach.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 13, 2003
  3. wcitizen

    wcitizen New Member

    Tom C,

    You mentioned that Fort Hayes has online exams broken in 3 exams for each course? Are the exams unproctored?

    Also, can you share your experience with Fort Hayes?

    Thanks.

    James
     
  4. TexasBlack6

    TexasBlack6 New Member

    I also took the TECEP Database Management CS-311 exam. I have taken many tests from many different sources at many different locations. This by far was the most expensive and the biggest hassle. They didn't accept my original choice for a proctor because the librarian wasn't on their list of approved librarians. Once an approved proctor was found, TESC told me they would overnight the test to the librarian and when I called 2 days later to find out why the test had not arrived they told me they hadn't shipped it yet. They finally shipped it and I completed the exam.

    It takes over a month for me to find out my score, which is frustrating. I thought the exam itself was poor at best. It contained vague questions and questions with more than 1 correct answer. Also, the test author(s) apparently doesn't understand the difference between "ensure" and "insure". They also don't know when to use the article "a" vice "an".

    I expect to receive a passing score for this exam, but no matter my score, my opinion of TESC is very low.
     
  5. I just submitted my exam registration form for 2 exams, one in late May (English Comp) and one in late June (Production/Operations Mgt). By taking them before the end of June I get the slightly lower price, but yes, they are expensive compared to everything else except an actual course.

    Luckily my DANTES proctor is willing to host them for me (fee - $5) and after a couple of false starts in contacting TESC I finally spoke to someone who actually passed on my phone number...and I received a nice callback confirming receipt of my fax, the process and when I should be receiving confirmation. Hopefully the rest will go as smoothly.

    Cheers,
    Mark
     
  6. TexasBlack6

    TexasBlack6 New Member

    Calidris,

    What did you score on the TESC CS-311? I scored an 080 to earn 3 credits. Does Excelsior give a letter grade for this exam or just P/F?

    Thanks,
    Eric
     
  7. TexasBlack6

    TexasBlack6 New Member

    Just called Exc. They give P/F for all TECEPs. That's fine with me since I assume my 080 would translate to a B.
     
  8. calidris

    calidris New Member

    TESC CIS-311-TE

    As I recall, I only missed one question but as you've noted, Excelsior only gives a P/F for TESC exams.

    calidris, BS-CIS Excelsior Apr 04 (Wow, nice to able to add this!!)
     

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