The Beginning of My Clep/DSST Odyssey

Just Passed CLEP US Hist 2

The heading says it all. I just arrived back at the office from taking this test on my (slightly extended) lunch break. Scaled score = 66. :headbang: Again, I felt completely unprepared the entire time that I sat for the test. There was a much heavier focus on the particulars of WWI and WWII than I expected. I just lightly brushed on these in my studies. My entire study time was probably in the single digits. This is not bragging; I simply want anyone who reads this to know what my prep was so that it may help them.

I used REA exclusively. The actual reading is +- 65 pages, and there were 2 practice exams. I see time and again on this forum that everyone found the sample tests to be much more helpful than the readings. I will partly disagree with this. This is how I see my cognition developing on these things: I read the book once or twice (not study, just read), and then take the test. Taking the test helps to "cement" many of the concepts, and jogs a lot of half-way remembered tidbits from the text to the front of my memory. Then, I go back and study my areas of weakness, and really concentrate on the discussions of answers. Essentially, I see the reading as an "exposure" process, and the test as an "application" process. As I am hardwired toward science/math style learning, this "application" is extremely important for the concept to stay with me. But without doing the readings first, I would just be memorizing answers to questions that may or may not be on the actual test. The last practice test I save to test my readiness towards test day. Anyway, I hope this helps someone sometime.

Now on to CLEP Marketing. This week I have 2 major exams (through my regular classload @ UTEP) and a research proposal that's going to require some time. I hope to be read, prepped, and scheduled within 2 weeks. :rambo:

 

Fortunato is correct about Barron's. Barron's is a little dull, though.

Here's a good professor site: Introduction to Marketing

and : MARKETING 210 HOMEPAGE

Phillip

 

Maybe I'm looking at the wrong copy. The text I find is 600 + pages. Is there an abridged version? Am I completely missing something? The link that Fortunato provided is to the mama-jama big book. My REA is 60 pages of text give or take, and then 3 practice exams. Someone give me some clarification if you can.

 

It's a matter of how much breakfast you need

Nothing wrong with REA, it will probably get you through. With the consumer psychologist site linked above for background, even better. If you want a big score and/or plan to take more business classes/exams, you may want the full meal, and Barron's will give you that.

Phillip

 

Well, that's what I kind of gathered by browsing the books. This is strictly for upper division electives. I do also have to take DSST Personnel Management and DSST Organizational Behavior, but I don't see too much crossover with the Marketing end of things.

I have a decent background in marketing, and essentially need to spend as little time as possible on prep, so it looks like the REA is it for me. Skimmed through it last night; I think I'll be prepped pretty quickly. Will try to sit down and read it over the next few days.

Thanks for the input on prep material!

 

I took Org Behavior last year and scored an 80 out of 80. I studied with a cheap used copy of the Robbins/Judge text (one of the recommended texts) because I initially set out to take the Excelsior College Exam (OB is a pet subject with me). There is also an "Official Study Guide" for a handful of DSSTs, this one included, floating around the Web in pdf that pretty much covers what you need to know.

Phillip

 

I've been extremely busy the last week or so with several of my traditional dl class assignments, so I haven't had much time to work on this. I just finished reading the REA Marketing book last night, and I took the first pretest. My copy of the book is a '98 edition, so I'm sure some of the material is a little dated, but it all appears to be in line with what I'm familiar with from my sales background.

:alcoholic: Anyway, at about 6 beers deep last night I scored a scaled 78 on the first pretest. Hopefully I know the material as well sober.:tongue: I'm going to try to take this next week. I would take it this week, but I'm just too busy.

As far as I can tell, the marketing CLEP just takes common business concepts and assigns them Terms That Begin With Capital Letters. Novel concept.

 

I scheduled the test for 3 days from now. Having spent the entirety of my study time last week on an unrelated class, I have not even peeked at this material any more since my last post.

I'm having a hard time motivating myself to undertake a rigorous study regimen for this one. Regardless of the feelings of inadequacy that I have thus experienced when sitting for the exams, my results tell me that I am more than sufficiently prepared each time. My only stab at a practice test so far for Marketing tells me that I have an adequate grasp of the knowledge to not have to mess with it very much.

But I know where complacency will get me. Here's what I hope to do before Thursday:
Read REA one more time, hit markup, elasticity, disposable/discretionary income, and the 4 P's again, take 2nd test. Review answers, take third test. I finished my research proposal for my conventional classes last night, so I do have more time available this week than previously. I'll just have to see how I feel when I get home.

 

:laughing:

Every discipline seems to do the same. PMI and ITIL drove me crazy with the - Let's take a perfectly ordinary concept and apply our own name to it.

ITIL: This is a goat
Me: Hmm, looks like a cat to me.
ITIL: It's not.. It's a goat. You can tell because it has a tail and goes "Meow"
Me: Wait... isn't that a cat?
ITIL: Call it a goat or you fail.
Me: /sigh... look at the goat!

Good luck with the exam!

 

I just wanted to put in my vote that you keep up this thread. I am also a science/math person and I am trying to get into teaching in NJ. I know what you mean about some subjects just being hard to find any enthusiasm about. Just keep up the good work and you will get it done. It took me 38 years from first CC class to BA, but I am already thinking about an MAT.

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers[

EXAMS TAKEN all passed
3 TECEP; 5 DSST; 8 CLEP; 2 ALEKS(at 65% on Statistics( just 5 more % and I can be a math teacher too)); 1 ECE; 8 FEMA; 3 PRAXIS II Content Knowledge (0014) Middle School Math: and Middle School Science !!

I have been ApprovedI am approved for my Certificate of Eligibility to teach

 

Funny anecdote. In my surfing re: Marketing concepts, I stumbled upon an old Dilbert strip. I then spent 2 days at the office (when I should have been studying Marketing concepts) reading old Dilbert strips. Your conversation is the Dilbert strip of institutionalized education.

Linda, where have you been? I took a lot of inspiration from you when I first found this forum, and now it seems as if we are on parallel tracks (though you are just a bit ahead of me).

I now feel that I should have named this thread something more appropriate, because it is not just about my testing. The tests, honestly, are only a portion of my educational journey. I am also taking a full traditional (though DL) course load, working full time, and trying to fulfill my husbandly duties to the best of my ability. I'm certainly not trying to be a braggart; I just want those who read this to understand the context in which I am operating. In today's world, it is quite possible for the nontraditional student to earn a degree.

Congratulations!! I don't take my content exam until next summer, but I have quite a bit of work to do to prepare. I hope to post the same success results re: my teaching certification exams.

 

Well, we're rolling out new Customer Retention Management (Yay! More capital letters!) software today at the office, so I'm not going to be able to break loose to take my Marketing CLEP. Rescheduled for Tuesday. Oh well, I guess I can read the book again.

I am really wanting this one behind me. Not because I'm scared of it, just because I loathe the subject.

 

Hey MC! I've been around. Just been a'lurking I've been watching the site upgrades lately. The place is really starting to come together.

Another few days isn't going to hurt. More study time over the weekend!

 

I have not been on as much because I thought I had finished my journey. I also was very busy working and trying to find a job. Now my DH has finally found a job and the stress level is lowering. SO....... I am getting bored and thinking of just going to Western Goverors U for my MAT and getting a liscence in the process so I can teach somewhere. I am not sure if it will me NJ, Colorodo, SC or ?????. Once I make a decission and plan a schedule I am fine. But making those decisions can take me forever.

 

Just Aced CLEP Marketing!

I just got back to the office after my CLEP Marketing test. Score = 76. My prep (if you haven't read) consisted of reading a 1998 version of the REA CLEP Marketing book twice, and skimming through the high points a 3rd time. I took both of the practice tests for learning material, and glanced through the 3rd test this morning (didn't actually "take" the test, just did some spot-checks). I also read this page: Marketing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, but I don't think it added that much to the process.

Knowing that there are different versions of these exams in existence, I must say that I could not have had a more fortuitous set of questions. My test today seemed to focus on personal selling approaches, direct marketing, and distribution channels. I have several years of experience directly in these fields, and so a lot of it was old hat. One surprise: this test was only 100 questions, instead of 120. I had thought that my REA practice tests were only 100 questions because that was an old format of the exam. Not so. The rest of the test was just high points right out of the REA material. A few calculations on markup, both as a percentage of cost and sale. Consistent with past experience, I felt unprepared while sitting for the exam, but less so than on the histories. All in all, it was a breeze, and I'm so glad to have it behind me. I officially hate marketing.:bandit:

I admittedly have some background knowledge, and so my experience may not be absolutely indicative of others' results. But, IMHO, the REA guide is very adequate. Barron's looks like great material, but I read 45 pages of material instead of 600, and scored a 76. With time management in mind, I say go REA.

From here, I move on to my DSST and licensing exams. Here's what I've got in my head right now:
DSST Technical Writing - thinking about taking this one mostly cold.
DSST HR Management - Plan to use Peterson's plus official prep.
DSST Organizational Behavior - Peterson's plus official prep.
DSST Geology - Geology Textbook plus official prep.
DSST Physical Science - Schaum's physics refresher + Chemistry textbook + official prep.
DSST Astronomy - Astronomy textbook + official prep.
TASP (Texas general skills assessment) - Schaums algebra refresher.
TExES 136 Composite Science Teacher Certification exam. - I'm hoping all of my other science prep will prep me for this test. Also official TExES prep material.
TExES Pedagogy & Professional Responsibilities 8-12 exam - Official TExES prep.

Also, I still have to complete my conventional course work for the remainder of this semester (almost over) and spring '11. I still have so much work to do. But, I also feel that I've already come a long way.

 

Hey, congrats! Not a bad score at all considering the subject-matter angst

 

Great news, congratulations! My version of the exam had a <very> little more about strategy and planning and almost nothing about sales, 4 Ps, classic stuff like that.

I haven't taken Tech Writing but the feedback I read is if you are breathing you can pass. Some schools (EC included) give a letter grade for it which would motivate me to study a little, YMMV.

Phillip

 

76 is a great score!! I know absolutely nothing about marketing and I like it that way.

I took the DSST Technical writing it was not a difficult exam I am sure you could pass no problem.

I don't know about the TeXas exams, but my science course last Oct. and Natural Science CLEP did help me prepare for the Praxis science

 

My advisor at UTEP really pulled through for me this week. By some crafty manipulations of my degree plan, my testing (and class) schedule has become less rigorous. I still have some more to take, but the list is shorter than it was a couple of weeks ago.

I just took the first Peterson's exam for Principles of Management cold, and scored a 78. I think this one's going to be fine. I will probably go ahead and schedule it this week. Plan to read through the material on Free-Clep-Prep.com and take the other Peterson's, and hopefully have this one knocked out by the end of the week. I have the paper-based DSST Tech. Writing on the way, and hope to take it this week or next. After these two, I'm down to my sciences, which I plan to do prep for over the holiday break and into next semester.