Unixman's CLEP Oddysey :)

I'm glad you found instantcert useful - I signed up a short while ago and with Humanities now posted I'm planning on using it extensively this weekend before next week's test.

 

Mark, I should also point out that instantcert.com has its flaws as well.

First, its hardly original - most (many at least) of the questions come straight out of other (in print) review books, such as the ones from REA and Comex. Plagiarism - yes. Illegal - probably, it certainly isn't a good example of "fair use", as they are profiting from it. Do I care? Well, not really - its their butt on the line, not mine. It does help me study, though.

Also, whoever transcribed the questions from various books to instantcert needs a typing lesson or two. A lot of errors.

Cheers.

 

yes errors and I also found that the question (mostly) do not follow a structure for anyone to be able to learn a topic by only going through their questions. As far as I remember that is what they say the purpose of instantcert is.. no book needed. I did not try istudysmart, how is it ? its expensive though

 

I have enjoyed reading this thread. You guys have been very informative.

 

My method is similar to unixman's. The exam outlines are your best friend. I first take a practice test to see where I am at and where I need to go. I then focus on the introduction to a subject, this is usually the first chapter in a book. I get into my head what exactly I am about to learn about and try to give myself a framework to build on. Then I focus on either those areas that I am weakest in or those areas the exams focuses most heavily on (these are often the same). If one area looks like it is going to be difficult for me to learn due to a total lack of background (or whatever) and it is only worth 10% then I skip it. I don't even give it a second glance when reviewing.

For example, with the Humanities CLEP I did not spend anytime preparing for the "music" section of the exam. I studied the Lit. section and the Visual Arts section and that was it.

Something I like to do, and I know it is not recomended, but I like to cram the day before an exam. Spending several hours memorizing definitions and rereading material has proved very effective for me.

Probably the most important tip is to schedule your exams in a logical order. Notice how unixman is taking the two economics exams without throwing a biology exam between them. I did all the social sciences/history first, then humanities, and then my business exams without mixing them up. This way many subjects overlapped and my brain was not trying to go from the "US containment policy" of US History to the "mutual assent" of Business Law.

One thing going in your favor is that COSC no longer gives letter grades for CLEP exams. This has worked against me, since I did very well on my CLEP exams and wanted the A's listed on my transcript. However, if had known I would only get a "P" for passing them I would not have studied so much and thus finished much sooner.

I can only suggest starting with the ones that will be easiest for you. This will be an great confidence booster. I remember walking out of the testing center after my frist day of testing (9 credits) and thinking "Was that it?"

 

Yes, cmt, you've struck on something I was thinking, and that is to group subjects so the information is linked as closely as possible. I'm still waiting for my transcript evaluation from COSC, seems like I've been waiting forever and hope to get it sometime before Christmas so I can make use of some of my holidays to start grouping and studying. In the meantime I've been buying several basic books to start learning definitions (in some cases, relearning definitions, especially in psych).

I used to get physically ill before nursing exams, just get all worked up. Hope this doesn't happen before these tests. I just keep reminding myself that most of these tests are based on what the average 19 year old should know. I guess I just need reassurance. This site has been great for that. Thanks guys, keep this string alive.

 

Update: Business Law

Today, I took the CLEP Business Law exam. I received a scaled score of 65 (out of 80), and thus, passed, adding 3 more credits to my pot.

To study for this exam, I used the following:

• I first watched the 2 hour video produced by The Standard Deviants (www.standarddeviants.com). It won't cover everything that appears on the CLEP exam, but it probably covers enough to pass (or close to it). These tapes are a great way to get a broad view of the subject matter material.
• I then read the small Comex review book.
• I also flipped through the small REA quick study guide for Business Law (but didn't really use it).

Things to definitely KNOW for this test:

• Contracts, contracts, contracts. Over half of this test were evaluating different contract situations. You need to figure out who can sue whom, what type of suit they would have, who could sue for damages, in what would the court most likely rule, who would win the suit, who would lose, etc.
• Definitions of stare decisis, jurisdiction, precedent, etc.
• the major legislative acts governing trade
• Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) - what it is, and roughly what it covers - no need to learn all the inner workings really.
• Rough overview of how federal courts relate to state courts

If you can pass the practice test in the Comex book, you will be good to do.

Next up: CLEP Macroeconomics (I won't be taking this until the first week in January, so hvae a happy holidays everyone!).

Cheers.

 

So how many tests have you taken now, over how many weeks? I'm getting ready to book my first two tests. How many credits have you racked up?

 

I found one yesterday when reviewing for Humanities that was pretty amusing...especially if you've seen The Shawshank Redemption.

Alexandre Dumas wrote "The Count of Monte Crisco" - must have been an oily character

 

In about two months time, I've studied for, taken, and passed:

• Intro to Computers/Applications (3)
• Humanities (6)
• English Composition with Essay (6)
• Social Sciences & History (6)
• Principles of Management (3)
• Principles of Marketing (3)
• American Government (3)
• Introductory Business Law (3)

33 credits earned via testing in two months, representing just over an entire year of school.

I've been doing about one a week. For certain of my upcoming tests (DANTES Statistics, CLEP College Algebra/Trig, CLEP Accounting), I will be allowing myself 2 weeks of prep time for each.

Cheers.

 

Unixman et al,

Thanks for the tips regarding Humanities - I took it today and finished in about 30 minutes, scoring a scaled 76 out of 80 (6 more credits - so far 21 in 8 days!). I found the guide I purchased from eBay as well as Cracking the CLEP and COMEX useful. Note - I am NOT a literature guru, although I know music well, have traveled and visited a fair number of art museums.

As a final test prep, I also signed up last minute to Peterson's online test site - $19 for 90 days access. Although there were 3 complete tests available online I found them considerably harder than the actual exam - on each 1/2 test (75 questions - 150 total per test) I only scored between 50-65% correct. For those of you following this thread and planning to take CLEP Humanities it's not recommended except perhaps as a confirmation that if you get 50%+ you should pass.

In the guide I purchased off of eBay the most value came from the link to http://www.absoluteshakespeare.com - great short summaries of Shakespeare's major plays. I brushed up on some ones I hadn't taken in 15-20 years in an hour, plus learned Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, etc. in another hour - the character summaries were very helpful.

Some of the questions were pretty specific, though - and it was a process of elimination to then guess an answer out of 2 or 3 candidates.

One thing that can give you a leg up is if you're a classically-trained musician - with minimal study you will get ALL of the music questions correct.

Hopefully I can squeeze in DANTES Criminal Justice before the end of the year before another 4-exam January. If anyone has any tips to share it'd be appreciated.

Cheers,
Mark

 

Man, I'm jealous. I squeezed in a 66 on the Humanities. Can you say "famous artists" for the win?

Congrats on your pass - good luck on the next round.

Cheers.

 

unixman,
I would assume you are taking the the exams for free since you are in the military. I was able to rack up 51 credits in 6 weeks to complete my BS while in the Army Reserves. I used a simple method: Look at the passing rate for the military for each exam type and take the one with the highest passing rate. I needed mostly electives so this worked for me.

Good luck

 

unixman,
I would assume you are taking the the exams for free since you are in the military. I was able to rack up 51 credits in 6 weeks to complete my BS while in the Army Reserves. I used a simple method: Look at the passing rate for the military for each exam type and take the one with the highest passing rate. I needed mostly electives so this worked for me.

Good luck

 

Check my signature/tag line - I was in from 86 to 89. I've only started taking CLEPs about 2 months ago.

Aye, that does sound like a good plan! I was fortunate to have most of my electives taken care of via ACE/AARTS, and by transferring in a few credits that I had taken at a junior college 15 years ago. But this is good advice ...

Cheers.

 

Unixman,

I wouldn't be jealous - I probably psyched myself out by overstudying...a lot of people talking about the "killer" Humanities exam got me paranoid (especially after I took Here's to your Health last-minute on Saturday and wasted precious cram time ) I must have learned what I needed to know because I averaged over 4 answers per minute, including those poem questions that you have to spend at least a couple of minutes each analyzing. Like my previous French exam, I didn't "mark" anything for review - every answer was considered to be my "final answer" - I either knew it or not after a few seconds of consideration and elimination - click the answer, clear your mind and move on...

...needless to say I learned WHAT I needed to know and didn't get the full enjoyment out of actually READING all of the novels covered (the criticism of a multiple-choice approach to Humanities). However, it HAS given me a new appreciation for literature and at some point I'll definitely read the classic authors such as Homer and Sophocles.

I will say now (and would have totally denied before the exam) that I could have gotten by with only 1-2 hours revision on the key points, but nonetheless I'd rather overstudy and pass with a high margin than be complacent and risk failure - I picked pass/fail exams and easy electives first to get me used to the exam process again...the load will be increasing soon and I'll probably kill for a 50

I'm taking Principles of Mgt and Marketing in January (7th and 16th) leaving me time for a business trip later in the month followed by my first ECE exam - Stats. You and the others who are taking exams at an average of 1 per week act as my pacesetters - with minimal sacrifice and some smart time management I can squeeze them in somehow.

This forum and Lawrie's website have been extremely useful tools - 2 months ago I had no idea of how I was going to complete my degree, now I'm working to finish it by mid-summer.

Cheers,
Mark

 

Unixman,

I wouldn't be jealous - I probably psyched myself out by overstudying...a lot of people talking about the "killer" Humanities exam got me paranoid (especially after I took Here's to your Health last-minute on Saturday and wasted precious cram time ) I must have learned what I needed to know because I averaged over 4 answers per minute, including those poem questions that you have to spend at least a couple of minutes each analyzing. Like my previous French exam, I didn't "mark" anything for review - every answer was considered to be my "final answer" - I either knew it or not after a few seconds of consideration and elimination - click the answer, clear your mind and move on...

...needless to say I learned WHAT I needed to know and didn't get the full enjoyment out of actually READING all of the novels covered (the criticism of a multiple-choice approach to Humanities). However, it HAS given me a new appreciation for literature and at some point I'll definitely read the classic authors such as Homer and Sophocles.

I will say now (and would have totally denied before the exam) that I could have gotten by with only 1-2 hours revision on the key points, but nonetheless I'd rather overstudy and pass with a high margin than be complacent and risk failure - I picked pass/fail exams and easy electives first to get me used to the exam process again...the load will be increasing soon and I'll probably kill for a 50

I'm taking Principles of Mgt and Marketing in January (7th and 16th) leaving me time for a business trip later in the month followed by my first ECE exam - Stats. You and the others who are taking exams at an average of 1 per week act as my pacesetters - with minimal sacrifice and some smart time management I can squeeze them in somehow.

This forum and Lawrie's website have been extremely useful tools - 2 months ago I had no idea of how I was going to complete my degree, now I'm working to finish it by mid-summer.

Cheers,
Mark

 

My average is 1.3 exams per week over 6 months. I'll be done sometime next month (3 exams left). The holidays and other occasional obstacles have slowed me down, but I have tried to keep the pace steady and I am pleased with progress thus far. It has taken an effort to fit them into a busy life, but it can be done.

 

unixman/Mark, what book have you studied for Social Science and History Exam ?

Not sure if you guys may know but what DANTES exam (as elective) should I take beside MIS for Excelsior BSCIS ? I dont know if Here's to your health, Criminal Justice, Intro Business, Modern Middle East, Business Mathematics etc.. would satisfy any requirements?

Thanks.

 

I flipped through the review in the Princeton Review book, as well as the big REA General Exam CLEP review book. The REA was dry reading, but was a decent refresher. I'm a history buff, so I didn't study too much ...