Unixman's CLEP Oddysey :)

I ordered it and its on the way.
I wanted to ask you what you thought of something.
I have to take Comp w/essay, General Bio/Chem/NS, American History I, American Government, and Analyzing Interpeting Literature. I am a little nervous about the Comp w/essay and was wondering which you think would be easier for me to start off with to help build up my confidence and give me some familiarity with the Clep testing procedure. I appreciate all the feedback and help.

Carlos

 

That is a tough question to answer, as it really depends on the person. The Comp/Essay is different than the other CLEPs, in that there is an essay component, whereas the others are all multiple choice.

I took the Intro to Computers CLEP, because I knew I would pass it going in - all multiple choice - no problems. That gave me a bit of confidence going into the Comp/Essay CLEP.

Just pick whichever one you feel the most prepared for ... do that one, then start tackling the others.

 

Failed American Government!

This was the first CLEP exam I've taken, and even though I studied (by reading the American Government Cliffs Notes, and The Introduction to Government book, and using Instantcert.com, and used the Official Study Guide), I failed by 5 points (scored a 45)! I was so certain I was well-prepared, but the test questions were tougher to comprehend than I had imagined, and the multiple choice answers weren't as clear as what I had on the practice tests. I did write down as many areas I felt were my weakest from the test, and will do more preparation the next time around (6 months from now!).

Does anyone know if the test will be the same one 6 months from now, or do they change? I'm starting a course at the local community college (Bio w/lab), it's obvious to me that I need to concentrate on one subject at a time, as well as working full-time (in a new job). I didn't beat myself up too much, just know better for the next time I take this exam (or any CLEP exam). Just wanted to share.

 

Re: Failed American Government!

The American Government exam has the lowest pass rate of all the CLEPs (reputed to be around 9% or so, at least among those taking it in the military).

With the experience of seeing the style and makeup of the test behind you, I'm certain you will pass the next time. Don't fret!

I imagine that the questions are pulled from a pool of questions in a database on computer on which you are taking the exam. There is a good chance that some of the same questions will be shown ...

Cheers.

 

TESC just applied my 6 credits for CLEP Accounting - up to 81 credits officially now. Huah!

 

TESC just posted my 3 credits for my PLA for Painting I. Hooah - 3 more credits to the pot, officially.

Progress against my degree plan is starting to slow down considerably, as all I have left are classes that require serious study/thought, so updates will come slowly now

Outstanding PLAs

Just waiting for feedback or grades on these - but at least the work has been done on these - this is a time game more than anything - nice to have some credits in the queue though, as I work through the 2nd list of classes below:

• System Analysis & Design I
• C Programming
• Advanced C Programming
• Advanced UNIX
• UNIX Shell Programming

PLAs I've mostly written, but not yet turned in:

• Managerial Communications
• Introduction to Web Development

What is left?

Classes I have left - need to tackle these one at a time:

• Business Policy
• Business in Society
• College Algebra / Trigonometry
• Principles of Finance
• Statistics

Cheers.

 

Keep up the good work....

Do NOT get discouraged. This is where people mess up. Develop a plan and STICK with it!

My website further covers earning a distance learning degree entirely though testing: http://www.123collegedegree.com

 

Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It has been many months since my last post.

Unfortunately, my father passed away, and as I'm sure you can imagine, it took a toll on me, and my studies. Having to deal with the arrangements, the estate, etc. are not something I ever really thought about having to do.

Nevertheless, it is 2005 now, and I am trying to steer myself back onto the degree completion track.

The good news is that over the past few months, several of my PLA courses at TESC were accepted for credit:

• System Analysis & Design I
• C Programming
• Advanced C Programming
• Advanced UNIX
• UNIX Shell Programming

The above courses are worth 3 credits each, with the exception of the Shell Programming course which is worth 4 credits (no idea why). I won't need (nor can I use) that extra credit so I am not going to count it against my plan. So the above is another 15 credits to the pot, bringing my current total to 99 credits.

I have the following PLAs I've mostly written, but not yet turned in - I have enrolled for these PLAs for the March term:

• Managerial Communications
• Introduction to Web Development

That leaves me with these nasty little buggers.

• Business Policy
• Business in Society
• College Algebra / Trigonometry
• Principles of Finance
• Statistics

I am going to try Statistics and Finance via DANTES, College Algebra/Trig via CLEP, and the remaining two via TECEP.

Cheers.

 

Welcome back.....Sorry about your Dad

I lost my Dad last year too....it sucks. Sorry to hear that. Welcome back.

The teceps(Society & policy) we're a little harder then a typical Dantes exam. lots of writing.

Statistics and Finance were 2 of my tougher Dantes. Check out www.degreeforum.com as there is a great thread on each of these exams.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

 

Why so many programming courses?

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. Unfortunately, the only thing that life does guarantee us is death

I'm glad to see that you've gotten a lot of Porfolio assessment credits. 3 questions:

1) Will all of these [programming courses] apply to your business administration degree?

2) How exactly does portfolio assessment work? I was always curious, as most people that I talk to usually either get their distance learning credits via testing, military/job (ace evaluated), or prior/current college courses. So I wanted to know what are the steps that you take to get your 'life experience' evaluated.

3) Would you say that it is easier and/or cheaper to do the portfolio assessment, or just test out of the minimum requirements for the business degree? How long did it take?

DSST principles of finance was a tough one, if you don't study. I took the ECE Business Policy and got a B on it, which is no longer available (I don't know why they got rid of it). I hurried up and took it before I had to go on deployment.

 

Re: Why so many programming courses?

Yes - my degree is a BS in Business with an area of study (concentration) in computer science.

There are tons of articles on this topic - I would recommend searching the boards here and browsing the articles. It isn't a matter of examining one's life experience and translating that to credits, but rather an exercise in documenting experiential learning.

This really depends on the individual. I was lucky in the sense that I had quite a lot of business experience (and technical experience). So my road was a fairly easy one. As far as how long it took, so far, I've gotten 100 credits on my TESC transcript in a little over a year.

Cheers.

 

Welcome back...although I can't imagine what it must be like to lose your father, I had a setback as well when my pregnant wife lost her baby back in early October. I ended up taking 2 months off before finishing the last dozen or so credits.

Now that you're back I can give you my personal thanks - I consider your odyssey as one of the motivators to get me going full steam ahead. About 13 months ago I made my first post in this thread before taking my first CLEP, and now, 120 credits later, I'm shopping for MBA programs. I'm sure that others will benefit as much from your voyage as I did when plotting my course!

Cheers,
Mark

 

Wow. what a thread!. I wish all threads were as informative and communicative as this one.


Ray

 

INCENTIVE?

Dear Unxman-

With your goal in sight, perhaps you deserve a suitable incentive! And maybe a loved one will help you out with this suggestion....


Today, I was reading about presidential inaugural entertainment. One music act has a Nashville based band led by "Super-T" - the guy, Tyrone, leads in a tux, then changes into a Superman costume with a "T" on it instead of the trade-mark "S." He explained, anyone feels better in a Superman outfit!

Supose Unixman were to graduate with a Super "U" underneath his suit after receiving his diploma???

YOU deserve this.

-Orson

 

Unixman,

I find your story about your degree oddysey fascinating. I am currently enrolled at a traditional university and I am trying to get my degree completed a year sooner.

I have been going to school for three years now, and it has been a struggle while working full-time and taking care of my family, to say the least. I worked out a deal that would allow me to graduate next spring (a full year sooner than I anticipated), if I can get all of my classes in a specific order and take a very full course load.

I have identified six courses that I can use either CLEP or DANTES, and I am also trying to get some of my electives credits covered through PLA.

Here is the deal:

I am enrolled in the business school doing the Computer Information Systems degree (very similar to you). I have been working in IT for six years and I am an MCSE and work on OSS projects. I will have 79 credit hours completed at the end of this semester. Including this summer as well as next school year, I can gradute at the end of that year if I do the CLEPs for at least macro/micro economics and finance. I am considering three others and getting PLA for CCNA 201 & CCNA 202, which are semesters 3 and 4 of the Cisco Networking Academy. I will have Statistics and some of the CIS classes left to complete.

I need some guideance for writing the PLAs. Where did you find information for completing these? Do you have any templates?

Thanks,

 

I found that there really isn't a whole lot of standardization around the PLAs in terms of the "format". The content, however, is another story.

Remember, that the goal of the PLA is to document experiential learning, not "life experience". In short, you are taking the outline of the course, and writing a "paper" (the PLA) on why you feel that you have obtained at least a "C" grade on your own, through your own learning experiences (outside the collegiate classroom).

As far as "templates" go, I believe Thomas Edison has a few sample narratives on their web site ...

Cheers.
Scott

 

Re: Failed American Government!

When I retook the TECEP Intro to Operations Mgmt, the test was the EXACT same. I went in the first time with very little preparation and cut a 55 (60 minimum). I retook it again just before heading on deployment (and actually bought the recommended textbook and studied) and got a 73. As far as the CLEP/DSST is concerned, never had to retake those, but I can imagine that most of the questions will be similar and some the exact same. Why? Something to do with the questions being valid. That's why you wait 6 months before you retest. Theoretically you should score around the same if you've done nothing different between tests.

You'll make it the second time through, especially if you do something different (i.e. actually study or study more than the first time)

I always encourage newbies (to the CLEP, DSST, etc. exams) to take the 'lighter', 'easier' exams such as the psychologies first to get themselves aquainted with the 'feel' of how the questions will be worded. The official study guide, 16th edition is really good at mirroring how the questions will be worded.

instantcert is usually on the mark, but you must not cram....actually take notes on the underlying concepts and understand them so that you can answer a question no matter how it's worded.

I've compiled some recommended textbooks for all the cleps and dssts here
http://www.123collegedegree.com/booklist.html

A 45 isn't BAD.... make sure you answer every question. If there is one minute left and you're only 1/2 way through, start bubbling in the rest quickly. I cut a 47 on humanities and didn't study at all (now THAT'S a tough test!). But I made sure I answered every question and I only had 5 minutes left.

Accounting: I made sure I bubbled everything in and that's probably why I was able to pass (50). I crammed for that one (not recommended) and time literally FLEW for that one.

Also, some people are just better test takers than others. It is NOT a race. Remember to do this at your own pace.

 

I just noticed that military personel can take CLEP exams for free (but must still pay the $12 registration fee). Has anyone done this, and what must you provide? Just a military ID?

 

I did it, and here's what I've learned....

The CLEP, DSST, Excelsior, and many, MANY other exams are available FREE for active duty military @ the on-base educational services office. For the Navy, it's called the 'Navy College Office'.

As of March, 2004, they now allow funding of all CLEP's out in town at the CLEP National Test Centers. The service member is still responsible for the test admin fee, usually between $5-25. Go to the college board website and do a search: http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch/searchCLEPTestCenter.jsp

There are several advantages to taking the ones out in town:

- You schedule on your own time
- There may be more than one test center in your area
- Usually more convenient hours available
- Computer based, immediate test results upon completion

The only disadvantage is the admin fee ($5-25) + the gas to drive to and from the test center. But you would have to drive to and from class many, many more times!

When scheduling, let them know that you're active duty military. Then make sure you bring your military ID to the test center.

They will still continue to fund CLEP on base, but the paper-based ones are limited and only the 14 most popular ones are offered.

The other main credit by exams (DSST and Excelsior) are still not YET funded out in town. I called into the Navy College Office's national hotline and they said that they are working on it, but they have to work out some details (score reporting, security issues, etc.).

To see more details of all the exams that the military funds, go to http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes_web/examinations/index.htm and on the left hand side, go to 'Programs'.

PS: they also now provide vouchers for various Microsoft certification tests: https://www.dantes-microsoft-test.com/

PSS: In my opinion, this is the BEST thing that the military did. Often times, work schedules prevent people from taking them on base, as they will normally only offer them during the day, and sometimes not even every week. The off-base testing centers are not subject to the same buraucratic bulls**t, and usually have much more flexible testing hours and schedules, including nights and weekends (the local college I went to take many cleps had 9am-9pm M-F and 9am-3pm Sat test schedule). I would not have been able to finish my degree as fast as I did if I couldn't clep out in town (for free). (see http://www.123collegedegree.com/aboutus.html )

Hopefully, ALL testing will be available out in town for free (minus the admin fee, of course). They should still keep the on-base testing available for those that can do so.

PSSS: As kind of a common sense suggestion: Since the DSST, ECE, etc are still not free out in town, if you are on a limited time schedule, focus on taking those on-base and then taking the CLEP out in town. This would also save you some money.

Hope this gouge helps....

 

DUS10,

Yes, all you need to show them your military I.D.

I can take at Joint Education Center for FREE; however I always take at national testing center 'cause you can see your score right away with $15.00.

I always take at University of Phoenix in San Macros. I showed them the I.D ony for the first time.... and I still remember who I am.... I don't have to show everytime I take the test.

If you need study guides, please email me to [email protected] ...I'll send you what you need.