[barcotta]

I began preparing two weeks ago after passing the ISCA and Intro to Computing. I used InstantCert supplemented by my prior learning and the Long & Long Computers book for the MIS exam and InstantCert only for Sociology. I used the CLEP practice exams for Sociology and the Petersons for the MIS and Sociology. I also used Wikipedia sparingly for both. I passed the MIS exam with a 61 which is an "A" at Excelsior. I thought I would be in the mid-60's but am still happy to have an "A" averaged in there. There are no letter grades for CLEP exams--but I got a 72 on the Sociology. Maybe I should be a Sociologist!

For those of you who are like me and new to this, here are some of my observations.

I kept track of the number of questions I knew the answer to vs. those I could narrow down to two answers vs. those I had to guess. There were 89 questions on the MIS. There were about 38 I knew, 39 I could narrow down, and the rest I had no idea. That got me a 62. On the CLEP test there were 50 I knew, 40 I could narrow down and 10 that I didn't know. That got me a 72. The crazy thing about these tests is that it's not that common in my experience to be able to study exactly what's going to be on the test. Instead, you get some version of what you studied--or the question falls in between what you've studied so you can make educated guesses. For example--on the Sociology exam there was a question about Gesellschaft. I knew that was a relationship description which involved "contractual" or other committments beyond casual or social. Well--that's all well and good--except the question on the exam involved what kind of circumstance was consistent with Gesellschaft. One choice was a traditional neighborhood--another was a feudal something or other in medieval times. I didn't know anything about that!

In any event, for MIS, my life experience helped for about 10% of it. The computer book probably was another 15% and the rest was InstantCert and the Peterson and CLEP practice tests. InstantCert and the Peterson and CLEP practice tests were obviously enough for the Sociology. The best supplement would have been some source that would tell you things like--the percentage of people in the US in poverty--women's income vs. men's in the US--oh--and there was one question about what institution has provided steadily declining social benefits over the last 100 years (education, gov't, etc.). Something with those kind of stats would have been helpful.

Anyway, I'm thinking of doing Psych and something that complements Psych next. Preferably something easy. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!