Why doesn't instantcert cover everything on the clep exam?

[Shark101]

Steve
Can you please clarify this quote from your website:"To build proficiency in the subject matter, familiarize yourself with the phrasing and difficulty level and to help you choose exam subjects where you have the highest possibility of passing". I noticed after taking a couple of clep exams that instantcert does not cover a lot of areas on the clep exams i.e. when I recently took the US history 2 clep exam there were only 40 questions that were covered by instantcert is this enough to pass?
Thanks

[sgloer]

The document that you pulled that quote from is poorly written and needs to be replaced. Most people don't read that document; they jump straight into the questions, and as long as they understand to study the questions+explanations, that's all they really need to know... That's my excuse for why we haven't re-written that doc yet.

As for your question on "Why doesn't instantcert cover everything on the clep exam?", the answer is "Because we aren't a brain dump or a cheat sheet". We cover the fundamentals of the subject that would be covered in a standard college class, and it's usually enough to get you a passing score. If you are someone that's interested in maxing out the tests, then your best option would be to study a textbook in addition to our materials.

You've been asking variations of the same question over and over, and I hope you'll understand that there's no way for us to cover 100% everything that's going to show up on the test without copying the actual exam (which would get us negative attention from the collegeboard really quickly). We have never claimed to hand you a copy of the test; if that's what you're looking for, you will continue to be disappointed by our materials.

[Shark101]

Originally Posted by sgloer

The document that you pulled that quote from is poorly written and needs to be replaced. Most people don't read that document; they jump straight into the questions, and as long as they understand to study the questions+explanations, that's all they really need to know... That's my excuse for why we haven't re-written that doc yet.

As for your question on "Why doesn't instantcert cover everything on the clep exam?", the answer is "Because we aren't a brain dump or a cheat sheet". We cover the fundamentals of the subject that would be covered in a standard college class, and it's usually enough to get you a passing score. If you are someone that's interested in maxing out the tests, then your best option would be to study a textbook in addition to our materials.

You've been asking variations of the same question over and over, and I hope you'll understand that there's no way for us to cover 100% everything that's going to show up on the test without copying the actual exam (which would get us negative attention from the collegeboard really quickly). We have never claimed to hand you a copy of the test; if that's what you're looking for, you will continue to be disappointed by our materials.

Steve
Number 1 I'm not looking for a copy of the test 2. The reason why I keep asking these questions is because the exams you prepare your customers for are not always on the mark, I'm not looking to max out on the test just pass! When I took us history 1 you material didn't help out at all, when I took I took us history 2 it helped a little. There are some positives and negatives about your material. A lot of people will agree that some of your material does not prepare you fully for some exams, that is why people are using secondary sources. Trust me Steve I wont be asking you any more questions with variations, as a customer I have the right to get the best out of the product that I'm buying

[sgloer]

Please understand that I'm not trying to be confrontational. You stated that we helped you answer 40 or so questions on the test. That sounds to me like that's 40 questions you wouldn't have been able to answer without our help. Being able to confidently answer 40 questions combined with a little test-taking skills is usually going to get you a healthy passing score.

Our approach doesn't work equally well for everyone. If you're someone who keeps on barely passing or barely failing after using our materials, that tells me that spending a couple of days skimming a textbook probably would have gotten you the few extra points you needed to pass with a healthy margin. Again, everyone needs to find the approach that works well for them.

Good luck!

[sirjake]

Did you mathematically count which questions were covered or something?

I passed that test without much difficulty. Usually, the questions on the test are not the same exact information as is on Instacert, but typically, the information on Instacert is enough to enable you to make many of what I would term "highly educated guesses." If your goal is to have a thorough understanding of a subject, this probably isn't the medium for you. But, of course, neither is a standard college class, if you ask me. I've gotten A's in subjects in college and really had to put almost zero effort into it. My dad reports the same was true back when he was in college and that he'd often study for a test, pass it, and have no real clue about the subject a week later.

College is a big sham to me, which is why I'm happy to test out of it as much as possible so I can have my piece of paper that says, "Look employers and grad schools! I know something!" :-P

[libartsmgr]

Originally Posted by Shark101

Steve
Number 1 I'm not looking for a copy of the test 2. The reason why I keep asking these questions is because the exams you prepare your customers for are not always on the mark, I'm not looking to max out on the test just pass! When I took us history 1 you material didn't help out at all, when I took I took us history 2 it helped a little. There are some positives and negatives about your material. A lot of people will agree that some of your material does not prepare you fully for some exams, that is why people are using secondary sources. Trust me Steve I wont be asking you any more questions with variations, as a customer I have the right to get the best out of the product that I'm buying

I don't mean to be confrontational either, but if you don't like the materials or feel that they are not helpful, then you have the power to NOT BUY Instacert. That's probably way more effective than complaining and putting the administrator on the defensive publically.

[Shark101]

Originally Posted by libartsmgr

I don't mean to be confrontational either, but if you don't like the materials or feel that they are not helpful, then you have the power to NOT BUY Instacert. That's probably way more effective than complaining and putting the administrator on the defensive publically.

This will be the last you hear from me, I will say this I have a right to say what I please there is a such thing called free speech First amendment , I was just commenting on the material, because I believe there are flaws that need to be corrected, so I'm not putting anybody on the spot. Trust me will I will ask for my money to be refunded back, and study material that is more helpful, All I had was a question and not to be confronted by people like you As a consumer I have a say in the product that I buy.
To all people who continue to use this material please make sure that you have other study resources, like I said before there are positves and negatives about this material.
God bless

[Sammy]

I think to use only one study source is a bit foolish, though I think in many case, instantcert is plenty enough to pass. I like instant cert because it helps give me a good outline of study. I can then read a secondary source and have a much better idea what to look for and where to focus a bit more. You may want to give the administrator's some input that can help improve some of their study material. I think setting up this discussion board if a very beneficial move on the instantcert administrator's part.

I always use an additional source. I have no room to fail an exam. Nor time or money to fail.

[snazzlefrag]

Originally Posted by Sammy

I always use an additional source. I have no room to fail an exam. Nor time or money to fail.

Absolutely Right Sammy!

I have earned 52 credits using Instantcert. But I used other sources for each exam too.

To do otherwise would be a risk I am not willing to take.

I believe Instantcert alone would have been enough to PASS most of the exams I have taken so far. But I don't want to just "pass", I want to pass well.

In addition, not everyone can pass these exams, even if they study for months using four or five different resources. It's not for everyone.

Likewise, Instantcert as a learning tool is not for everyone. Some people may find a text book more helpful, others may find a Cliff Notes book more helpful, others REA, still others COMEX, etc.

All of us should find the source, or combination of sources, that work best for us!

If you don't do well on these exams, don't blame it on your tools: blame it on your choices...and make better choices next time!

[sgloer]

Thanks guys, I agree with you 100%.

Our materials should be enough to get you a passing score on any of the subjects we offer.

If they don't work that well for *you* specifically, then at least our materials will get you at least 90% of the way to where you want to be. The small number of people that fail after using our materials typically seem to fail with a 47 or higher, which means we got them almost all the way to the passing score--just a small amount of supplementary studying would have taken them the rest of the way.

You have to figure out what works for you--either way, it's got to be better than stumbling through a lengthy textbook and trying to figure out if you're ready or not!