I have never taken a CLEP Test

[deployedsoldier]

I have never taken a CLEP Test, I am preparing for College Mathematics can anyone offer any help?

[gcalvin]

If you don't already have it, get yourself a copy of the CLEP Official Study Guide. And since you want to take College Mathematics, you should also get the Princeton Review Cracking the CLEP. You can find both of these at Amazon.com, and they should cost you around $30 for the pair. Read the review material, especially in the Princeton Review book, take the Princeton Review practice exam, go through all the answers, especially the ones you got wrong (but review the ones you got right too -- it's good practice), then take a break. Next, take the practice exam in the Official Guide. If your raw score is over 60% (some will say 50%, but I like to have more "cushion") then you are ready to take the real exam. If not, go through the review steps again, or come back here for more advice.

[deployedsoldier]

Like I said this is my first and I am lost on what way to go is this site worth the money if I need to go to all of these other places to get information? I have been going through the college mathematics test and there is 540 questions I have been out of school 30 years so this is really different that anything I have ever experienced.

Thanks for your advice.

[gcalvin]

Okay, I see where you are coming from.

Well, I can't really vouch for the InstantCert flashcards on College Mathematics, because I haven't used them. Maybe others can comment on that. I can tell you that the flashcards are excellent for many of the other CLEP, DSST and ECE exams. But I am not sure they should be used as your only study material.

The CLEP Official Guide provides sample test for every exam offered by CLEP, and I find it an invaluable final check of my preparation for an exam. In fact, I have been able to pass some CLEP exams without any preparation at all -- I just took the practice exam, and saw that I was ready. The Princeton Review book is excellent, as it provides explanations of the correct and incorrect answers (the Official Guide doesn't), but it only covers the "general" exams. Both of them give a good feel for the actual CLEP exam. Neither of them covers DSST or ECE or TECEP exams, of course.

The InstantCert flashcards, in my view, are more useful for practicing knowledge of facts. When I use them, I want to be able to move through them quickly and either know the answer at a glance, or not know it. I don't see myself using them to prepare for a math exam, but maybe that's just me. For other subjects, they are enormously helpful, and in some cases can be used as your only resource.

Bottom line is I think InstantCert is very much worth the money, but it wouldn't be my choice for the CLEP College Mathematics exam. But, again, maybe that's just me. Still to have one low-cost resource that covers so many exams of so many different types is an excellent value.

[Geezer]

If you have a number of CLEP's that you plan on testing out of, you might consider another exam to begin with. Like the previous poster stated, I too found (3) 6 credit CLEP's that I could immediately test out of after reviewing the CLEP Official Study Guide.

The other thing is that not all colleges/degree programs will accept College Mathematics as a substitute for a College Algebra requirement. If you can add what college/degree programs you are considering, we can probably be of more help.

I tested out off 66 credits and took 3 courses in the last 6 months. One of the courses that I took fulfilled the College Algebra component. For me, it was the fact that the CLEP was timed, that led me to take an online course instead. After 30 years of not using Algebra, it was difficult to get up to speed. Timing was not a problem with any other exams for me, but the College Algebra was my Achilles Heel.

If you try another CLEP first, you'll get a better feel for the format/timing. If you are in your late 40's and need a CLEP to try out cold, I'd consider the Social Sciences and History 6 credit CLEP. It's pretty generic and doable. If you are an avid reader, then the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 6 credit CLEP can be taken after a solid review of literary devices (google search).

I'm not trying to slow you down or point you in a new direction, I'm just suggesting that if you have additional CLEPS you plan on taking, you might consider an easier one for your first exam.


Good luck with whatever you choose!

[cookderosa]

Originally Posted by deployedsoldier

I have never taken a CLEP Test, I am preparing for College Mathematics can anyone offer any help?

>>

Nothing like jumping in to the deep end! Well, for my first test, I took Human Growth and Development. I found a free textbook and essentially went through most of it. I passed with my highest score- which isn't necessary- a pass is a pass. However, I don't find CLEP tests easy, so I give them a respectful amount of study time and materials- I have not only used IC for any exam, but I know others here have with success. Good Luck!! Worst case is you wouldn't pass and even then you can take it again in 6 months. Someone mentioned using the College Algebra for any of the business degrees, I think even if you do that, that you can use the College Math for electives- so nothing lost.