2017 Pass Rates

[dfrecore]

I might be missing something crucial here but why are some of the civilian pass rates (provided in the link) so much higher than the rates in the OP? I was a little worried when I saw the first set of numbers, as I'm planning on taking the CLEP for US Lit, US Gov, and English Lit but after seeing the rates on the link I'm thinking maybe I don't have to worry too much about immense amounts study time. Anyone know why the discrepancy?

You should have seen the scores when the military paid for unlimited attempts at the exams!  It was obvious some people went and took every single exam, just to see if they could pass any of them.  Nothing to lose there, so why not (and I'm pretty sure all branches gave promotions after a certain number of college credit is reached).

Once the military stopped paying for unlimited exams (2011 maybe?), and just paid for the first one, the scores were better - but they still don't have any skin in the game (free), so the scores are still lower than civilian scores.

[Life Long Learning]

I might be missing something crucial here but why are some of the civilian pass rates (provided in the link) so much higher than the rates in the OP? I was a little worried when I saw the first set of numbers, as I'm planning on taking the CLEP for US Lit, US Gov, and English Lit but after seeing the rates on the link I'm thinking maybe I don't have to worry too much about immense amounts study time. Anyone know why the discrepancy?

You should have seen the scores when the military paid for unlimited attempts at the exams!  It was obvious some people went and took every single exam, just to see if they could pass any of them.  Nothing to lose there, so why not (and I'm pretty sure all branches gave promotions after a certain number of college credit is reached).

Once the military stopped paying for unlimited exams (2011 maybe?), and just paid for the first one, the scores were better - but they still don't have any skin in the game (free), so the scores are still lower than civilian scores.

I was one of those.  I earned 150 credits in about 6 months just taking exams for free (paid by DOD).  I did not study.  I just shotgunned them.

10/12 ECEs = 83%
12/20 CLEPs = 60%
26/31 DSSTs = 84%
48/63 Exams = 76%

[22gunsonfire]

So no you don't get automatically promoted by the number of credits you obtain (but it doesn't hurt when you're up for your promotion review).

I just wanted to say there are still plenty of us in the DoD studying for exams. Sadly, my test center is sponsored by Coastline Community College and is withdrawing due to a lack of turn out. Before my friend and I created a testing initiative for the command our test center saw 1 or 2 exams a month. Now, 8 months later, he's looking at 2-5 a week. Still the test center is scheduled for shutdown. Sad day.

[sanantone]

I might be missing something crucial here but why are some of the civilian pass rates (provided in the link) so much higher than the rates in the OP? I was a little worried when I saw the first set of numbers, as I'm planning on taking the CLEP for US Lit, US Gov, and English Lit but after seeing the rates on the link I'm thinking maybe I don't have to worry too much about immense amounts study time. Anyone know why the discrepancy?

You should have seen the scores when the military paid for unlimited attempts at the exams!  It was obvious some people went and took every single exam, just to see if they could pass any of them.  Nothing to lose there, so why not (and I'm pretty sure all branches gave promotions after a certain number of college credit is reached).

Once the military stopped paying for unlimited exams (2011 maybe?), and just paid for the first one, the scores were better - but they still don't have any skin in the game (free), so the scores are still lower than civilian scores.

I was one of those.  I earned 150 credits in about 6 months just taking exams for free (paid by DOD).  I did not study.  I just shotgunned them.

10/12 ECEs = 83%
12/20 CLEPs = 60%
26/31 DSSTs = 84%
48/63 Exams = 76%

Paid for by taxpayers.

[dfrecore]

So no you don't get automatically promoted by the number of credits you obtain (but it doesn't hurt when you're up for your promotion review).

I just wanted to say there are still plenty of us in the DoD studying for exams. Sadly, my test center is sponsored by Coastline Community College and is withdrawing due to a lack of turn out. Before my friend and I created a testing initiative for the command our test center saw 1 or 2 exams a month. Now, 8 months later, he's looking at 2-5 a week. Still the test center is scheduled for shutdown. Sad day.

I know that you get an automatic promotion if you enlist with a certain number of credits in each branch, I thought maybe promos while already in might get that as well.

[Life Long Learning]

I might be missing something crucial here but why are some of the civilian pass rates (provided in the link) so much higher than the rates in the OP? I was a little worried when I saw the first set of numbers, as I'm planning on taking the CLEP for US Lit, US Gov, and English Lit but after seeing the rates on the link I'm thinking maybe I don't have to worry too much about immense amounts study time. Anyone know why the discrepancy?

You should have seen the scores when the military paid for unlimited attempts at the exams!  It was obvious some people went and took every single exam, just to see if they could pass any of them.  Nothing to lose there, so why not (and I'm pretty sure all branches gave promotions after a certain number of college credit is reached).

Once the military stopped paying for unlimited exams (2011 maybe?), and just paid for the first one, the scores were better - but they still don't have any skin in the game (free), so the scores are still lower than civilian scores.

I was one of those.  I earned 150 credits in about 6 months just taking exams for free (paid by DOD).  I did not study.  I just shotgunned them.

10/12 ECEs = 83%
12/20 CLEPs = 60%
26/31 DSSTs = 84%
48/63 Exams = 76%

Paid for by taxpayers.

100% agree! A great value for both!

---

So no you don't get automatically promoted by the number of credits you obtain (but it doesn't hurt when you're up for your promotion review).

I just wanted to say there are still plenty of us in the DoD studying for exams. Sadly, my test center is sponsored by Coastline Community College and is withdrawing due to a lack of turn out. Before my friend and I created a testing initiative for the command our test center saw 1 or 2 exams a month. Now, 8 months later, he's looking at 2-5 a week. Still the test center is scheduled for shutdown. Sad day.

How is Coastline Community College?  It sounds like a great college for Veterans?

[sanantone]

I might be missing something crucial here but why are some of the civilian pass rates (provided in the link) so much higher than the rates in the OP? I was a little worried when I saw the first set of numbers, as I'm planning on taking the CLEP for US Lit, US Gov, and English Lit but after seeing the rates on the link I'm thinking maybe I don't have to worry too much about immense amounts study time. Anyone know why the discrepancy?

You should have seen the scores when the military paid for unlimited attempts at the exams!  It was obvious some people went and took every single exam, just to see if they could pass any of them.  Nothing to lose there, so why not (and I'm pretty sure all branches gave promotions after a certain number of college credit is reached).

Once the military stopped paying for unlimited exams (2011 maybe?), and just paid for the first one, the scores were better - but they still don't have any skin in the game (free), so the scores are still lower than civilian scores.

I was one of those.  I earned 150 credits in about 6 months just taking exams for free (paid by DOD).  I did not study.  I just shotgunned them.

10/12 ECEs = 83%
12/20 CLEPs = 60%
26/31 DSSTs = 84%
48/63 Exams = 76%

Paid for by taxpayers.

100% agree! A great value for both!

---

So no you don't get automatically promoted by the number of credits you obtain (but it doesn't hurt when you're up for your promotion review).

I just wanted to say there are still plenty of us in the DoD studying for exams. Sadly, my test center is sponsored by Coastline Community College and is withdrawing due to a lack of turn out. Before my friend and I created a testing initiative for the command our test center saw 1 or 2 exams a month. Now, 8 months later, he's looking at 2-5 a week. Still the test center is scheduled for shutdown. Sad day.

How is Coastline Community College?  It sounds like a great college for Veterans?

It's not a great value when people take tests without studying because they know someone else is paying for it.

[Life Long Learning]

You should have seen the scores when the military paid for unlimited attempts at the exams!  It was obvious some people went and took every single exam, just to see if they could pass any of them.  Nothing to lose there, so why not (and I'm pretty sure all branches gave promotions after a certain number of college credit is reached).

Once the military stopped paying for unlimited exams (2011 maybe?), and just paid for the first one, the scores were better - but they still don't have any skin in the game (free), so the scores are still lower than civilian scores.

I was one of those.  I earned 150 credits in about 6 months just taking exams for free (paid by DOD).  I did not study.  I just shotgunned them.

10/12 ECEs = 83%
12/20 CLEPs = 60%
26/31 DSSTs = 84%
48/63 Exams = 76%

Paid for by taxpayers.

100% agree!  A great value for both!

---

So no you don't get automatically promoted by the number of credits you obtain (but it doesn't hurt when you're up for your promotion review).

I just wanted to say there are still plenty of us in the DoD studying for exams. Sadly, my test center is sponsored by Coastline Community College and is withdrawing due to a lack of turn out. Before my friend and I created a testing initiative for the command our test center saw 1 or 2 exams a month. Now, 8 months later, he's looking at 2-5 a week. Still the test center is scheduled for shutdown. Sad day.

How is Coastline Community College?  It sounds like a great college for Veterans?

It's not a great value when people take tests without studying because they know someone else is paying for it.

Anyone who can accumulate 150 credits in 6 months is a great deal for only $6000.  Failing 18 exams is no big deal and just the cost of doing business.  Heck, the VA pays way over $6000 for tons of folks for just one term at regular B&M Universities for just 15 credits.  In a cost-to-benefit ratio, this is a deal for the DOD.  In a cost-to-benefit ratio (time and cost), this is a deal for anyone even paying out of pocket. Look at the big picture!

[sanantone]

I was one of those.  I earned 150 credits in about 6 months just taking exams for free (paid by DOD).  I did not study.  I just shotgunned them.

10/12 ECEs = 83%
12/20 CLEPs = 60%
26/31 DSSTs = 84%
48/63 Exams = 76%

Paid for by taxpayers.

100% agree!  A great value for both!

---

So no you don't get automatically promoted by the number of credits you obtain (but it doesn't hurt when you're up for your promotion review).

I just wanted to say there are still plenty of us in the DoD studying for exams. Sadly, my test center is sponsored by Coastline Community College and is withdrawing due to a lack of turn out. Before my friend and I created a testing initiative for the command our test center saw 1 or 2 exams a month. Now, 8 months later, he's looking at 2-5 a week. Still the test center is scheduled for shutdown. Sad day.

How is Coastline Community College?  It sounds like a great college for Veterans?

It's not a great value when people take tests without studying because they know someone else is paying for it.

Anyone who can accumulate 150 credits in 6 months is a great deal for only $6000.  Failing 18 exams is no big deal and just the cost of doing business.  Heck, the VA pays way over $6000 for tons of folks for just one term at regular B&M Universities for just 15 credits.  In a cost-to-benefit ratio, this is a deal for the DOD.  In a cost-to-benefit ratio (time and cost), this is a deal for anyone even paying out of pocket. Look at the big picture!

$1800+ wasted on one person because he didn't want to study is no big deal?

They stopped paying for unlimited exams for a reason, and I'm glad they did.

[Life Long Learning]

Paid for by taxpayers.

100% agree!  A great value for both!

---

So no you don't get automatically promoted by the number of credits you obtain (but it doesn't hurt when you're up for your promotion review).

I just wanted to say there are still plenty of us in the DoD studying for exams. Sadly, my test center is sponsored by Coastline Community College and is withdrawing due to a lack of turn out. Before my friend and I created a testing initiative for the command our test center saw 1 or 2 exams a month. Now, 8 months later, he's looking at 2-5 a week. Still the test center is scheduled for shutdown. Sad day.

How is Coastline Community College?  It sounds like a great college for Veterans?

It's not a great value when people take tests without studying because they know someone else is paying for it.

Anyone who can accumulate 150 credits in 6 months is a great deal for only $6000.  Failing 18 exams is no big deal and just the cost of doing business.  Heck, the VA pays way over $6000 for tons of folks for just one term at regular B&M Universities for just 15 credits.  In a cost-to-benefit ratio, this is a deal for the DOD.  In a cost-to-benefit ratio (time and cost), this is a deal for anyone even paying out of pocket.  Look at the big picture!

$1800+ wasted on one person because he didn't want to study is no big deal?

They stopped paying for unlimited exams for a reason, and I'm glad they did.

I am not into efficiency (LEAN Six Sigma) I am into effectiveness (graduating).  DOD/VA paid 5% on the USD for my credits/degrees.  I could have done the local private night school university (with adult programs) for $28,500 tuition and the VA would pay me housing $1481/month in addition.  Many of my fellow Vets are doing this right now.  The college scoreboard says they have a 59% graduation rate.  This is just one example.  I am not into milking the VA. Throwing $$$$ money at these B&M colleges is the real enemy to taxpayers.   Failing 18 exams is NOT part of the educational-government complex.  Feds throwing $$$$ at B&M universities is.