American Government

[Sammy]

I plan on taking American Government CLEP. Any advice. I plan on instantcert only and reading the constitution with and Us Gov laminated quick study guides. Then I will use all the petersons practice exams and the collegeboard exams. What do you'll think?:confused:

[snazzlefrag]

I plan on taking American Government CLEP. Any advice. I plan on instantcert only and reading the constitution with and Us Gov laminated quick study guides. Then I will use all the petersons practice exams and the collegeboard exams. What do you'll think?:confused:

Sammy,

Instantcert is good for this one.

Take a look at the free AG online study guide here:
http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/su...ntents.asp

Also, check out this Glossary of Congressional and Legislative Terms:
http://www.thecapitol.net/glossary/index.html

This is not a difficult exam to pass. But Excelsior requires a high score to earn an 'A' (69). In fact, it is the highest cut-off score Excelsior requires for an 'A' of ALL of the available exams. Usually an 'A' is in the 50's or low 60's.

I don't know whether TESC assigns grades for this one or not. I'm sure you already have that all figured out though.

Here's a copy of what I wrote in a different thread...

....................
The first ten amendments (Bill of Rights) are tested extensively on this exam. Know them well!

You should also be familiar with the issues raised in the "seven articles" (Eg, what is the Supremacy Clause, interstate relations/what form of government is the US, how are the three branches of government organized/how do they inter-relate, what is the process for amending the constitution, what were the ratification requirements).
....................

Good luck on this exam,
Snazzlefrag

[ShotoJuku]

I plan on taking American Government CLEP. Any advice. I plan on instantcert only and reading the constitution with and Us Gov laminated quick study guides. Then I will use all the petersons practice exams and the collegeboard exams. What do you'll think?:confused:

[SIZE="3"]If there is any one thing that you should be sure of - know the US Constitition with an emphasis on the Bill Of Rights.

You may also wish to check out the American Government video/dvd from http://www.StandardDeviants.com . On the surface this topic is not what you might call one of the tougher ones yet surprisingly it is not uncommon for many (including myself) to find that they did not do as well as they thought. GOOD LUCK!!!! [/SIZE]

[yutzyj]

my husband and i just took this test 4/25 and we only scored a 61 and 60, a B at excelsior. previously, we've gotten A's on the few tests that we have taken for grades and scored extremely high on the pass/fail. we knew everything in instantcert and took the advice from others of definitely knowing the constitution, bill of rights, and specific cases mentioned in instantcert. someone gave the advice to only learn one of the names in the court cases, which made it much easier for me since i have trouble memorizing. we found that what we were lacking in was party information. there seemed to be alot on the parties. definitely take the peterson's exam to guage your readiness. i wish i could be more specific than that, but i am still new to this game and still go into these tests in a kind of shell-shocked daze and seemed so shocked when i actually pass. it's always a big 'party' night for us then. good luck, if you know instantcert you will pass.

[Sammy]

I took the College Guide practice exam cold and got a 53%.
I took the first petersons cold and got a 61%.
Some of that was probably luck. Just gauging myself. Then I study and I will see answers to questions I know that I got wrong. I will study and then take the remaining 2 peterson's exams, which I find to be good. I will use instantcert, petersons and I got the lamenated "Quick Study" foldable reference sheets for US Government and the US Constitution with Bill of Rights. They are highly condensed and excellent. I just need to pass this one. I will overstudy and as long as I get 50 I will jump for joy!

[Sammy]

Has anyone used the"Quick Study" foldable, lamenated guides for American Gov. exam? I have two of them. US constitution and US Government. Do I need to know accual Amendment number and also Article number with sections?

[snazzlefrag]

Do I need to know acctual Amendment number and also Article number with sections?

Dan,

You will need to be thoroughly familiar with the first ten amendments (Bill of Rights) and the seven Articles of the Constitution.

You need to know specifically what each amendment and article involved, but you won't need to know exact wording.

Example: Know that the 10th amendment deals with "Residual Power", or that Article 6 covers the "Supremacy Clause". Obviously, you will also need to understand what Residual Powers and the Supremacy Clause are.

In addition, it would be helpful to at least be familiar with the amendments beyond the Bill of Rights, and what each dealt with...but not in any great detail. Specifically know which amendments instituted and then repealed prohibition, respectively.

There are also some very significant court cases that dealt with issues raised by the various amendments. You will need to know these too. Most of the major ones are covered by Instantcert, and you can google them if you want to go into more detail on any specific case.

Example: "Mapp v Ohio" dealt with the 4th Amendment issue of "Search & Seizure".

Know the basics of each case...who, why, who won etc.

Hope that helps,
Snazzlefrag

[Sammy]

I took the College Guide practice exam cold and got a 53%.
I took the first petersons cold and got a 61%.
Some of that was probably luck. Just gauging myself. Then I study and I will see answers to questions I know that I got wrong. I will study and then take the remaining 2 peterson's exams, which I find to be good. I will use instantcert, petersons and I got the lamenated "Quick Study" foldable reference sheets for US Government and the US Constitution with Bill of Rights. They are highly condensed and excellent. I just need to pass this one. I will overstudy and as long as I get 50 I will jump for joy!

I just got a 71 on my second petersons exam after studying through IC. What do you Think? I plan to review the practice exam, IC and take another exam. My actual exam is this Thursday the 15th. Do you think I will at least pass? That's all i need.

[snazzlefrag]

I just got a 71 on my second petersons exam after studying through IC. What do you Think? I plan to review the practice exam, IC and take another exam. My actual exam is this Thursday the 15th. Do you think I will at least pass? That's all i need.

Dan,

You seem to have prepared well, so I would be very surprised if you failed this exam.

You are armed and dangerous....now go in there and take it out.
hilarious

You will be fine!

Best of luck,
Snazzlefrag

[ShotoJuku]

I just got a 71 on my second petersons exam after studying through IC. What do you Think? I plan to review the practice exam, IC and take another exam. My actual exam is this Thursday the 15th. Do you think I will at least pass? That's all i need.

[SIZE="3"][COLOR="Blue"]It sounds as if "you have the right to remain confident and steadfast in your study and also the right to take and pass the exam with flying red-white-blue colors."

Do you understand your rights? If so, do you wish to talk to me now? (Hold on that's my other job of 25 years kicking in).

My more recent job as a student tells me that it sounds as though your ready to sit the exam so - GOOD LUCK!![/COLOR][/SIZE]