Anybody use AP biology books to study for the biology CLEP?

[yankee_racers]

Someone suggested I use something like Cliffs AP Biology to study for the Biology CLEP. Their reasoning was that the AP was harder and if I was ready for it, then I would easily pass the CLEP.

I have noticed that some of the various AP Biology books have a lot higher reviews on Amazon than the Biology CLEP books.

My biggest concern is that the AP books will cover material that I don't need for the CLEP and that I will waste my time studying things I don't need. Similarly, I also wonder if the AP book will not cover specific topics that are on the CLEP exam.

Thoughts?

[cookderosa]

Someone suggested I use something like Cliffs AP Biology to study for the Biology CLEP. Their reasoning was that the AP was harder and if I was ready for it, then I would easily pass the CLEP.

I have noticed that some of the various AP Biology books have a lot higher reviews on Amazon than the Biology CLEP books.

My biggest concern is that the AP books will cover material that I don't need for the CLEP and that I will waste my time studying things I don't need. Similarly, I also wonder if the AP book will not cover specific topics that are on the CLEP exam.

Thoughts?

>>

My first thought re: Amazon, I'd guess more people take AP biology than CLEP biology.

Get the Official CLEP guide. It has every exam broken down by % of information. If (for example- i don't know) it says 35% plant life science, then you can go side by side with the AP book and see if it's a good fit. That, in my opinion, you should do anyway. Don't assume that because it's a CLEP biology book- that it has the correct ratio of information. (there are lots of bad books)

I didn't take AP biology, but it "might" require an essay or short answers, as is common with AP exams- that may account for the "harder" sentiment. Strictly speaking, it's the same material- 2 semesters of introductory college biology.

You can't go wrong with the REA Biology book (CLEP or AP).

[lwmcc]

I can highly recommend the Cliff's AP Biology text as preparatory material for the CLEP Biology test. I studied for 6 days using the REA CLEP Bio book briefly (not nearly enough info to have actually done well on the test, and therefore not worth the money, IMO) and the Cliff's AP Bio book (covered everything on the test) and got a 74 on the test. There's not 'extra' info in the Cliff's AP, just enough info on the correct subject matter with enough depth of detail to allow the actual CLEP test-taking experience to be moderately fun, rather than stressful. A 'pass may be a pass', but going into the test with confidence in one's level of knowledge is definitely better for one's blood pressure!

[toddplatzer]

I can highly recommend the Cliff's AP Biology text as preparatory material for the CLEP Biology test. I studied for 6 days using the REA CLEP Bio book briefly (not nearly enough info to have actually done well on the test, and therefore not worth the money, IMO) and the Cliff's AP Bio book (covered everything on the test) and got a 74 on the test. There's not 'extra' info in the Cliff's AP, just enough info on the correct subject matter with enough depth of detail to allow the actual CLEP test-taking experience to be moderately fun, rather than stressful. A 'pass may be a pass', but going into the test with confidence in one's level of knowledge is definitely better for one's blood pressure!

Thanks,
I have my clep test tomorrow for bio and am primarily using the cliffs notes ap text. this gives me more confidence, although the amount of information is truly staggering. Kind of wish I had started earlier :/