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Hello,
SCENARIO: Any advice is very highly appreciated as I am in a really rough situation. I was screwed over by an adviser and now have 7 days to pass either the chemistry or biology CLEP or I will have to go into some harsh debt to take a course. I can dedicate all day, everyday to studying.
BACKGROUND: I got perfect scores on my ACT without studying, science/mathlete from high school, in my final year of undergrad math/statistics with a 4.0, I learn things quick but haven't touched either subject for 5 years.
EXAM: Which exam should I take? A friend who took both suggested I take chem because I don't need to learn any math and can figure out a lot of it by the math I know. But, I haven't touched either subject for 5 years and all the resources say biology is the easier exam by far.
STUDYING: I have done research on studying for biology and it seems using a website (InstantCert) and textbook combined are best. And for textbook, should I use the official CLEP REA review book (link 1 below) or the Cliff AP book (link 2)?
I read somewhere that there are lab questions on the biology one that are only covered in the AP book, any truth to that from your experience? Also, I know khanacademy and hippocampus vids are helpful but those are a lot of videos. Which sets specifically on hippocampus do I need to look at?
DOABLE? Is it possible, considering my background, to pass this a week from now, given that I study every day for lengthy periods of time? Should I take notes and read and re-read the materials or can I just skim it over? Thank you very much in advance for any help.
Amazon.com: CLEP Biology with TestWare (CLEP Test Preparation) (9780738608907): Laurie Ann Callihan, CLEP, Lauren Gross Ph.D.: Books
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/047...SIN=0470097647
PS: Biology book has good rating on amazon but I also stumbled across this, which made me wonder:
BARNES & NOBLE | CLEP Biology with TestWare by Laurie Ann Callihan, Research & Education Association | Paperback
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If you have little time, use the search feature and use Wikipedia biology links as your search string. Use those links to study. They are the most efficient way to study. Biology is easier than chemistry.
63 CLEP Sociology
75 CLEP U.S. History II
63 CLEP College Algebra
70 CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
68 DSST Technical Writing
72 CLEP U.S. History I
77 CLEP College Mathematics
470 DSST Statistics
53 CLEP College Composition
73 CLEP Biology
54 CLEP Chemistry
77 CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications
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I think Biology would be easier also--or should I say more doable. I think once you start reviewing the info should come back pretty quick. You could also use the Petterson's exams to evaluate what you need to work on, then Khan academy for those particulars. Good luck!
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clep3705 Wrote:If you have little time, use the search feature and use Wikipedia biology links as your search string. Use those links to study. They are the most efficient way to study. Biology is easier than chemistry.
I did search those and have been actively reading them. Do you think my goal for biology is doable? What is the best way to study? I have searched through the forums extensively and know
what to study but not
how. Should I take extensive notes or will just skimming through be enough since it is multiple choice? Are instacert and videos enough or should I go through a textbook?
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about 2 years ago I was in the same circumstance... i passed biology with a 61... although its supposed to be a hard test.. of what i understand chemistry is harder... and has a lower pass rate... i actually got a college book and read the whole thing into a tape recorder... and then loaded it onto disks and my ipod... i listened to it constantly... so just like the song you here over and over you start to know the words... you remember it... might be the fastest way...and check on youtube for lectures.... berkeley puts lectures up and they are exceptional... good luck...
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You do not need to make extensive notes. You don't even need to read all of the linked pages. You just need to be able to recognize the concepts and pick them out of a multiple choice question. You aren't studying for an essay test where you have to explain things. This is more like playing Jeopardy.
63 CLEP Sociology
75 CLEP U.S. History II
63 CLEP College Algebra
70 CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
68 DSST Technical Writing
72 CLEP U.S. History I
77 CLEP College Mathematics
470 DSST Statistics
53 CLEP College Composition
73 CLEP Biology
54 CLEP Chemistry
77 CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications
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gilliam_III Wrote:Hello,
SCENARIO: Any advice is very highly appreciated as I am in a really rough situation. I was screwed over by an adviser and now have 7 days to pass either the chemistry or biology CLEP or I will have to go into some harsh debt to take a course. I can dedicate all day, everyday to studying.
BACKGROUND: I got perfect scores on my ACT without studying, science/mathlete from high school, in my final year of undergrad math/statistics with a 4.0, I learn things quick but haven't touched either subject for 5 years.
EXAM: Which exam should I take? A friend who took both suggested I take chem because I don't need to learn any math and can figure out a lot of it by the math I know. But, I haven't touched either subject for 5 years and all the resources say biology is the easier exam by far.
STUDYING: I have done research on studying for biology and it seems using a website (InstantCert) and textbook combined are best. And for textbook, should I use the official CLEP REA review book (link 1 below) or the Cliff AP book (link 2)?
I read somewhere that there are lab questions on the biology one that are only covered in the AP book, any truth to that from your experience? Also, I know khanacademy and hippocampus vids are helpful but those are a lot of videos. Which sets specifically on hippocampus do I need to look at?
DOABLE? Is it possible, considering my background, to pass this a week from now, given that I study every day for lengthy periods of time? Should I take notes and read and re-read the materials or can I just skim it over? Thank you very much in advance for any help.
Amazon.com: CLEP Biology with TestWare (CLEP Test Preparation) (9780738608907): Laurie Ann Callihan, CLEP, Lauren Gross Ph.D.: Books
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/047...SIN=0470097647
PS: Biology book has good rating on amazon but I also stumbled across this, which made me wonder:
BARNES & NOBLE | CLEP Biology with TestWare by Laurie Ann Callihan, Research & Education Association | Paperback
I'm going to suggest chem for the same reason as your friend. Chemistry math eats students. Chemistry has its own rounding, uses significant digits, and is in metric with gads of exponents- positive and negative. That's before you talk about "chemistry" stuff. For that reason alone, I think you'd be up to snuff on all chem math within one afternoon. There will be a lot of math on the exam, especially weights and conversion. Your intuition will help you do very very well. Do chem, hands down. *there isn't any math in bio
Get your library's copy of Idiot's guide to chemistry or chemistry for dummies and the CLEP official guide- any within the past 5 years is fine. If your library has an AP Chem or CLEP chem, get that too. Read through it, use Khan, and you'll be golden.
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The only science CLEP I took was Natural Science, everyone said it had a lot of bio so I was worried. I know CHEM. I have 18 Chem credits I haven't taken a Bio course in ~35 years and I don't particularly like bio. I studied using the flashcards and the REA book. I also used the Peterson practice test. So I think the bio would be easier. Watch khan or other videos on areas you need to review. In my opinion once you understand the basics of bio, cell parts, mitosis, photosynthesis, Kingdom, family... you can easily easily deduce other answers from that.
Linda
Start by doing what is necessary: then do the possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible St Francis of Assisi
Now a retired substitute Teacher in NY, & SC
AA Liberal Studies TESC '08
BA in Natural Science/Mathematics TESC Sept '10
AAS Environmental safety and Security Technology TESC Dec '12
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You could take a practice test for each (Bio and Chem) and then study for whichever exam that you scored the highest on.
Danielle
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