CLEP College Mathematics

[valsacar]

I'm looking to CLEP this class to eat up some of my free electives for a BS in IT from Excelsior. How hard is the test, doable with just IC? I'm not afraid of math, taking Technical Mathematics (Calculus with a focus on technical applications of it) current and acing it without any problem.

Thanks.

[irnbru]

Have you looked at the syllabus for College Maths on the Collegeboard website? Have you searched the forum? If you are doing well with calculus now, you shouldn't have any problem with this CLEP. However, it might be worth brushing up on high school algebra so you don't get caught out.

[clep3705]

Here is a good overview of exactly what to expect:

College Mathematics CLEP Free Study Guide

This is an excellent study guide:

College Mathematics - CLEP Info.com

[KyleH]

College Mathematics is a piece of cake, and I don't even like math (I used REA, though, not IC).

Where are you getting your degree from?

[valsacar]

That's pretty much what I expected, and yes I've looked through most of the different guides. I went through some of IC today and after the first couple questions made me go "oh right, I remember that" I had no problem (first 3 sets so far) with the questions.

How close are the questions on IC to what I can expect to actually see on the exam?

I'm completing my degree through Excelsior and UMUC, UMUC is only because I'm using the Post 9/11 GI Bill and taking one physical class (through the Education Center on base, I'm a contractor now) lets me get 1.9k USD/mo in housing (ie tax free) money!

My goal is to finish by the end of 2011, though I would prefer sooner, and taking a few CLEP/DSST I should be able to do it without a problem. Only reason I don't think I can do it sooner is there are no tests/certs for the Core IT courses I have left (4 after this semester) and one of them is a capstone that has to be taken after the others. If it wasn't for that capstone course I'd be finished by the end of summer

[burbuja0512]

I thought IC was right on for the college math test. I used a combination of ALEKS, IC and lectures on youtube to pass. Math is my weakest subject and I was just trying to brush up on my skills enough to pass, so I was very happy with the 53 that I got. I think that anyone with decent math skills that puts in the time reviewing IC should get the 6 credits the test is worth.

[dshlvrsn]

I used IC and the CLEP math pratice questions. More than enough. (If math comes somewhat naturally to you...) The only math I've done in 20 years was for stats two years ago. Did one run through of the IC cards and to runs of the practice questions. The actual exam was, i think, even easier than those sources.

[clep3705]

The CLEP Official Study Guide has a practice test for College Mathematics that is representative of the actual test. The links I posted previously are very helpful. Here they are again:

Thoughts and suggestions about the exam including links to free resources:

College Mathematics CLEP Free Study Guide

Free, highly relevant online study guide:

College Mathematics - CLEP Info.com

The free Peterson's practice tests were a waste of time. The first Peterson's test was okay, just okay. The second and third ones were not representative of the actual test I took.

My score is in my signature.

[vickyvicky]

Just in case some of you want to tackle the mathematics exam, don't rely too heavily on the Peterson's Practice test, I just took all of them, and the answers and questions don't even match. So, don't get discouraged if you didn't pass them, even though I did.

Can someone tell me if the actual test were identical to Peterson's exam?

[dshlvrsn]

The version that I just took was closest to the official practice questions. I did one run through of a Barron's sample exam that was way more difficult than the actual exam. Out of the sixty questions I think I only needed the calculator twice. I used it for four other questions just to make sure I didn't make a stupid mistake in my head. As is always the case, can't speak for every possible iteration of the exam but the one I took was simpler than the official practice or the IC samples (by simpler I mean that I could most of the math in my head or just reconize which of the answers were impossible right off the bat. Often there are only two possible correct answers. Many there is only one and it sticks out like a sore thumb if you understand the question). One of the exam preps that I read said that with this exam find the right answer and move on. This is not like others where you are looking for the 'best' answer. You don't need to look out for words like always and every. IF you are good enough with math to know the quadratic equation, simple geometery rules or can know enough to knock out a few of the possible answers that should be enough to PASS the exam. You will need to knoe the basics that are in the outline.

A quick search of this forum will reveal that there are indeed many that will not pass this exam. You'll also find quite a few that found it very easy.