Civil War & Reconstruction

[baker435]

I am getting ready to take the Civil War & Reconstruction Dantes. I have had a lot of difficulty with the US History I & II CLEP. Any advice on this Dantes exam? I have watched the Burns series and bought the Spark notes and have been using InstaCert. Is there something I should spend more time studying? Do any of you remember what meterial is covered more on the test? I must pass this exam!!!!
Thanks!!!

[Basket Weaver]

Please follow this link:

http://www.instantcertonline.com/forums/...-dsst.html

Here you'll find all the info you can stand about this test and what to study. This test is very popular and with the right amount of preparation, you can pass it. Good luck and please be sure to check out the Specific Exam Feedback section on this forum's home page; there is detailed feedback for about every test out there. Lee

[cookderosa]

I am getting ready to take the Civil War & Reconstruction Dantes. I have had a lot of difficulty with the US History I & II CLEP. Any advice on this Dantes exam? I have watched the Burns series and bought the Spark notes and have been using InstaCert. Is there something I should spend more time studying? Do any of you remember what meterial is covered more on the test? I must pass this exam!!!!
Thanks!!!

>>

I don't know if this will help you, but here are my thoughts.

This was my only failed exam, and I used a different study approach- which I won't do again. I think my mistake (in addition to not having IC or a good practice test) was spreading myself too thin by using mostly videos. I really spent too much time "enjoying" the information, not enough time "learning" the facts. I watched the Ken Burns series, the 3 on Annenberg, and 6 or 7 more on netflix. At least 50 hours on videos and 5 on facts. Then I used sparksnotes (nice timeline) to cram some facts. My understanding was too general- and hit or miss. I needed to know more substance. I felt like I knew a lot about a few things, but not enough about all things. Example- I watched a bio on Grant and a bio on Johnson both overkill because I needed the "facts" which I lacked. Interesting, but not relevant.

Something I thought about later, is that hearing a word (like from a movie) and seeing the word (like from a study guide) do not yield the same results for my recall. I think to take a written test, it probably is better to see the study material in written form. (maybe to view the video with closed caption turned on would have helped me here).

Oddly enough, I enjoyed my "independent study" of the material. It just didn't yield me 3 college credits. I will have to decide if I want to sit the exam later, or just move on.
If I sit it again, I will focus heavy on 1 thing, and that is every aspect of the top 10 battles. Who, what, where, when, WHY, and how. Inside out- and upside down.

[JoliesMom]

Jennifer, Thank you. Your description and feedback is well explained. I thought I was scheduled for this test on 7/24, but it turned out I missed it because it was really scheduled for 7/17. Based on your feedback, I feel that I was right to think maybe this was fate's way of telling me that I was not ready. I don't think I knew each battle information inside and out. There are so many. I am sorry that you did not pass. I know that is disappointing. Thank you for helping the rest of us though.

[cookderosa]

Jennifer, Thank you. Your description and feedback is well explained. I thought I was scheduled for this test on 7/24, but it turned out I missed it because it was really scheduled for 7/17. Based on your feedback, I feel that I was right to think maybe this was fate's way of telling me that I was not ready. I don't think I knew each battle information inside and out. There are so many. I am sorry that you did not pass. I know that is disappointing. Thank you for helping the rest of us though.

>>

Oh my gosh!!!! They wouldn't let you take it anyway? Have you decided if you are you going to take it later? I am glad you found my feedback helpful- I really really was hesitant to write my feedback, so I was careful just to share "my" experience with the test. I have read a few posts where people just said the test wasn't hard at all.
It's my old age hilarious

[Kiwi Lover]

Moved from Specific Exam Feedback; posted by David H. Wilson on 08/19/07

I used:

Don't Know Much About the Civil WarSparknotes The Civil War 1850 - 1865
Sparknotes Reconstruction 1865 - 1877
The Civil War/DVD - Ken Burns
Why the North Won the Civil War
Ordeal by Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction

InstantCert
Wikipedia
Google

I have 25 books about the Civil War & Reconstruction, but decided to try the online, look-up and etc. method for my next 3 tests.

I test on Monday, 20 Aug 2007. My problem is that I don't know how to study. I use the shotgun and repetition method. :eek:

I need a 55 or above!