DANTES going virtual...

[mrezas]

Brian do you know how can I find out about those sites that can have it on line? I could not find any phone No. from prometric or others and I have emaild person who is responsible but no reply yet.

thanks
Ray

[bxwhitse]

Brian do you know how can I find out about those sites that can have it on line? I could not find any phone No. from prometric or others and I have emaild person who is responsible but no reply yet.

thanks
Ray

Ray, the only thing I could recommend is search for participating schools off the list: http://www.getcollegecredit.com/particip...tions.html, and call to see if they offer the on-line testing. I know not every location will offer it.

[Librevore]

I didn't see where anyone else had posted about this, so I thought I'd share the news: Prometric is running a pilot Dantes internet based testing program at select sites accross the country. Today I took Organizational Behavior on-line, at Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, VA, and the interface was about like CLEP tests are. You can mark questions for review, then at anytime during the exam or at the end you can go back and review them. And getting that score at the end was AWESOME.

It seems like this is a very good thing but I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Cleps were all worth grades until they went online and then quite a few went pass/fail. Maybe I am not remembering correctly though. Has anyone heard any more info about this change with the Dantes?

Thanks in advance,
Librevore

[snazzlefrag]

It seems like this is a very good thing but I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Cleps were all worth grades until they went online and then quite a few went pass/fail. Maybe I am not remembering correctly though. Has anyone heard any more info about this change with the Dantes?

Thanks in advance,
Librevore

My test center hasn't heard anything yet about DANTES going computerized.

Personally, and as much as I hate filling in those evil little bubbles, I am actually hoping that my test center doesn't go computerized until after I am done taking all my DANTES exams.

I LIKE that the DANTES exams are untimed and that I don't have to worry about the clock. This is especially true on some of the more difficult exams.

So, for me, the race is on to complete my remaining DANTES exams BEFORE they switch to the online version.

I can't imagine trying to finish Principles of Statistics, Principles of Finance, Money & Banking, Soviet Union, Civil War etc., in under two hours. I usually take about three hours to complete the harder DANTES exams....and I enjoy being able to take my merry old time!

Am I alone in this?
Snazzlefrag

[Librevore]

Haven't finalized my game plan yet but I was originally thinking that I would complete all my Cleps first because they are the only ones offered by any of our local colleges. The Dantes and ECE's will entail a 3 hour drive each way to sit. Not sure yet how I am going to work that out with my work week how it is. After reading these posts though, I am thinking that I should get going on these tests as quickly as possible. I like the idea of being untimed for these subjects. Would make it easier to get the best grades possible.

Librevore

[Urbannaja]

My test center hasn't heard anything yet about DANTES going computerized.

Personally, and as much as I hate filling in those evil little bubbles, I am actually hoping that my test center doesn't go computerized until after I am done taking all my DANTES exams.

I LIKE that the DANTES exams are untimed and that I don't have to worry about the clock. This is especially true on some of the more difficult exams.

So, for me, the race is on to complete my remaining DANTES exams BEFORE they switch to the online version.

I can't imagine trying to finish Principles of Statistics, Principles of Finance, Money & Banking, Soviet Union, Civil War etc., in under two hours. I usually take about three hours to complete the harder DANTES exams....and I enjoy being able to take my merry old time!

Am I alone in this?
Snazzlefrag

Probably not alone, but I seem to do better when I DON'T take my time. If you don't know an answer right off the bat, eliminate the incorrect answers and either make an educated guess, or C-out. Alot of second-guessing seems to just cause stress and frustration. It seems that alot of people take tons of time on questions they absolutely don't know, when there's very little chance of getting a better response by staring at the same question for 1 minute or 15 minutes. If you have time left over AFTER you've answered all of the questions, go back and look at the ones you didn't know...as you may be able to answer them now that you've seen the rest of the test. Just my opinion...I honestly don't understand how people can possibly take 2-3 hours on multiple choice tests (non-math).

[snazzlefrag]

I honestly don't understand how people can possibly take 2-3 hours on multiple choice tests (non-math).

Hi Urbannaja,

It's interesting to hear how different people approach these exams. People have very different approaches to studying for the exams as well.

It's a matter of 'different spokes for different folks'. Everyone is different, and there is no right or wrong in this business...only what works, and what doesn't work.

Taking my time and just leisurely working my way through an exam totally helps to relieve my anxiety. I actually enjoy it. I sit down and get myself comfortable, kick off my shoes...and just relax! I'm done with the exam when I'm done I'm done with the exam...and not a moment before!

Even when I do finish an exam in 45 minutes or so, the knowledge that I COULD take longer if necessary really helps.

My laid back approach to the timing has worked very well for me so far (14 DANTES exams).

I have taken 8 timed CLEPs too...and done equally well on them. So I can totally understand why someone might prefer to just whip through a timed exam and get it over with. I score just as well on the timed exams as I do on the untimed ones. But I personally PREFER untimed tests. I like that there is no pressure, no stress, no clock to beat, just pure unadulterated freedom to prove what I know. I think that's what exams should be...a test of what you know, rather than a test of how fast you can answer the question (that's what TV gameshows are for ).

The bottom line is that it's about what works for us, individually! If something doesn't work for you, then don't do it. If something does work, then stick with it...and for that reason alone, I would rather stick with the untimed version of the DANTES exams. I like having unlimited time, it works for me.

Of course, for those who come after us, they will only have experience of the timed DANTES exams. So they probably won't miss what they never had.

Interesting stuff,
Snazzlefrag

[Kiwi Lover]

My test center hasn't heard anything yet about DANTES going computerized.

Personally, and as much as I hate filling in those evil little bubbles, I am actually hoping that my test center doesn't go computerized until after I am done taking all my DANTES exams.

I LIKE that the DANTES exams are untimed and that I don't have to worry about the clock. This is especially true on some of the more difficult exams.

So, for me, the race is on to complete my remaining DANTES exams BEFORE they switch to the online version.

I can't imagine trying to finish Principles of Statistics, Principles of Finance, Money & Banking, Soviet Union, Civil War etc., in under two hours. I usually take about three hours to complete the harder DANTES exams....and I enjoy being able to take my merry old time!

Am I alone in this?
Snazzlefrag

Hi Snazz,

First of all, I'm glad to hear you made it through the Principles of Finance exam okay and that all that studying paid off! That's how I felt too when I was taking the exam...that the time I spent studying and LEARNING was worth it.

As for the DANTES becoming computerized, I am with you! I want to get my DANTES tests done before they do that as well, because I still need to take Statistics and the Soviet Union one, and I know those will take some time to do.

Do you or anyone know of how easy/hard the Human/Cultural Geography test is? I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned in the forum. Just wondering, since that's one more DANTES I need to take.

[snazzlefrag]

Do you or anyone know of how easy/hard the Human/Cultural Geography test is? I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned in the forum. Just wondering, since that's one more DANTES I need to take.

Kiwi,

I haven't taken that one. Nor do I plan to. But I do have a couple of pdf files for that subject that I picked up somewhere along the way.

It seems like that would be a pretty obscure exam that not many people have taken. Why do you have to specifically take Hum/Cult Geography? Is it by requirement, or by choice?

If you have a choice, there are several other exams that might be easier to find study material for (not to mention more helpful feedback from others).

I would at least go with one of the DANTES that Instantcert covers. That way, you'll know you have access to some solid study material.

Anyway, I would be interested to hear your rationale for taking that particular exam.

If you do end up doing it, just say the word and I'll send you the two pdf files I have (don't know how good they are...but they are lecture notes from a college course by the same name).

Speak soon,
Snazzlefrag

[Kiwi Lover]

Kiwi,

It seems like that would be a pretty obscure exam that not many people have taken. Why do you have to specifically take Hum/Cult Geography? Is it by requirement, or by choice?

Anyway, I would be interested to hear your rationale for taking that particular exam.

Speak soon,
Snazzlefrag

Snazz,

I am enrolled with Regis University out of Colorado (online program), and they require 6 units for "Global Issues". Two classes that fall under this category that I can test out of are "History of Soviet Union..." and "Human/Cultural Geography". So...if I can save myself some money and time, I'm going to try to get all 6 units through the tests.

I would appreciate anything you could send me to help me study - that would be great! I actually hadn't even checked yet that InstantCert doesn't cover it! That would explain why I have never seen it mentioned here.

THANKS for your help!