ECE - World Pop feedback

[anmer]

Hoorah!!!!

I am just back hilarious from the ECE World Population Exam and got a B grade. I would have got an A but for some silly mistakes.

I followed the tips given by everyone and I studied only from Thursday evening to Monday and took the exam on Tuesday morning.

The method I adopted was as under:

- went through ECE in Instantcert and made notes as I read through
- went through the Powerpoint slides for the textbook (Intro to Concepts and Issues by John Weeks)
- went through the prb bulletins (population handbook)
- morning of the exam - reviewed notes from Instantcert

The questions that I got on the exam predominantly related to overview of world population, fertility, mortality, demographic perspectives and population issues.

The key things to remember are:
- gain a good understanding of the overview of world population
- remember the different ways of calculating the various mortality and fertility rates
- understand the relationship between fertility and mortality on the increase/decrease in population
- read about China and India and their contribution to world population in terms of number and percentage
- read about the impact of migration in the US
- be sure to go through the case studies on the future of population (that is where I lost out).

Hope this will help anyone who is going to take the exam.

Regards and all the best.
Andy

[Basket Weaver]

Great job, a "B" on this test is a good score. I've also added your feedback to the Specific Exam Feedback Section. Keep up the good work!

[april004]

Thanks for the info. One question I have for those who have recently taken this exam- population, percentages, etc. for US, India,China,is it based off 2000 census or the population now?

[johnysc430]

they must have thrown a tough test at me, I studied IC pretty good. I sat down for that test and I was clueless for about the first 15 questions. I almost gave up then it progressively got easier.

They asked a lot of questions on Demographic transitions.

I got a C but I probably could have done better if I bought the book. I pretty much used IC only.

I hear people talk about how easy this test is. I don't think it was easy but maybe I had a harder test than usual or I'm just dumber than everyone else lol but hey, at least I passed.

[johnysc430]

Thanks for the info. One question I have for those who have recently taken this exam- population, percentages, etc. for US, India,China,is it based off 2000 census or the population now?

Yea there was a few questions regarding the U.S. American 2000 census and China.

Learn the history of fertility control in China.
They asked questions like

What's the number one method of contraception?

Since 1980 where are the most immigrants coming from into the U.S.

know the theorists on population.
Know the views of malthius and marx and a few others.

They would make a statement and ask who would most likely to agree with this statement.

so you have to know their views. I think IC and the recommended text and you can definitely pull a A in this.

[Gary]

I'd like to thank the following indirectly for giving me the ammunition for my upcoming battle w/World Population. Kiwi Lover, sgloer, Basket Weaver, Katterina, mikegill820, gcalvin, anmer, johnnysc430 and anyone else I left off.

PS: Just aim and fire. I know my rifle works, I'm a little concerned about the 5" gun mount

This billboard is free.

I spoke too soon. Just got back from ECE World Population and I passed the Top Secret Clearance portion of it w/an A.
The actual test I got a C and like Johnny said, I thought it was hard. I also was lost for the first 15 minutes. The first 30 questions must have been the work zone, it was bumpy as hell. I studied a lot using InstaCert which was helpful, but definitely you need more. I also read various sections on the website as well as posts on this site. This is the first C I have gotten in over 20 years and I am officially through taking ECE's or anything like that. For the effort I gave, there's no way I am going through that again. I am an independent study and online learner. I was up most of the day before and worked all night and slept 2 and 1/2 hrs before the hr drive to it. It's not worth the aggravation. I'm not blaming it on my sked either. I wouldn't have done any better if I slept 10 hrs. I found it extremely boring. Like someone else posted, I knew the demographic transition theory and I knew the answers of what others posted before. Maybe that was for DSST's or CLEP's, I don't know.
What I saw on it was;
Know Demograhic Transition Theory
Know Crude Birth Rate, General Fertility Rate, Total Fertility Rate, Gross Reproductive Rate, basically know all the birth rates!
Know the total/net/turnover rate for migration, out/in-migration.
Asked about trends
A few questions about urban population, can't remember which ones
(2) ques on demograhic change and response
(1) on push-pull, ans was push
(1) content error
(1) sample survey
Population of China now
" " of India now
couple of ques on fertility
Know the population pyramids, there were 2-3 ques on those
(1) Fecundity, ans ability to produce children
(1) Breastfeeding, ans was nipple stimulation prevents onset of menstruation
(1) Supply-Demand, can't remember
(1) Sub-Saharan Africa & Asia, ans= increase in urbanization 2000-2025
Know % of populations, someone before said know top 5, for me it was top 3
(1) Total population, ans=6.6 bil
(1) Opportunity, ans concerned time/money
(1) Homicide, ans US #1
A few on Malthus, one or two on Mill, one on Durkheim, none on Dumont, a
couple on Neo-Malthusian, one on Julian Simon, no Warren Thompson
or Boserup but there was one or two on people I never heard of.
Basically, know your people! Know World Population. If your receptive to this type of info, you'll probably do well, maybe.
Time to hit the sack. Wish I could pay it forward. I probably should have gotten the book but since I need about 6 classes now, I will use APUS (1) BYU (1)
U of Idaho (1), U of Wisconsin (1) and as much as I talk bad about them, TESC (6 cr Global Env Change). I'll leave ECE's to the rest of you. I'm not crazy about them. Wish I could have helped more. I gotta agree w/Johnny

[Basket Weaver]

Excellent feedback, I'm sure it is bound to help future test-takers.

World Pop can be a tough test so don't be too hard on yourself...just think how P/Oed you'd be if you had failed...the "C" doesn't seem so bad then. Lee

[Gary]

Excellent feedback, I'm sure it is bound to help future test-takers.

World Pop can be a tough test so don't be too hard on yourself...just think how P/Oed you'd be if you had failed...the "C" doesn't seem so bad then. Lee

I agree Lee. This was humbling. I thought I was prepared and I expected this to be easy. On one hand I am glad it's one more down, on the other, I expected better of myself. What's hard to believe are the people who talk about how very little they study, then pass w/an A and say how easy it is. You have to wonder. I know there are people out there who can give InstaCert the old one or two through and with collateral type courses get an A. But very minimal study and then say it's easy. I understand lucky, but easy, these courses aren't set up that way. Anyway, I'm gonna saddle up. Appreciate it Lee.

[fiveninerzero]

Got a C after two days of cramming. My first ECE. I am sooo used to DSST and CLEP, that was a LOOOOONG test!

[Basket Weaver]

I agree Lee. This was humbling. I thought I was prepared and I expected this to be easy. On one hand I am glad it's one more down, on the other, I expected better of myself. What's hard to believe are the people who talk about how very little they study, then pass w/an A and say how easy it is. You have to wonder. I know there are people out there who can give InstaCert the old one or two through and with collateral type courses get an A. But very minimal study and then say it's easy. I understand lucky, but easy, these courses aren't set up that way. Anyway, I'm gonna saddle up. Appreciate it Lee.

Gary,

There's a flip side to this line of thinking. I agree with you that this was a tough test and that some people seem to breeze through it with very little studying. However...I too have breezed through some tough tests as well with basic studying...it all comes down to individual comprehension levels, course interest levels, and test versions. I encourage all readers of this post to make it a personal quest with YOURSELF and to forget about the the test pass rate statistics, pass scores, and how long you studied for. These are great things to brag about if you did well on but are serious inhibitors to studying for an exam. Only YOU will know when you're ready and if you've studied enough. There are a few here who have kicked butt on EVERY test (kudos to them that do too!), but for the most part we have all faltered and fallen from time to time. As with life...learn from these shortcomings and apply the life lessons to future tests to better enable a passing score.

You are an individual...no other person will ever be like you...that said, learn what works for you and encourage yourself with each successful preparation and pass. You are your own best coach...(although the efforts of this forum help too ) Continue to better and encourage yourself and you WILL succeed. Best of luck, Lee