Getting Started On The Right Track

[cookderosa]

The advice above sounds very good. I am in a situation similar to Kevin and would like to jump in and take my first CELP. To that end, can someone tell me (us):

- What is the best way to study/prepare for a CLEP? Buy some textbooks? Research online? etc.

- In general, how long should a "CLEP newbie" need to study/prepare to take a CLEP test? 1 week? 2 weeks? 1 month? I realize it depends on lots of different factors but again, *in general* how long?

Thank you.

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I don't know if you know this, but this forum has a $20 monthly study program that you can join, but it is not required and may or may not be the best prep tool for you. I tried the flash card system (this one) and found I did better using a second hand text book or streaming videos. There are any number of methods- additionally, there are specific "CLEP Preparation" books you can buy. I tried a few, but liked the ones put out by REA the best. There are Sparksnotes (like Cliff notes) as well as all the free web resources you could ever want. Unlike taking a class, you get to maximize your learning style and develop your own personal study program.

As for length of time- I almost always started studying before I set a test date. For me, I needed to know what I was up against. If you have an hour or two per day, that is nearly 10-15 hours of study time per week- thats REALLY a lot and you should probably be able to study for any of the more simple exams in about one-two weeks. (perhaps even in a few days of serious cramming) That said, I always gave myself two or three weeks, and a bit more on the ones where I was learning everything for the first time.

[barcotta]

The advice above sounds very good. I am in a situation similar to Kevin and would like to jump in and take my first CELP. To that end, can someone tell me (us):

- What is the best way to study/prepare for a CLEP? Buy some textbooks? Research online? etc.

- In general, how long should a "CLEP newbie" need to study/prepare to take a CLEP test? 1 week? 2 weeks? 1 month? I realize it depends on lots of different factors but again, *in general* how long?

Thank you.

Here's what I recommend:

InstantCert flashcards cannot be beat for price, convenience and quality (you'd think I work here--I don't!). For $20 a month you have instant, anytime access to flashcards for dozens of tests. They are borderline magical. I, for one, cannot look at a textbook and figure out which parts I'm really supposed to have memorized and which don't matter. The guides provided by the testers (CLEP, DSST, ECE, TECEP etc.) certainly help--but then you have to do all the work and match everything up. IC has already done all that for you. All you have to do is learn it.

I do, however, find textbooks EXTREMELY helpful when preparing for subjects which require you to understand processes and calculations. Examples would be accounting, statistics and finance. For me, those areas of study are much easier to understand if I have a textbook with adequate examples. Otherwise, IC + Wikipedia + Petersons + the Specific Exam Feedback forum (which you can see if you're logged in) = PASS.

You can click on the links in my signature to see how I prepared for each of the exams I took to complete my degree. That should give you a good idea of what to expect.

If you can put in 2-3 hours a day, you can prepare for many exams in about two weeks in my opinion. For me, that was only possible because I had IC so every moment of study was spent memorizing--not reading stuff I wouldn't need or too much searching around.

You'll find evidence on this site of exams that many recommend to "group" to take advantage of significant overlap--such as CLEP Sociology, Psychology, Educational Psychology and Human Growth and Development. Another example would be CLEP Info. Systems and Software Apps. and DSST Intro to Computers--maybe even DSST Management Information Systems in that group.

If you decide to group, you could study for a month and then take 2-4 tests. Throw in CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature--for which there is little you can do to prepare except go through the big blue CLEP book and take the practice test along with some Petersons practice tests (A&I Lit is basically reading comprehension but it has some Olde English and obscure poetry to interpret as well)--and you could do a semester in one sitting! A&I Lit is worth 6 credits at many institutions--so if you could find a place that will let you test all day--you could do A&I Lit and three of the Psych-type tests and start preparing for your next semester.

Good luck and have fun.

[drandalray]

Thanks for the great feedback in this thread and I hope I haven't hijacked it too terribly much.

Well, after doing a bit more research on taking the CLEP tests (by reading this amazing forum), I jumped in with both feet today. I am scheduled to take two exams on 9/19! :eek:

It actually shouldn't be too bad. I chose Intro to Computers and Management Principles for my first two. I will be 50 soon and have been in computers since I was 19 and was a manager for 10 years so I think the required amount of study will be manageable.

I better go sign up with InstantCert now and get studying.

Thanks again.