How good are Cram101 books, are they worth buying?

[norema]

Has anyone used Cram101 outline books to study from, and have they helped along with IC for any ECE psych test?

[malcs]

Has anyone used Cram101 outline books to study from, and have they helped along with IC for any ECE psych test?

I would use a GRE Psyc study guide, along with the proper book, IC, and also take the $65 practice exams on the EC tests (if they exist) . That is a formula for an A. The GRE guide will assist you in all of the other psyc tests.

After taking all of the EC psyc tests, I strongly encourage you to get the matching text book. You can buy an older version, or foreign version from half.com or other sources for $25, and sell it back when you are done.

By using the textbook and the practice exams, you will know the exact scope of the test. EC tests appear to be derived entirely from their matching books. Each textbook has a particular spin, and you want the EC spin.

This all sounds like a lot, but you can do a whole course in a few days full time, or stretch it out over a few weeks part time.

Hope this helps!

[norema]

I am referring to the Research Methods exam, the book that is associated with that test has a Cram101 book related. How long did it take you to study for that exam?

[malcs]

I am referring to the Research Methods exam, the book that is associated with that test has a Cram101 book related. So I wondered if I got that instead of the book, if that would be better so how? How long did it take you to study for that exam?

I think it took me three intense days, and I got an A. I found this to be one of the easier of the psyc tests because it is more concrete than the other psyc courses.

The secret to the EC exams is the correct book, IC, the exam specific forum, and the $65 practice exams where they exist. If the $65 tests do not exist for a subject use the 25 questions in the study guide, and pay careful attention to all 100 (right and wrong) answers to the test. The 100 right and wrong answers give you a lot of information.

The Kaplan GRE book is probably better than any cram book for the psyc tests. They have many years refining this, and there is a decent section on research methods. You can probably read the section while in the bookstore in a couple of hours.

[malcs]

I just checked, and you can get the older version of the textbook for $1.88 from half.com.

Go to half.com, put the isbn number in the search box (0-534-63441-9), do the search, then click on the older editions tab. I alway get either an older edition or a foreign version, and never pay more than $25.

I NEVER read the whole book, just the chapter intros, summaries, and quizzes. What the correct book allows you to do is find an exact phrase that used on the practice or sample exams. Sources like Wikipedia, and others have too many viewpoints to find the exact description that you need for the test.

[norema]

I think it took me three intense days, and I got an A. I found this to be one of the easier of the psyc tests because it is more concrete than the other psyc courses.

The secret to the EC exams is the correct book, IC, the exam specific forum, and the $65 practice exams where they exist. If the $65 tests do not exist for a subject use the 25 questions in the study guide, and pay careful attention to all 100 (right and wrong) answers to the test. The 100 right and wrong answers give you a lot of information.

I'm also taking the gerontology and adult aging exams. I've read in a number of post that this is the one I need to start with. Which study material is best to start with if you haven't studied psych in over 20 years? Although it always seemed to be common sense to me.

[malcs]

I'm also taking the gerontology and adult aging exams. I've read in a number of post that this is the one I need to start with. Which study material is best to start with if you haven't studied psych in over 20 years? Although it always seemed to be common sense to me.

Study all of the material for both tests before taking one. These are related so taking the two as a pair is a savings in effort. IC, the exam specific forum, and again, the GRE book, at a minimum. I would take the tests a few days apart once you know the material.

Gerentology has a practice exam, I would buy that and take it after you are done studying as a final check. That test will give you a list of your weak areas, and you can research them in the textbook and get an A.

Also, I think that all of the publisher sites for the textbooks have online quizzes and summary information. I used them with most of the EC tests.

There is lots on the exam specific sites about these tests.

[norema]

Study all of the material for both tests before taking one. These are related so taking the two as a pair is a savings in effort. IC, the exam specific forum, and again, the GRE book.

Also, I think that all of the publisher sites for the textbooks have online quizzes and summary information. I used them with most of the EC tests.

Looking through everything that I need to study, how in the world did you do it in 3 days? I feel overwhelmed just looking at all I need to do for one exam, I suppose the only good with them all is that all three are related. That is primarily why I'm taking them. To hopefully get the same bang out of what I did with all of the statistic related courses through ALEKS. This however, is much more studying and obviously much more money to loss.

[malcs]

Looking through everything that I need to study, how in the world did you do it in 3 days? I feel overwhelmed just looking at all I need to do for one exam, I suppose the only good with them all is that all three are related. That is primarily why I'm taking them. To hopefully get the same bang out of what I did with all of the statistic related courses through ALEKS. This however, is much more studying and obviously much more money to loss.

I had a fire lit under me. My incomplete BS degree from 25 years ago was preventing me from finding a new job. I played Russian Roulette with EC and DSST exams for six weeks, and my lowest mark was a C on one test.

I am now taking my time and allowing two weeks for some MBA required CLEPS. It is so much more enjoyable reading for an hour per day over two weeks.

The Research methods course is very useful for all psyc classes. It helps you with around 5 questions on each exam. In my opinion, this should be one of the first to study.

By the time you take a few of the psych classes you will find out that there is enough overlap that you can skim over certain areas.

I would proceed as follows:
1) Research methods
2) Gerentology (because it has a practice exam)
3) Psyc of A & A

[norema]

I had a fire lit under me. My incomplete BS degree from 25 years ago was preventing me from finding a new job. I played Russian Roulette with EC and DSST exams for six weeks, and my lowest mark was a C on one test.

I am now taking my time and allowing two weeks for some MBA required CLEPS. It is so much more enjoyable reading for an hour per day over two weeks.

The Research methods course is very useful for all psyc classes. It helps you with around 5 questions on each exam. In my opinion, this should be one of the first to study.

By the time you take a few of the psych classes you will find out that there is enough overlap that you can skim over certain areas.

So should I take that one first or the gerontology and adult/aging first, since they relate more?