Humanities CLEP Test Questions. Please help!

[NateNewThread]

I am taking the Humanities CLEP test a week from Friday (December 18th) and I needed to know a little more details about the test.

I have been using Instacert exclusively for a week or so and there is just an overwhelming amount of people's names, plays, literatures, etc. that I don't know about being thrown around.

Here's my question. Is it absolutely essential that you are able to answer every flashcard correctly before you go and take the test?

My familiarity with the names is growing slightly, but I know by the time I take the test regardless of how much studying I do, I won't be able to identify a name and be able to tag along everything they have ever done with it.

Am I having a pre-test panic? Should I relax because its not that bad? Should I really know all that stuff?

[NateNewThread]

Oh and should I be using other resources besides IC?

Thanks

[Basket Weaver]

Follow this link and you'll find a wealth of information and advice from people who've already taken the test. Good Luck!

http://www.degreeforum.net/specific-exam...-clep.html

[Ruddigore]

Oh and should I be using other resources besides IC?

I would use it as your backbone, but I wouldn't use it exclusively. This is what I used for Humanities:

• InstantCert (IC) flash cards
• Kaplan practice exam
• Peterson’s practice exam
• Princeton Review practice exam
• Two REA practice exams
• An art history book, which I gave a cursory reading
• Wikipedia

Take lots of practice exams until you're scoring like you want to -- consistently!

Hope you ace it,
R.

[operalady]

Ruddigore,

That is an amazing number of practice exams. I am in the position of scheduling the exam for Dec 22 or wait until Jan 8. As much as I like the Dec 22 finish date it gives us not time to go over Peterson's exams and Princeton exams. Is scoring well on REA's exams, CLEP Official's exam and IC sufficient?

I have a strong background in music and theatre but my son does not. I'm wanting to be quick yet thorough.

We are using:

• The forum feedback, like ususal, filling in our own study sheet from the items mentioned.
  
• Liberty University's Humanities podcasts, very thorough on Greece and Rome, giving a good foundation.
  
• The Humanities in Western Culture, Liberty's recommended textbook.
  
• IC
  
• REA practice exams
  
• CLEP Official practice exams
  

We really need to pass this one and move on to keep him on schedule.

Please advise.

[Ruddigore]

That is an amazing number of practice exams. I am in the position of scheduling the exam for Dec 22 or wait until Jan 8. As much as I like the Dec 22 finish date it gives us not time to go over Peterson's exams and Princeton exams. Is scoring well on REA's exams, CLEP Official's exam and IC sufficient?

I have a strong background in music and theatre but my son does not. I'm wanting to be quick yet thorough. [...]

We really need to pass this one and move on to keep him on schedule.

Please advise.

Taking practice tests is one of the best ways to prepare for the general exams, since they're so broad. This is particularly true for Humanities, where knowing a particular little tidbit might mean a point difference in your score. Practice exams test your readiness and give you hundreds of tidbits of information as freebies.

I took one of the Peterson's exams from their CLEP Success book -- http://www.petersons.com/pdf/free/CLEPSuccess.pdf -- I found it to be most like the actual test in that it arranged the questions by subject (get with the program, REA!). It seemed somewhat similar in difficulty too, if a little harder.

How many REA exams do you have? Three might be enough -- but I wouldn't leave anything to chance. December 22 gives you enough time to whip through four or five more practice tests apiece. One of you can take an online one while the other takes a paper one. Review shouldn't take too long for this test, as most of the information you're learning is 100% factual.

I over-studied for this test (something I do not regret). If I were to do it again, but had to take it soon, I would still wait to get between 65% to 75% before attempting the real test. Your son has a bit of a disadvantage not having background in at least one of these areas. It's difficult to cram years of casual observation into a couple weeks. But that doesn't mean he can't overcome that disadvantage with extra studying. Tell him to go to Wikipedia and soak in some new names by using the "Influenced/Influenced by" links, using IC as a base. Not that it wouldn't hurt you, of course. It certainly helped me quite a bit!

[operalady]

I took one of the Peterson's exams from their CLEP Success book -- http://www.petersons.com/pdf/free/CLEPSuccess.pdf -- I found it to be most like the actual test in that it arranged the questions by subject (get with the program, REA!). It seemed somewhat similar in difficulty too, if a little harder.

How many REA exams do you have? Three might be enough -- but I wouldn't leave anything to chance. December 22 gives you enough time to whip through four or five more practice tests apiece. One of you can take an online one while the other takes a paper one. Review shouldn't take too long for this test, as most of the information you're learning is 100% factual.

I over-studied for this test (something I do not regret). If I were to do it again, but had to take it soon, I would still wait to get between 65% to 75% before attempting the real test. Your son has a bit of a disadvantage not having background in at least one of these areas. It's difficult to cram years of casual observation into a couple weeks. But that doesn't mean he can't overcome that disadvantage with extra studying. Tell him to go to Wikipedia and soak in some new names by using the "Influenced/Influenced by" links, using IC as a base. Not that it wouldn't hurt you, of course. It certainly helped me quite a bit!

Thanks a million for the link. I agree with you on Wikipedia and the practice test importance. I have 3 REA tests, the one you sent, Peterson's (3) and the CLEP official and can get the Princeton's easily.

My son has less background in music and theatre but he studied philosophy a good deal last year and is strong in Religion, Art and Architecture. He also nearly passed this exam (2 points) last year so he has much to build on. I'm just not wanting to rush.

Thanks!

[Levi]

To study for and pass this Humanities exam I believe I used only three resources:

- Princeton Review's Cracking the CLEP & practice test
- InstantCert flashcards
- Comex Guide to CLEP Humanities & practice tests


I didn't have a huge background in Humanities (other than having the A Beka Book curriculum in high school), so a lot of it was new to me.

[NateNewThread]

alright guys thanks. I've been studying relatively lightly so far but plan to kick it up a notch come Sunday.

[operalady]

We've been kicking it up a notch here as well. I keep thinking of the advice from Ruddigore as I'm working. Our first practice tests were passing so that is a start. Looks like we need more work on poetry......

Got the Princeton's practice test tonight. I think we can do it. Hoping to test on Dec 22. :-)