IC vs. petersons

[mnsimons]

I'm taking the CLEP biology on Monday, and have been studying a lot! Thanks to everyone on here for tips and resource ideas! I have read Biology Smart by Deborah Guest (I recommend this if you're like me and have a very hard time with science), written flashcards, read most of a college biology textbook, and have used IC. I have actually found, though, that I don't do well when "tesing" myself with the IC subject flashcards. I find the wording to be tough and there to be a lot of vocab I haven't run across in anything else I've read. Does anyone else find this to be true? Maybe not all subject are like that. I'm not very good with fill-in-the-blank, either. But perhaps the idea is not so much to know the right answer but to learn the reasons why an answer is wrong or right. I don't know - I am new at this.

I guess it boils down to this - I passed my first Petersons practice test with a 54. I plan to take the other two tonight & tomorrow. Even though when using IC I feel not prepared, would it be anyone's opinion that even with that, if I pass the petersons, I can be confident to pass the CLEP? I am basically against a deadline such that if I don't pass this exam, time's run out for me to earn by BA without having to go back and re-do a bunch of new classes they've added to the catalog. So it's an all-or-nothing situation for me and I'm so nervous!!

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Any other resources I can access (in the next day) to use?

[snazzlefrag]

I have actually found, though, that I don't do well when "tesing" myself with the IC subject flashcards. I find the wording to be tough and there to be a lot of vocab I haven't run across in anything else I've read. Does anyone else find this to be true? Maybe not all subject are like that. I'm not very good with fill-in-the-blank, either. But perhaps the idea is not so much to know the right answer but to learn the reasons why an answer is wrong or right. I don't know - I am new at this.

Some of our members don't even bother to type an answer in the Instantcert blanks as they proceed through the various sections. It's more about knowing and understanding the concepts than memorizing the EXACT missing word. The actual exam will not test you on your knowledge of all the specific missing words from the IC cards. The questions will not be worded the same, nor will they even be presented in the same format. Remember that IC is a LEARNING device rather than a literal mock exam.

The explanation of the answer for each IC card is MUCH more important than the singular missing word. If you learn the missing words, you will only have accomplished the memorization of a few random words. If you learn, and understand, the concepts that are taught by the cards (especially in the answer explanations), you will be well on your way to being able to pass the actual exam.

Hope that helps,
Snazzlefrag

[jason]

The explanation of the answer for each IC card is MUCH more important than the singular missing word. If you learn the missing words, you will only have accomplished the memorization of a few random words. If you learn, and understand, the concepts that are taught by the cards (especially in the answer explanations), you will be well on your way to being able to pass the actual exam.

This.

Don't focus on memorizing the word that goes in the blank. Understanding the concepts presented is the key to making IC 'work'. The goal is to gain a fairly comprehensive understanding of the subject so that you can answer questions on the exam that require critical thinking (as most do).

FWIW, I only fill in the answer if I'm in the mood. Most of the time I simply review the cards and think of the answer in my head.