Intro to Modern Middle East

[sweetgirl_19]

Good work PriTyan! That Intro to the Modern Middle East can be passed by ONLY studying instantcert is x-tremely encouraging!

[studyhard]

To studyhard:

Long time - no type

Hope all is okay by you

Oops! Sorry I didn't see this! I posted my results in the "Post Your Test Scores" section and didn't think to post it here. I passed with a 63. It was a tough exam but it IS doable! I used IC and the book I mentioned earlier on this thread, plus a little bit here and there from other website for timelines and things.

So, if you're taking this one, study hard and don't expect to breeze through it with a few days study....but you can make it!

[tetrakatus]

After reading this thread, I think I have figured out part of the issues that people have been speaking of. It looks like there was a major rewrite of the test in 2007. If you look at the fact sheet for 2002 and 2007. At least I am hoping this is the case, because I'm going to soon be taking the test, and the 2007 fact sheet seems to be more focused, and cover the materials in the book, A History of the Modern Middle East. The 2002 fact sheet seems to have a lot more ancient history, and other stuff, and seems to be more European centric, while the new one seems more Middle Eastern centric in view (Which I think is a good thing).

I have been putting my notes online so if anyone else wants to use them, you are welcome to.

[tetrakatus]

My studying did me good, I got a 77 with 47 being needed. Having done the test, I think that the test does follow the new 2007 Fact Sheet fairly closely, and there weren't very many questions about ancient history. One thing I would recommend beyond just the general books about the Middle East, is to look into a book about Middle East feminism and the rise of novels and newspapers in the middle east. (I suspect the ones the Fact Sheet suggest would be good) These subjects are listed on the Fact Sheet, and they in fact did have questions about them on the test. I probably got these wrong because I didn't study that part as much.

[Ghoti4128]

I planned on posting last week, so forgive me as I've forgotten most of the stuff I planned on posting.

The test I took had 99 questions. It was chronological, and the first 33 questions Ottoman Empire time frame (mostly Ottoman, some Egypt). Last 66 post Ottoman.

Best of luck to all who take it.

[Jubilee]

Honestly, after reading all these posts I was terrified of this test. It is the first upper level DSST test I've had to take, and I really expected it to be miserable. I've studied all the flashcards and much of what was listed here, but due to several major events coming up as I've been working on this one, it hasn't been high quality, focused, or consistent study. I guess low quality study maybe balances out if you do it long enough? I don't know.

Anyway, the test had a TON on the Ottoman Empire. Know everything related to that. I studied mainly with IC, but supplimented with a lot of Wikipedia and the wonderful study notes that Tetrakatus posted (though I only found that a couple days ago--but an amazing resource!!). There was a question on the Sultentate of women.... but I don't remember any other specifics. A lot of those annoying "pick which ones are true" questions, where you have to select which/how many of certain options are true/not true.

I may have had a different version of the test, because it really didn't seem that hard. I started it feeling exceptionally unprepared, but within 20 questions was feeling pretty confident (I got a 59). I finished in a little less than 45 minutes, and wasn't really rushing.

Anyway--good luck for those of you who take this one! With a lot of hard study it is very passable!!!

[motuterry]

Honestly, after reading all these posts I was terrified of this test. It is the first upper level DSST test I've had to take, and I really expected it to be miserable. I've studied all the flashcards and much of what was listed here, but due to several major events coming up as I've been working on this one, it hasn't been high quality, focused, or consistent study. I guess low quality study maybe balances out if you do it long enough? I don't know.

Anyway, the test had a TON on the Ottoman Empire. Know everything related to that. I studied mainly with IC, but supplimented with a lot of Wikipedia and the wonderful study notes that Tetrakatus posted (though I only found that a couple days ago--but an amazing resource!!). There was a question on the Sultentate of women.... but I don't remember any other specifics. A lot of those annoying "pick which ones are true" questions, where you have to select which/how many of certain options are true/not true.

I may have had a different version of the test, because it really didn't seem that hard. I started it feeling exceptionally unprepared, but within 20 questions was feeling pretty confident (I got a 59). I finished in a little less than 45 minutes, and wasn't really rushing.

Anyway--good luck for those of you who take this one! With a lot of hard study it is very passable!!!

Firstly, congratulations on your pass. Great job!
You note the test as your first "upper level" exam. The DSST site lists Intro to Modern Middle East exam as a lower level.

[Jubilee]

Yeah--most colleges would count it as lower level, but Thomas Edison doesn't--which is where I'm getting my degree.

[motuterry]

Yeah--most colleges would count it as lower level, but Thomas Edison doesn't--which is where I'm getting my degree.

That's super news! Again, congrats!

[bkbarden]

Honestly, after reading all these posts I was terrified of this test. It is the first upper level DSST test I've had to take, and I really expected it to be miserable. I've studied all the flashcards and much of what was listed here, but due to several major events coming up as I've been working on this one, it hasn't been high quality, focused, or consistent study. I guess low quality study maybe balances out if you do it long enough? I don't know.

Anyway, the test had a TON on the Ottoman Empire. Know everything related to that. I studied mainly with IC, but supplimented with a lot of Wikipedia and the wonderful study notes that Tetrakatus posted (though I only found that a couple days ago--but an amazing resource!!). There was a question on the Sultentate of women.... but I don't remember any other specifics. A lot of those annoying "pick which ones are true" questions, where you have to select which/how many of certain options are true/not true.

I may have had a different version of the test, because it really didn't seem that hard. I started it feeling exceptionally unprepared, but within 20 questions was feeling pretty confident (I got a 59). I finished in a little less than 45 minutes, and wasn't really rushing.

Anyway--good luck for those of you who take this one! With a lot of hard study it is very passable!!!

Jubilee... your post gave me hope after reading all the dismal reviews of this exam. Would you--or anyone else who has taken the exam recently--say that IC and Wikipedia would be sufficient study? I'm kind of scared about this exam now...