Math Dummy Needs Advice - What Test to Take

[birdandbee]

Hi All,

Working on my BA in English via TESC and need to get the pesky math requirement out of the way. I am terrible at math and when I say "terrible", this is no exaggeration (the mere thought of calculating a check at a restaurant is enough to fill me with anxiety) so as you can imagine, I'm not looking forward to tackling math now, particularly as I haven't touched a math problem in over 10 years.

For those of you who know the ins and outs of the credit-by-exam options, what do you recommend? I was considering chancing the CLEP (particularly since it's worth 6 credits), but have noted a lot of comments about credit for ALEKS.

If I do go with CLEP, what is my best bet as far as study tools are concerned?

Any thoughts on this? Many thanks in advance!

[sanantone]

Not that I'm bad at math, but I forgot everything I learned in high school and I knew it would take me a long time to get from basic algebra all the way up to college algebra. So, I did ALEKS Intermediate Algebra. A lot of people recommend this website.

Khan Academy

I didn't know about that site at the time, so I watched this video series, which mostly got me up to speed.

Resource: Algebra: In Simplest Terms

[cooperalex2004]

I'm so bad at math that I used Logic at my community college to fill the math requirement (something they allow for non-business majors in Minnesota)! TESC wouldn't go for that so I completed the Intermediate Algebra course on ALEKS. I'd recommend you give it a shot. If you score 70% or higher on the first or subsequent assessments then you can get ACE credit for it. If you don't get the score you want, the site will guide you through practice problems targeted in the areas you missed. I haven't taken any math CLEP or DSST exams so I can't help you there, all I know is I finished on ALEKS within a few hours so that's what worked for me.

The CLEP exam is much more broad in material not seen in Algebra so make sure you study up if you are going to test.

Study tools:
College Mathematics CLEP Free Study Guide! - Free-Clep-Prep.com
College Mathematics | CLEP
and of course this site...

For CLEP exams I recommend their "official study guide" since it has a full set of practice problems for every exam, however you can probably find practice tests online too.

Good luck.

[cookderosa]

Hi All,

Working on my BA in English via TESC and need to get the pesky math requirement out of the way. I am terrible at math and when I say "terrible", this is no exaggeration (the mere thought of calculating a check at a restaurant is enough to fill me with anxiety) so as you can imagine, I'm not looking forward to tackling math now, particularly as I haven't touched a math problem in over 10 years.

For those of you who know the ins and outs of the credit-by-exam options, what do you recommend? I was considering chancing the CLEP (particularly since it's worth 6 credits), but have noted a lot of comments about credit for ALEKS.

If I do go with CLEP, what is my best bet as far as study tools are concerned?

Any thoughts on this? Many thanks in advance!

Since you're at TESC, it only costs $20 to try ALEKS. Like sanatone suggested, intermediate algebra fills the requirement and is the lowest ALEKS math that counts. I've never taken that course (beg. algebra was enough for me thanks). An alternative idea is the CLEP College Math (6) exam, but that requires everything being learned/memorized for the test. ALEKS is all open book in the comfort of your home. For my math requirement, I took MAT105 Math for Liberal Arts offered via TESC online class. It was easy, but it was expensive - I think about $200 for the book plus tuition...and I had 2 proctored exams (I think)! When I took it, ALEKS wasn't around yet, so if I had to do it over again, I would have likely tried ALEKS first simply because for $20, it's worth a try.

[birdandbee]

Thanks, Jennifer! I actually signed up for the TESC College Math course last semester, but I was taking 3 other classes at the time and quickly realized that I couldn't keep up with the math, so I had to drop it. I knew that if I tried, my other three classes would have suffered as a consequence. Kudos to you for getting through it. And thanks so much for the helpful info!

-Dawn

Since you're at TESC, it only costs $20 to try ALEKS. Like sanatone suggested, intermediate algebra fills the requirement and is the lowest ALEKS math that counts. I've never taken that course (beg. algebra was enough for me thanks). An alternative idea is the CLEP College Math (6) exam, but that requires everything being learned/memorized for the test. ALEKS is all open book in the comfort of your home. For my math requirement, I took MAT105 Math for Liberal Arts offered via TESC online class. It was easy, but it was expensive - I think about $200 for the book plus tuition...and I had 2 proctored exams (I think)! When I took it, ALEKS wasn't around yet, so if I had to do it over again, I would have likely tried ALEKS first simply because for $20, it's worth a try.

[birdandbee]

Thanks so much for the info! So just to be clear, the ALEKS course will count for 3 credits at TESC?

If so, that is FANTASTIC news! I'll definitely look into it ASAP!

Thanks again!
-Dawn

I'm so bad at math that I used Logic at my community college to fill the math requirement (something they allow for non-business majors in Minnesota)! TESC wouldn't go for that so I completed the Intermediate Algebra course on ALEKS. I'd recommend you give it a shot. If you score 70% or higher on the first or subsequent assessments then you can get ACE credit for it. If you don't get the score you want, the site will guide you through practice problems targeted in the areas you missed. I haven't taken any math CLEP or DSST exams so I can't help you there, all I know is I finished on ALEKS within a few hours so that's what worked for me.

The CLEP exam is much more broad in material not seen in Algebra so make sure you study up if you are going to test.

Study tools:
College Mathematics CLEP Free Study Guide! - Free-Clep-Prep.com
College Mathematics | CLEP
and of course this site...

For CLEP exams I recommend their "official study guide" since it has a full set of practice problems for every exam, however you can probably find practice tests online too.

Good luck.

[cooperalex2004]

Yes, three credits. If you do well you can take other ALEKS math courses and bring them is as General Ed Electives.

Thanks so much for the info! So just to be clear, the ALEKS course will count for 3 credits at TESC?

If so, that is FANTASTIC news! I'll definitely look into it ASAP!

Thanks again!
-Dawn

[birdandbee]

That's awesome! Thank you so much for the VERY helpful info!

-Dawn

Yes, three credits. If you do well you can take other ALEKS math courses and bring them is as General Ed Electives.

[rebel100]

I like the ALEKS option...I would try it first. However Straighterline College Algebra is the route I finally took (ALEKS just didn't work for me). Its still cheap at around $140 if you finish in 28 days or less. Plus the cost of a used book. It has more structure than ALEKS, 4 tests plus a final non proctored do at home exam.

You can read all about it, and try it for free here: Online College Algebra - Online Algebra Course for College Credit - StraighterLine

Good Luck!
Reb

[dcan]

The reason I really like ALEKS is it is a very low-threat way to knock out math. No "midterm" or "final" to study for, and no time pressure, tests take as long as you want. So really you only have to memorize what you are recently working on to get through the next assessment. And the cost makes for a ridiculously low barrier to entry, unlike $100 for a CLEP with everything riding on your ability to memorize everything for one test and the threat that you can't retake for six months.

The only real downside with ALEKS is that assessments can go both ways, i.e. you can miss a couple questions and go down in progress. But that's really a small thing compared to all the benefits.

BTW here is a master list of "alternative" sources of credit and their equivalent courses/credits at TESC, compiled from the forum here:

http://degreeplanners.com/media/TESC_Equivalencies.pdf