Nearing the end of DSST/CLEP, into TESC & TECEPs

[starlinghunter]

I'm currently working on my last DSST test, and will have just one more CLEP before I start into TECEPs.

So my question is, how does the process of signing up to take TECEPs go? Do you sign up, and TESC sends you the resources, or do you buy what they recommend, and sign up to take the test when you've already studied some?

I will have 6 TECEPs to do and one TESC course, to complete my Gen Management, hopefully within the pay period for my enrollment, which was early Nov, so I have until Nov. 2013 to complete it.

Thanks for any thoughts/input!

- Sam

[Publius]

[SIZE=4]TECEP Info...

Registering for a TECEP:[/SIZE]
You sign up for the TECEPs online. In online student services (same way with a course). They tend to fill up pretty quickly so don't lag around.

Once you're registered for a TECEP, they'll send you an email with some info.

You'll have to fill out a proctor request form (your proctor will need to fill it out as well). You can scan it in and send it via email. (Pretty sure they automatically open a support ticket for you).

As soon as your proctor request is confirmed, they'll send out your exams. So most of the time, your proctor gets the test(s) BEFORE the term even starts.

When you sign up for a TECEP, you're signed up for what term you registered them in. You have until the last day of that term to physically sit for that exam.


Studying for a TECEP:
You have to purchase and obtain your own materials. TESC will not do this for you. They only thing they do is recommend some resources in the appropriate pdf they have on their site.There's not much info out there on TECEPs, you're pretty much on your own. Search these boards, and TESC's. One of the better resources of info is actually the test breakdown.


Retaking a TECEP:
You can take a TECEP only one more time if you fail it.

You don't have to wait a physical 3 months if you failed it (depending on when you registered and took it). For example... I failed my TECEPs but I took them at the very end of my term. I was able to re-register for them immediately and take them very soon (3-4 weeks, though it could of been even sooner). It needs to be 3 "term" months. Say you register in April, but you wait till June (the end of the April term) to take it. You can sign up for the July term and get in a matter of 2 or 3 weeks. I'd recommend confirming this in writing just so it doesn't cause any issues (I requested it in writing myself for the same reason).

The waiting game/The results:
It can take over a week for the exam to get back to TESC. If any portion of the exam had to be graded by someone (i.e. it included any type of written questions) they have to send it off to a mentor. It takes 7-10 days from when TESC gets the TECEP back, to when they send it off to get it back from the mentor. After that it takes a day or two to appear back in the Online student services. So it can take up to 3 weeks to get the results back.

Also, if you call them (or email), they can send you the mentor's feedback on the exam and possibly a numerical score. They can't tell you how did over the phone, that you have to wait for. You can get the mentor's feedback and the score, only after seeing if you passed or failed it (99% sure this is the case). It's weird and dumb, but it's the system.

Other Notes:
I believe that they only have one version of the exam. The rep I spoke with on the phone said this, and my experience (with 1 retake thus far) confirmed that as well. However, they do refresh the exams so info from 2007, may or may not be relevant.

Currently I'm working to allow TESC to allow me to get in touch with a professor/mentor of the actual class to ask an occasional question. Thus far, they have stated this defeats the purpose of TECEPs as they're supposed to be self directed. I tried explaining that I'm trying to learn the info and not just pass a test, but haven't gotten very far with them on this. It would be super nice to contact a mentor, esp when the TECEP in question contains some essay questions. Not only do they teach this class, but they also grade the TECEPs. To allow students to ask a mentor a question or two would super beneficial IMO. Leave it up to the mentors/professors if they want to reply to the student, but it'd be so nice if the student had the ability to ask them a question. Especially when there's so little info out there on these exams.

Right after your exam, try and write down as much as you can as far as feedback goes. This will help those who come afterward, and possibly even yourself if you happen to fail it.



Good Luck!

~Publius

[starlinghunter]

Thanks Publias, but won't signing up for a TECEP early possibly burden me with a deadline that I can't make, or is there a lot of time given for each TECEP after you sign up for it?

I was thinking I could get the study materials from the website, study for a while, then sign up for a TECEP.

[Publius]

Oh, yeah. You can certainly do that. Look at the resources and check them out before signing up.

The deadline is over 3 months. The last day of which ever term you're registered in. That's how long you have to take it once you sign up. I wasn't listing steps as much as I was just info.

[starlinghunter]

OK thanks, that's fine, 3 months sound like more than enough!
Thanks for all the info; it saves me a lot of time searching around the forums and the TESC page.
- Sam

[Publius]

You're welcome.

And as I mentioned, rather indirectly I suppose, by signing up for a TECEP and then studying, you're chewing up that term time. If you happen to fail, the sooner you'll be able to retest. Another positive aspect I suppose.

[LaterBloomer]

Just curious (and avoiding work and studying), why do you want to take any TECEPs? Just about every requirement for the BSBA - General Management degree can be met with other tests.

[starlinghunter]

Supposedly, for my degree layout, I need to take 6 TECEPs and a TESC course. Heres my degree plan from CollegePlus!
I know it's messy, hopefully you can make it out!
Do you see any TECEPs I can subsitute with something else? I'm already enrolled, so I don't think I can change much now.


College Composition * (really English Comp. with Essay)
CLEP $80.00 6.00 Credits

Humanities9.00 EARNED 12.00 ALLOCATED 12.00 REQUIRED

Analyzing and Interpreting Literature LIT 291/292 CE
CLEP $80.00 6.00 Credits
French Language FRE 101 102 201 202
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
Managerial Communications * MAN 373
TESC Course-3 $591.00 3.00 Credits

History and Social Sciences12.00 EARNED 12.00 ALLOCATED 12.00 REQUIRED

History of the United States I HIS 113 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
History of the United States II HIS 114 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
Principles of Microeconomics * ECO 112 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
Principles of Macroeconomics * ECO 111 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits

Science and Mathematics9.00 EARNED 9.00 ALLOCATED 9.00 REQUIRED

Natural Sciences NAS 101/102 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
Precalculus *
ALEKS $19.95 3.00 Credits
Introduction to Statistics * STA 201
ALEKS $19.95 3.00 Credits

General Education Electives21.00 EARNED 21.00 ALLOCATED 21.00 REQUIRED

Western Civilization I HIS 101 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
Western Civilization II HIS 102 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
Natural Sciences NAS 101/102 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
French Language FRE 101 102 201 202
CLEP $80.00 9.00 Credits
Introductory Sociology SOC 101 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits

II - Area of Study30.00 EARNED 54.00 ALLOCATED 54.00 REQUIRED

Major Core15.00 EARNED 27.00 ALLOCATED 27.00 REQUIRED

Principles of Management * MAN 301 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
Principles of Marketing * MAR 301 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
Introductory Business Law * LAW 201 CE
CLEP $80.00 3.00 Credits
Principles of Financial Accounting * ACC 101 DE
DSST $80.00 3.00 Credits
Introduction to Computing * COS 101 DE
DSST $80.00 3.00 Credits
Business Ethics and Society * BUS 311 DE
DSST $80.00 3.00 Credits
Strategic Management * BUS 421 TE
TECEP $99.00 3.00 Credits
Principles of Finance * FIN 301 DE
DSST $80.00 3.00 Credits
Principles of Managerial Accounting ACC 102 TE
TECEP $99.00 3.00 Credits

Major Area of Study 6.00 EARNED 18.00 ALLOCATED 18.00 REQUIRED

Public Relations Thought and Practice COM 210 TE
TECEP $99.00 3.00 Credits
Marketing Communications MAR 321 TE
TECEP $99.00 3.00 Credits
Money and Banking ECO 332 DE
DSST $80.00 3.00 Credits
Sales Management MAR 322 TE
TECEP $99.00 3.00 Credits
Management Information Systems CIS 301 DE
DSST $80.00 3.00 Credits
Advertising MAR 323 TE
TECEP $99.00 3.00 Credits

Major Electives9.00 EARNED 9.00 ALLOCATED 9.00 REQUIRED

Principles of Supervision MAN 201 DE
DSST $80.00 3.00 Credits
Introduction to Business BUS 101 DE
DSST $80.00 3.00 Credits
Human Resource Management MAN 331 DE
DSST $80.00 3.00 Credits

III - Free Electives6.00 EARNED 6.00 ALLOCATED 6.00 REQUIRED
Free Electives6.00 EARNED 6.00 ALLOCATED 6.00 REQUIRED

College Mathematics MAT 102/103 CE
CLEP $80.00 6.00 Credits

[LaterBloomer]

Others will pipe in with more specific advice, but search "wiki" in this forum. Dcan created a great wiki. Once at the wiki, search "BSBA." You'll see a few plans other posters have followed. They're not as heavy on the TECEPs as your plan. My brain's fried from doing finance spreadsheets for work today, and I'm unable to offer more specific advice.

[Publius]

You can toss out Managerial Accounting for a TECEP if you want. StraighterLine offers that course as Accounting II. Don't be mislead because SL also has a course titled Managerial Accounting but it transfers to TESC as Cost control.

Not sure about the other TECEPs, except I know Strategic Management can be done via a Penn Foster class. Again, if you wanted.

Considering, if you can pass the TECEPs on the first go around, they'll be cheaper then the other routes, but you may also get fed up with them and want a change of pace.