Need help with Biology CLEP exam

[bwilliams726]

Hey, everyone!
I need HELP! I am taking the Biology CLEP on Tuesday, June 1. I notice that there aren't many people attempting this exam. So, if you have......please give me some insite.....there is sooooo much info to keep in my brain. Do you have any clever techniques? Does the exam lead into one area more than another? If I can CLEP this exam, I can graduate this summer!!!
Thanks so much for ANY HELP!
Brenda

[Lindagerr]

I just took the Natural Sciences exam and it is about 50% bio, but if you can not get all the bio this might be an alternative. By the way I was sure I would fail until I pressed the submit score button. I felt like I guessed or just eliminated 2 of the 4- 5 choices on most of the test. I somehoww passed with a 62. So don't be overwhelmed. Use the IC flashcards, the free Petersons and an REA book if you have one those I would consider the best resources.

Good Luck

PS do not let the Peterson's exams discourage you. I took 2 for the Natural science and only scored around 40%. Just read the explanations and use them as a study source.

[bwilliams726]

Thanks for the help, Linda! Yes, the exam does have to be Biology.

[yookwun]

I took this test twice, passed the second time. The first time I failed it by 1 point. Let me add that I am an adult student who had not taken Biology previously, but like you, needed Bio. The first time, I used REA Bio and a college Bio textbook. The REA book is a good outline, but very condensed. I found the practice tests to be much easier than the actual CLEP test. I had a false sense of security with REA Bio because I had passed a few other CLEPs using REA. The second time I added instacert and Biology24 videos. Instacert helped me to remember and understand the vocabulary better and Bio24 videos helped me to understand entire processes and relationships of systems.

Both tests included a broad range of questions in all chapters of the REA book, and most questions were different between the two CLEP exams. Test questions are all-encompassing. Questions like animal cell vs. plant cell, what is the difference? 1.2.3.4 your answer options are combinations and you have to pick which one is correct. Another would be respiration system, put the words in order. A few questions asked which statement is correct or which statement is wrong. A few questions were gimme questions similar to REA practice questions. The test goes over DNA chemicals and process, enzyme reactions, chemical bonds, molecules, chromosomes, alleles, Punnett Squares, Hardy-Weinberg equation, reproduction of plant cells and animal cells, detailed stages of mitosis and meiosis.. I could go on. Both times I was very pressed for time, so if you don't know it, mark it and move on. Go back to the harder questions later.

If you can pick up a Bio book, read and understand it, know how to take a test, you should pass. I went in the first time around not knowing what I was getting into and only missed it by 1. If you can't, I would recommend studying a little more because having to wait 6 mos between tests sucks.

I hope this helps.... Good luck to you!! and anyone else looking to take on this exam.

[mhr2133]

I would go through as much of the HippoCampus.com site as I could - use the smaller Biology for Non Majors. It"s a very general test, don't bogged down with the specifics of cell respiration and the like. My test had quite a bit of evolution theory on it. Good luck

[PonyGirl93]

The first time, I used REA Bio and a college Bio textbook. The REA book is a good outline, but very condensed. I found the practice tests to be much easier than the actual CLEP test. I had a false sense of security with REA Bio because I had passed a few other CLEPs using REA. The second time I added instacert and Biology24 videos. Instacert helped me to remember and understand the vocabulary better and Bio24 videos helped me to understand entire processes and relationships of systems.

I had the exact same experience when I took it. I was sure I would be fine, I was getting mid-60's on the REA tests, but I only passed the real thing by pure luck :ack: REA covered good material, it just didn't delve deep enough...

[protester]

Hey, everyone!
I need HELP! I am taking the Biology CLEP on Tuesday, June 1. I notice that there aren't many people attempting this exam. So, if you have......please give me some insite.....there is sooooo much info to keep in my brain. Do you have any clever techniques? Does the exam lead into one area more than another? If I can CLEP this exam, I can graduate this summer!!!
Thanks so much for ANY HELP!
Brenda

I hope you will give us some fresh feedback here after you take your test! I have been studying from CliffsQuickReview, REA, and I have watched the Standard Deviants DVD 2 times and have the exam scheduled for 6/11. I have passed 9 CLEP exams with high scores, but I am still always nervous!

[Chebasaz]

I passed this one without study.. It was stupid and I barely managed it, but I still passed. I say this to "hopefully" bring down the anxiety level a bit. It's a beast of an exam, but it's perfectly passable if you dedicate the time to study. It sounds like you guys are doing that, so don't stress out too much.

You can do it!