Question about CLEP Chemistry Exam

[NEON]

First, I want to say I did search through the forum and found the information on material and what not and that was helpful. However, one thing that came up was people constantly mentioned how much harder they perceived the CLEP to be than the Peterson practice exams. I was wondering from those that have actually took it was it substantially harder or was this just a kind of, "studied for X, but it was more Y" type thing? I'm asking because I looked at the official CLEP chemistry guide and the questions seem a lot more involved than the Peterson ones. So I was wondering if anyone has taken it and has experience with both Peterson and the CLEP exams if they could tell me if it was closer to the CLEP questions or harder than the CLEP one or what?

I also noticed the 7 sample questions on the college board website that are supposed to be practice are what I think are too easy. I feel like questions like those won't even be on the exam...like they are some kind of cruel teaser.

I took the 3 Peterson tests and got 76, 52 (dumb mistakes on this one), and 65, but if it's much harder those scores might not indicate anything. I also took a practice AP chem exam and got 40/75. I still have one more one those I can do.

Is the math on the test simple like the peterson ones?

Is there anything about the phase diagrams or those diagrams about activation energy?

I've been trying to memorize weak and strong acid and bases, but I don't know how involved those questions will be. Same thing with precipitation rules.

Also what is your experience with time for the actual test? In most Peterson exams I'm usually finished with at least 40 minutes left. I had about 30 minutes left on the AP.

Thanks for any help.

[clep3705]

My CLEP score and Peterson's scores were about the same. http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...post104744

I think you are ready.

[cookderosa]

I second that, you can use your last AP exam just to fill time until your test. I think you're ready too.

[NEON]

Yeah, I hope I'm ready. If I pass this, then I can graduate. So I'm really trying to get everything in order especially since I take it tomorrow, Saturday.

I took a couple more AP tests got around 38-42, so hopefully that will prepare me. I also found a CLEP document online that is different from the CLEP official chemistry study guide. This new one has 5 extra questions (70 total) but the rest are the same and even has a section where it gives ACE's recommended number right and corresponding scaled score. It states about 34-35 right is a 50. Now, that might not be totally correct, but it cannot be that far off.

[HorseManiac]

My peterson scores were 41, 55, and 77 and then I ended up scoring a 55 on the real CLEP. I do remember this being a harder test, but it looks like you have pretty good scores already. Watch your time though because I only had 5 mins left when I was done. Good luck!

[NEON]

Well....I got a 61. I was surprised because I could have sworn I didn't get more than 20 questions right and so I was in shock when the score reported 61 because I was expecting a 46. Like all the posts that I searched for here the CLEP test was much harder than any practice test I took. Time wasn't a problem because I finished with 30 minutes left and reviewed marked or unanswered for 15 minutes and so I submitted with 15 minutes left.

I think why the CLEP is much harder than the Peterson's is that the CLEP is much more concept based as opposed to computation. A lot of the answers for me were trying to rule out the ones that were obviously wrong. I think if you have zero chemistry background, like myself, you'll need probably two months to review. Having a college textbook handy is helpful too.

I would recommend taking many practice tests. I would recommend the Peterson's tests, CLEP study guide one, and AP tests too.

If I go on the ACE number right and corresponding scaled score that correlates to get a 61 that means I got 47 questions right. Since most of my AP tests averaged around low 40's, it's possible that I could have gotten 47 right (lucky guessing mostly). I can't say for certain though. I'm pretty positive the AP tests did help though.

One other thing that bothered me was the graphics. Maybe the resolution was weird but the graphics reminded of early windows programs or something like that, some of it seemed pixelated (like I could see the pixels for the font). I actually started to get a headache from it.

[clep3705]

They are changing from the old Windows test engine to something modern right about now.

[NEON]

They are changing from the old Windows test engine to something modern right about now.

That's good.

It's been about 8 business days, how long does it take CLEP to send a university a score?

[BGSU_Alum_86]

CLEP has posted on their website and on your unofficial score report that it can take 10-15 business days for your score recipient to receive the official score report. Realize that this does not count how long it might take your registrar's office to actually post the exam results to your record.

[cookderosa]

Congrats on your pass!!