Remember: every question counts

[daniellevine]

I just wanted to share with everyone my experience today. I took World Populations from Excelsior. Coming into the exam I was 118 credits, a 3.79 GPA, and hadn't really come close to getting under an A on any exam. I'm not trying to brag here, but I will be making a point soon.

I had been preparing for this test pretty intensely. Mainly, I wanted to get a 4.0 Excelsior GPA and this was my only Excelsior class. This is important to me to avoid confusion when my transcript is sent. I definitely did not want a GPA .8 points lower from Excelsior than from the overall total, and getting a B would result in that. With all the hard work I put in, I was stressing all week about not finishing strong and therefore leaving a black mark on my transcript (in my opinion.) It's fair to say that this exam has been in the back of my mind for the last few months, knowing that's it's $240 and probably won't be retaken (because I want to graduate.)

So, I felt very prepared for the exam but I felt like there were some curveballs. A lot of information was on there that threw me off. Usually I can logically deduce the answer, but I still found myself at "50-50" guesses throughout. I think Excelsior may have changed the exam based on the information I studied.

I have never taken more than an hour to complete a test. I spent almost two and half hours on this one. I double, and even tripled checked every answer. I was literally closing my eyes and pressing my hands against my head. I ended up making 5-6 changes every time I went through, and each time I think I saw the questions a little clearer.

I received my grade immediately and my heart raced. I got an A. I was supremely happy to be finished my degree with the exact transcript that I've been working towards.

Tonight I got home, curious to see the breakdown of my score. I used the Excelsior breakdown here.

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_Coll...k_2008.pdf

I entered into Excel all of the percentages based on categories to figure out exactly what I scored on the exam, converted them into the number correct, and then divided it by the total questions to get my actual percentage.

The A tier for this exam was 79%. I ended up with a 78.8, which they rounded up. Had I gotten ONE more question incorrect, I would have received a 78.0; that's a B, and a really bad taste in my mouth. Out of 130 questions, I got 103 correct. 102 would not have been enough.

Anyway, my point is that you just never know how close or far away you are from your goals. I have taken almost 20 exams in the last three months, and on most of them I did much better than I thought. I was tempted after the first go-around just to say "heck, I'm sure my score is an A" and moved on. Turned out, I would have regretted it. I definitely would not have achieved my goal. A lot of times a question will seem too hard to understand, but if you keep coming back to it, it may become clearer. So, take it from me, never assume anything on a test, and always make sure you've put forth your best effort: sometimes part of taking a test is not only your preparation and exam-taking abilities, but also your ability to keep your focus and grind out every last point.

[Ruddigore]

I hear you. I'm trying to shoot as high as I can ("How far the bounds of high failure overleap the bounds of low success!"), but sometimes something annoying happens. I've been trying to score at least 60 on everything. I scored a 60 on English Comp (still not sure why I didn't get higher...except that my essay was completely not PC), until they told me they messed up on the scoring and that I had actually gotten a 59. Pooh. At least it doesn't count on my degree or show up on my EC transcript things.

Well, I get to try myself again once I get through my Astronomy textbook.

Happy testing all,
R.

[sc1]

Wow, interesting story. Thanks for sharing! I hadn't come across that exam handbook before and really appreciate the info.

Some of the stats in the handbook are nuts. I'm also hoping to maintain a 4.0 at Excelsior. I've made As on all my DSSTs, but am studying for my first ECE. The percentage of students who make an A in World Population averages in at a measly 4%! World Conflicts, which I take next week, has a 2% A rate and another that I'm taking down the road has a 0% A rating- with almost 600 test takers!! Yikes!

I had heard that ECEs were tougher than DSSTs, but that's crazy! Congrats on a job well done. :hurray:

[daniellevine]

Wow, interesting story. Thanks for sharing! I hadn't come across that exam handbook before and really appreciate the info.

Some of the stats in the handbook are nuts. I'm also hoping to maintain a 4.0 at Excelsior. I've made As on all my DSSTs, but am studying for my first ECE. The percentage of students who make an A in World Population averages in at a measly 4%! World Conflicts, which I take next week, has a 2% A rate and another that I'm taking down the road has a 0% A rating- with almost 600 test takers!! Yikes!

I had heard that ECEs were tougher than DSSTs, but that's crazy! Congrats on a job well done. :hurray:

The rates are probably 15x higher if you use IC and specific exam feedback.

[daniellevine]

Wow, interesting story. Thanks for sharing! I hadn't come across that exam handbook before and really appreciate the info.

Some of the stats in the handbook are nuts. I'm also hoping to maintain a 4.0 at Excelsior. I've made As on all my DSSTs, but am studying for my first ECE. The percentage of students who make an A in World Population averages in at a measly 4%! World Conflicts, which I take next week, has a 2% A rate and another that I'm taking down the road has a 0% A rating- with almost 600 test takers!! Yikes!

I had heard that ECEs were tougher than DSSTs, but that's crazy! Congrats on a job well done. :hurray:

Considering how close I came to missing it, I'd considering reading the primary textbooks recommended by Exceslior. Still, the 6% A-rate on World Populations is strange. IC and Specific Exam feedback has produced 6-7 consecutive A's... one of the reasons I was probably overconfident coming in.

[dfb8084]

all i can say is that i absolutely disagree with the "pass is a pass" concept.

My goal, with anything I undertake, is to do it well... period.

Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I fail. But I never willfully accept the bare minimum.

[Scholar Interrupted]

Anyway, my point is that you just never know how close or far away you are from your goals. I have taken almost 20 exams in the last three months, and on most of them I did much better than I thought. I was tempted after the first go-around just to say "heck, I'm sure my score is an A" and moved on. Turned out, I would have regretted it. I definitely would not have achieved my goal. A lot of times a question will seem too hard to understand, but if you keep coming back to it, it may become clearer. So, take it from me, never assume anything on a test, and always make sure you've put forth your best effort: sometimes part of taking a test is not only your preparation and exam-taking abilities, but also your ability to keep your focus and grind out every last point.

Daniel, this is advice we all need to keep tacked up in our study corners. Thank you for an important reminder! And congratulations on finishing!

[Calico]

I just wanted to share with everyone my experience today. I took World Populations from Excelsior. Coming into the exam I was 118 credits, a 3.79 GPA, and hadn't really come close to getting under an A on any exam. I'm not trying to brag here, but I will be making a point soon.

I had been preparing for this test pretty intensely. Mainly, I wanted to get a 4.0 Excelsior GPA and this was my only Excelsior class. This is important to me to avoid confusion when my transcript is sent. I definitely did not want a GPA .8 points lower from Excelsior than from the overall total, and getting a B would result in that. With all the hard work I put in, I was stressing all week about not finishing strong and therefore leaving a black mark on my transcript (in my opinion.) It's fair to say that this exam has been in the back of my mind for the last few months, knowing that's it's $240 and probably won't be retaken (because I want to graduate.)

So, I felt very prepared for the exam but I felt like there were some curveballs. A lot of information was on there that threw me off. Usually I can logically deduce the answer, but I still found myself at "50-50" guesses throughout. I think Excelsior may have changed the exam based on the information I studied.

I have never taken more than an hour to complete a test. I spent almost two and half hours on this one. I double, and even tripled checked every answer. I was literally closing my eyes and pressing my hands against my head. I ended up making 5-6 changes every time I went through, and each time I think I saw the questions a little clearer.

I received my grade immediately and my heart raced. I got an A. I was supremely happy to be finished my degree with the exact transcript that I've been working towards.

Tonight I got home, curious to see the breakdown of my score. I used the Excelsior breakdown here.

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_Coll...k_2008.pdf

I entered into Excel all of the percentages based on categories to figure out exactly what I scored on the exam, converted them into the number correct, and then divided it by the total questions to get my actual percentage.

The A tier for this exam was 79%. I ended up with a 78.8, which they rounded up. Had I gotten ONE more question incorrect, I would have received a 78.0; that's a B, and a really bad taste in my mouth. Out of 130 questions, I got 103 correct. 102 would not have been enough.

Anyway, my point is that you just never know how close or far away you are from your goals. I have taken almost 20 exams in the last three months, and on most of them I did much better than I thought. I was tempted after the first go-around just to say "heck, I'm sure my score is an A" and moved on. Turned out, I would have regretted it. I definitely would not have achieved my goal. A lot of times a question will seem too hard to understand, but if you keep coming back to it, it may become clearer. So, take it from me, never assume anything on a test, and always make sure you've put forth your best effort: sometimes part of taking a test is not only your preparation and exam-taking abilities, but also your ability to keep your focus and grind out every last point.

So, you wrote all that to let us know you made an A?

[Tasman]

What the ?? (to the above post)

[TMW2010]

What the ?? (to the above post)

They seem to have been around for a while, but have nothing to actually add to the conversations except for snarky comments... Go figure... The wonders of internet toughguy syndrome at work.