Specific Help with Social Sciences and History

[scottishg8r]

I'm currently preparing for the Social Sciences and History CLEP exam. I paid the $10 for the "official" clep study guide. It basically tells you to study in a quiet place and gives you a practice exam. I took the practice exam cold, and got 46 out of 79 answers correct.

I looked at the study flash cards for this subject on here, but there are a LOT of flashcards and it simply tells you to "not study too hard" on any particular set of cards as the test only asks general questions.

Is there ANYTHING out there that is more specific as to what needs to be studied to do well on this test? It would cut the tests I have to take in half by taking it. I also can't afford to fail it, as I am starting a new job in August that requires a bachelor's degree and I'm taking these tests to complete it.

Thank you in advance for your help!

[soliloquy]

If you have an instant cert subscription much more specific study guidelines are posted in the specific feedback forum.

[soliloquy]

http://www.degreeforum.net/specific-exam...bers-only/

[Getiton1]

You are doing great! When is your exam date? Here's what I usually do:

1. Take the test out of the Official Study Guide. If you feel pretty good about the exam after taking this exam cold without study chances are with more study, and using instant cert and the following resources you are going to pass. Main idea…study the majority of what you really need to, then if you have time study more.
2. Take the Free Clep Prep test and see how you do: Social Sciences and History CLEP Free Study Guide - Free-Clep-Prep.com
3. Go over the Instant Cert Flash cards that you DIDN'T do well on when you took the Free Clep Prep test
4. Take the Free Clep Prep test again, and see if you improved. If you didn't go over the Instant cert Flash Cards again this time paying extra special attention to the answers. Note: Look at the outline of the CLEP exam, try to focus on the portions that have the heaviest weight (or are marked with the highest percentage- you don't have to be a 100% expert in everything, but do try to know what they want you to know the MOST of…or what they think is most important). If you are not sure still (and even if you are sure…read the exam specific feedback and see what people are saying about this exam).
5. The exam you are taking has history in it but I can't find a specific "education portal" video for you..but see if these videos help. They can be time consuming, so use them only if they are on your test (match your study areas) and they are working for YOU. If they are not matching what you need to know or you are running out of time, just stick to the above methods. Here's the videos just in case they might help: History 103: US History I Course - Free Online Video Lessons | Education Portal
History 104: US History II Course - Free Online Video Lessons | Education Portal
6. Not sure if You Tube "Crash Course" Videos will help (they talk very fast, because it's a speedy version. But here you go: World War II Part 1: Crash Course US History #35 - YouTube
7. Just give yourself time and keep going over the outline in CLEP and keep hitting the points you need work on. Instant Cert is great for reinforcing things. I understand it's time consuming…so try out the above resources (especially the Free CLEP prep) and use them to guide what you need to study. This is a big exam…so give yourself time to learn all the points before you actually test.
8. Just do your best and show what you know
9. Let us know how you did and post your feedback for other users
10. Welcome to IC

Best of Luck,
Tara

[scottishg8r]

Thanks for the help guys! I purchased the Peterson tests last night and took the first one and got a 57 on it. I just took the US History II clep last week and did fairly well on it, so I feel like I'm up on my history. It's the world history and some of the geography questions that I need a little study on.

Tara, thank you for all those links! I'm going to go over a lot of that today. I'm scheduling my test for next Wednesday, Feb. 19th. I hope in one week I should be good to go. From what I've read on the specific subject forums.....Social Science and History is supposed to be one of the easiest 6 credit exams CLEP offers.

Have you guys had any experience with the Peterson tests? Just wanted to try and correlate how that score would translate to actual CLEP results.

Thanks again for all your help!

[BGSU_Alum_86]

When reading through your CLEP download you did see the "Knowledge and Skills Required" section, right? Whenever someone tells me that they have looked through the CLEP exam description and didn't see anything that tells them what to study I point this section out first. Looking at the Social Sciences & History exam, yes, 40% of the test covers history (US History, Western Civ, World History), 13% Govt/Political Science, 11% Geography, 10% Economics, 10% Psychology, 10% Sociology, and 6% Anthropology. This one of the very few exams that does not list any suggested references (textbooks, online resources, etc.) and instead refers the candidate to the study resources listed for American Govt, History I & II, Macroecon, Microecon, Psych, Sociology, and Western Civ I & II.

This is one of those all-encompassing exams (probably explains the 6 credits it should be worth!). A high chunk of the exam is history, but the other 60% of the exam covers multiple areas.

Peterson practice exams are just one resource to use. Again and again, I remind testing candidates that this source is not published by CLEP/CollegeBoard. Peterson has access to the same info that CLEP presents on their website and then Peterson creates their own practice test questions based on that info. It is a good practice under the time constraint of the real test, but the wording and difficulty level of the questions could be different.

Good luck in your prep!

[Westerner]

Thanks for the help guys! I purchased the Peterson tests last night and took the first one and got a 57 on it. I just took the US History II clep last week and did fairly well on it, so I feel like I'm up on my history. It's the world history and some of the geography questions that I need a little study on.

Tara, thank you for all those links! I'm going to go over a lot of that today. I'm scheduling my test for next Wednesday, Feb. 19th. I hope in one week I should be good to go. From what I've read on the specific subject forums.....Social Science and History is supposed to be one of the easiest 6 credit exams CLEP offers.

Have you guys had any experience with the Peterson tests? Just wanted to try and correlate how that score would translate to actual CLEP results.

Thanks again for all your help!

I go with percentages on PTs, not scaled scores. I use 65% as my baseline. If I score above that, I'm comfortable testing. I've found that to be a pretty accurate guide.

[Getiton1]

You will do fine if you did all that prep and you just passed US HX II. Most of the feedback has been excellent about this exam. It's huge, but if you already studied US HX II which is also a huge history test, AND you are adding petersons…My bet is you are going to pass. Can't wait to read your "pass" post

[Getiton1]

I would work on the Economics part…If need to. It's the only part that doesn't have a specific video or I would send you a link. I think if all of your areas are high and as westerner suggests you are hitting 65 or above on Peterson's you have an excellent chance to pass. For 6 credits, I would give it my very best shot! You have noting to lose It's a win-win anyway you look at it

[scottishg8r]

I'm going to take the test next wednesday (02/19/2014). So far I've been taking the peterson tests and the practice test from the official clep study guide. my REA book should arrive tomorrow and I also ordered cracking the clep (although I highly doubt it will get here in time). Every test I take on the peterson website has been somewhere in the 50's. I went to the specific test forum for this subject and made a study sheet out of all the topics discussed on that forum.

Is there anything else you guys think I can cram in there to better prepare myself? I feel slightly confident, which scares me a little!