Study Advice

[burbuja0512]

Hi all,

I'm relatively new to the CLEP thing and could use some advice. I have 24 B&M credits and 18 from CLEP. It took me one month to get the 18 credits. I didn't study at all for Spanish, but studied quite a bit for Humanities.

I did the math and figured that at this rate, it will take over a year to finish all my CLEP/DSSTs, not to mention that I do need to take two classes at COSC.

I notice that a lot of you here take much less time to study for your tests than I did for my Humanities. I would like to get my BS much sooner than a year and am curious about how closely you guys think I can schedule my CLEP's together. I already read the thread about record-holders for tests in one day, but I don't think I'm capable of record test-taking.

I have five children and work full time, with some travel for work. My younger kids are in bed by 7:30 so I have all evening to study, but since I get up at 5:00am, I can't stay up too late.

Based on my study habits, do you guys have any recommendations?

Thanks!!

[achilles]

First good job keeping up with 5 kids.GRIN

I make word files out of study material then convert to sound so I can listen while I drive.
With that said I push for one around a week or two .
I will say that I don't care if I get A's though.
I also look for tests that are buddies. "GRIN" so basically you are studying for one.
just my thoughts.

[jcson777]

I will leave you with my first bit of advice- DO NOT compare yourself to what other people have done, put yourself on a pace that YOU can get done. Some people have much more free time on their hands to study than you will. Chart your course by the exams you need to take, both CLEP and DSST, and then group them so they are related. If you take CLEP Macro then take CLEP Micro as the next one after it. If you take CLEP US HIS I then take US HIS II. You get the idea. Relate your tests by area, taking the easier ones first (you can google to find the CLEP/DSST exam diffuculty list). Go though every thread on this forum for any potential exam you think you may need to find out as much information about it and if it relates to another exam you may be taking. When you have decided on which exams you need to take and order them in a logical way the timeframe will fall into place, You then study for one exam, pass it, and move on.

[burbuja0512]

I love the idea of making sound files. Really dumb question, but do you record them yourself? What is the best way to do this?

The idea of studying similar topics at the same time is also excellent. I'll need to read up more on which ones are related.


The 5 kids really aren't too bad... one of them is my step-daughter and she's only here 50% of the time, so I guess I "only" have 4 1/2 kids lol.

[creative]

I agree with jcson777 -- DO NOT compare yourself to other people on the forum. Everyone is different with very different circumstances as to why they are able to "go faster" than you. I have to remind myself that I am not in a race with anyone-- I need to go at my pace and do what I am able to do with MY circumstances. Some of us are older and have a lot of other obligations such as work, family, health issues etc. There are plenty of people on here that took a few years or more to complete their degree. And that is OK. Just do what is best for you

I make audio files by reading the flashcards into GarageBand podcast (I have a MacBook). I then play back what I have recorded and it definitely SINKS into my brain way better than just reading the flashcards visually. There are many cheap MP3 players that have the option to record your voice. You might want to look into one of those.

[ShotoJuku]

Study Time: How I Did It…

Pre-Study-Prep: Obtain or set up whatever materials I will need to study (IC Flashcards, REA Books, Standard Deviants Videos, Pass-Your-Class Guides, and Petersons Practice Exams.

Week One: Begin to read books, review flashcards, watch videos. Call your test center and make an appointment in advance as they sometimes require a few weeks advance notice)

Week Two: Re-read books, review flashcards, watch videos Take 1-2 practice exams

Week Three: Continue to review all materials, take additional/final practice exams. You should be passing these with room to spare. Take real exam at end of the week and PASS.

Note you should have at this point already acquired pre-study-prep materials for your next exam so as not to waste time.

[achilles]

I love the idea of making sound files. Really dumb question, but do you record them yourself? What is the best way to do this?

The idea of studying similar topics at the same time is also excellent. I'll need to read up more on which ones are related.


The 5 kids really aren't too bad... one of them is my step-daughter and she's only here 50% of the time, so I guess I "only" have 4 1/2 kids lol.

I guess I took it wrong, I was totally under the impression you wanted study help or information not compare yourself to others.GRIN

oh well, I use a mac and downloaded the software to convert word to MP3.
I just copy stuff I need to study like the wrong answers on practice tests ect.
on to a word document then run software to convert to MP3 then copy to IPOD.
I would say though, record the notes yourself probably would get more into your head.


Info you might like
testing link
Free Practice Clep Tests!
Clep Difficulty link
Clep Difficulty List

Hope this helps out.

[Maniac Craniac]

Make sure you also have a strategy to employ DURING the test as well. You don't want to study for hours upon hours week after week and then just fly through the test. The secret to all of my high scores is that I take nearly the entire allotted time on the test. Here's what I do:

1. Go through and answer each question one-by-one, marking the ones I am not sure about for review.

2. Review each marked question one-by-one and uncheck them as I go through.

3. Look over the entire test again, making sure each answer is correct beyond any doubt at all. All the while, I mark for review questions that I am not 100% sure about. This means, even the questions that I am 90-95% sure about, I mark them, for the purpose of...

4. ...I look at the review screen and count how many questions I marked as not being 100% sure. From this, I mentally calculate what my score would be if, hypothetically, all of those questions were wrong. This gives me an idea as to just how much more effort I need to put into the test before I accept that I am done.

5. I go over, once more, the questions I marked for review, trying again to get them all right. This time, I count how many questions I have narrowed down to 50/50 as opposed to questions that I just flat out guessed on.

6. I mentally calculate my score again, assuming that the complete guesses are just wrong and that the half of the 50/50 questions are correct. If I am satisfied with my score, I hit the END EXAM button.

Yes, these are a lot of steps, but consider that the exam is only about 2-3 hours, compared with the dozens of hours you can expect to study for them. Nothing has had a greater impact on my score than having such a comprehensive exam strategy.

There are times that, after seeing the same question a few times, I FINALLY notice that the word "not" is in there somewhere, making the question mean exactly the opposite of what I originally thought it would.

Also, having so many checks and mentally calculating my hypothetical score makes me confident that I have done everything that I can. I am conservative in my calculations as to my hypothetical score- each exam's actual score has been significantly higher than my calculated score. I do this, also, for the reason that I want to be 100% certain that I have passed. I absolutely will not walk out of a test center having just found out that I failed, and lost my money, by one little question!