Taking Multiple Tests On One Day

[kassie]

Hello everyone!
I'm new to the board, just joined IC last night. I'm a social work major at a private university in the southwest, and am attempting to do all of my general-eds via CLEP to cut off the two years of basics the major requires and jump right into the practical training I'm paying multiple thousands of dollars for.

I was homeschooled my entire life so the concept of self-teaching is nothing new to me, I just want to make sure I'm not biting off more than I can chew. Is four exams in a day too much? Three? Two? Am I insane?

Thanks!

[motuterry]

Hello everyone!
I'm new to the board, just joined IC last night. I'm a social work major at a private university in the southwest, and am attempting to do all of my general-eds via CLEP to cut off the two years of basics the major requires and jump right into the practical training I'm paying multiple thousands of dollars for.

I was homeschooled my entire life so the concept of self-teaching is nothing new to me, I just want to make sure I'm not biting off more than I can chew. Is four exams in a day too much? Three? Two? Am I insane?

Thanks!

The number of exams you may be able to pass on one given testing day really depends on your background and expertise in the subject(s) area. Is there a reason you need to load up on one day? (ie-distance to testing site; limited scheduling opportunities). If not, I'd suggest you space them out a bit. Speaking from my own experience, two in one day was more than plenty. I only did that a couple times when scheduling was an issue. While I passed, I'm certain I would have done better had I spaced them out. One step at a time works well for both walking and for test taking.

Best wishes to you with your new project.

-Terry

[kassie]

Thank you for the advice! The main reason for loading up is relative distance to the testing site. It's not massively ridiculous, but any money I can save on gas is money I can use to pay off student loans! I excel in lit and history so I will probaby do those two exams first and space out the others as much as I can.

[bkbarden]

Hey Kassie! I was homeschooled for most of my schooling too. I have taken almost 30 CLEP and DANTES tests, but have yet to take two on the same day. I know it can be done, but I have felt much more comfortable taking them one at a time. There was one time I took five exams (psychology and sociology ones) within 9 days. Though I didn't have much time, I really enjoyed being able to go home, spend an evening or a day reviewing for the next one and then go take it.

I would recommend that you only take one test the first time you try. Then, you'll be more aware of whether you could handle two or more. Be forewarned, even some of the easy ones can take it out of you.

I hope it goes well! Let us know how you progress!

[studyhard]

A lot of it depends on your test-taking skills. My sister is one of those yeah-this-answer-is-prolly-right-I'll-just-pick-it test takers and she could (and did) take two tests on the same day in about an hour--several different times. I, on the other hand, agonized over EVERYTHING. I'm a very slow test-taker. And I always felt really drained at the end of one from tying my brains in knots about it.

So yeah, as someone else suggested, maybe just start with one (or at most two--and that in a compatible subject) to see how you do.

Really though, I would think the issue wouldn't be so much even your test-taking skills as just preparing for three or four tests at once. I preferred to focus on one at a time (I usually did one test a week) so that I wasn't trying to study for forty-'leven tricky things all at once. But hey, if that doesn't bother you, go for it!

[malcs]

The most I have done is 3 tests in a week, and that got me a C on one of them.

You could do two DSST tests in a day if the second test was an easy one. Perhaps there are some really easy CLEPS too.

I would consider taking the following DSST tests as the second test in the afternoon, since I smoked through them in less than an hour:
1) Race to save the Planet
2) Here's to your health
3) MIS

Just consider this...
You will save a drive to the test center if you double up on tests. The grade you get will be on your transcript for life. Also, the drive is a good time to mentally review for the test, and you can't do this with two tests on the same day.

If you have a year or so to do this then slow it down to one test every two weeks. That is a totally sane rate, and you will probably learn more with the extra time to prepare. That rate will give you 75 CREDITS!!! in a year.

Good luck!

[jadechow]

Just thought I'd weigh in on this one too. I've taken 2 tests back to back on 3 occasions now and I have to say it's not too bad. I live about an hour from the testing center so I would just as soon take 2 tests if I'm driving "all that way".

I don't think it's impossible - but maybe not the best way to get started down the "testing out" road. I think of it like this, when I was in B&M college during finals week I was expected to take 5 final exams in one week. And, back then I was not as motivated and had a lot less life experience behind me.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[codface]

The first 6 exams I've taken have been two at a time. Some people say if you do that you should take 2 that have overlapping material. I personally disagree because I found studying for 2 totally unrelated test to be easy for me because I could keep everything separate in my head, but that's just me.

From here on out though I'm going to start taking them 1 at a time, with a week or two study period between them.

[wespindola]

Hi there, that's amazing you were able to get so much done in such a short period of time. What's the secret? Should I be doing something else besides the practice exams on here? Do you suggest cliff notes and etc?

Thanks,
Wadson

[kassie]

Thank y'all for the advice! I believe I'm going to try and see how two in a week goes. I'm excited!