US History 1

[coolruning]

I recently started to study for US History 1 CLEP exam, I was told I only need a 50 for a passing grade. My question is, do I need to receive 50 correct answers, out of the 120 questions or do I need to receive 50% from 120 question ( which would be 60 correct answers). Am not sure if my question make any sense but if it does, I would appreciate if someone would offer some clarification. THANKS

[bpclep]

The way the 50 score works is, the test makers sampled from a bunch of tests and averaged out the scores. The average score (let's say 70%) is then called "50". So you have to at least get the average score, whatever that is, or higher, to pass. If you get a 49, you've scored below the average. It's a 20-80 point curve.

Does that help?

[Ruddigore]

Hm. I'd always heard from IC-ers that a scaled score of 50 meant a score of about 50%. That can be seen from REA's charts showing approximate scores.

Does anyone know for certain? College Board is a bit secretive when it comes to the inner workings of their tests.

[bpclep]

I checked with my dad, and he confirmed my analysis. I'm not sure where he found out, but he's done a lot of studying about Clep, since I'm doing a lot of it now.

[forclep]

There's a practice-test raw score conversion table in the beginning of every REA test book. I'm guessing that the actual CLEP would be scored the same way? I'm taking the History I CLEP next week, so I'll check to see how accurate the REA conversion table is. Good luck with your studying!

[NAP]

Hi!

I am glad this topic came up again because I have been thinking about it a lot this week.

First, let me say that I like this post for how to figure out the score:

http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...#post56464

My experience with practice tests makes me think that there is something more happening, though.

US History and Biology had 120 questions and 115 questions. On the practice tests, I was getting about 80% of the questions right. On the real test, which I thought were harder, I scored in the high 70’s. I don’t think I suddenly became a perfect guesser. I think I am still getting around 80% correct, but they are throwing out the first 20 wrong answers. (This makes it harder to get a high score on an exam with fewer questions, such as everyone’s experience with American Government.)

My theory this week is that an 80 is 80%, a 70 is 70%, a 60 is 60%, and a 50 is 50%.

The other reason that this makes sense to me is that they are using students who took a class to scale their score. A student who got an A or 90% in the class could easily get only 80% of the questions correct on the CLEP test. What a teacher emphasizes in class and what a standardized test covers have some differences. For instance, I expected the Chemistry CLEP to be problem-oriented because that is what my friend’s class was like, but the Chemistry CLEP had very few problems.

Any thoughts?

[Ruddigore]

My theory this week is that an 80 is 80%, a 70 is 70%, a 60 is 60%, and a 50 is 50%.

The other reason that this makes sense to me is that they are using students who took a class to scale their score. A student who got an A or 90% in the class could easily get only 80% of the questions correct on the CLEP test. What a teacher emphasizes in class and what a standardized test covers have some differences. For instance, I expected the Chemistry CLEP to be problem-oriented because that is what my friend’s class was like, but the Chemistry CLEP had very few problems.

Any thoughts?

That actually...makes sense. On Sociology, I got 86% on my best practice test, and the real test was even easier. I could see myself getting a 90% on it, but not a 97% (well...who knows ). It does seem logical that College Board sets the bar based on student's overall performance. I think 80% for an 80 is a bit low. It's probably more like 90% or something like that. But as I said before, who can really know except the people at College Board?

[Mechanix26]

I always thought CLEPs were standardized using a T-score. On a normal distribution curve, that would make the average score (whatever that may be) a 50, and the standard deviation 10. Since a grade of "C" is supposed to be an average grade, then 50 is the minimum to achieve that "C" and, hence, college credit. A score of 60 should translate to about the 68th percentile (you did better than 68% of everyone), a score of 70 about the 95th percentile, and a score of 80 about the 99th percentile (where they cap it).

[NAP]

Thanks for your responses! I think you are both very generous with your assessments. I like that!

One thing I did not take into account is that I do another review between practice tests and the real test. That should increase my score some. Then if the test is a little harder, that would mean a lower score again.

To me, it does not feel like I am getting around 85% of the questions correct. It is not like in school when you could tell that you knew all of the answers on that particular test.

The T-score idea is interesting, too. If they are basing it on the people who took the test for credit, that would mean that the people who fail because they did not study and the people who just want to study enough to pass are making it "easier" to get a high score. Right?

I don't think that explains why it is harder to get a high score on exams that have fewer questions, though. Does it?

[Levi]

I personally think that the curve idea makes sense, but who knows? I once had an 18-point scaled difference (not raw percentage difference) between the REA practice test and the actual CLEP exam a day later. :confused: