05-14-2010, 10:34 AM
I used Pass Your Class book for the Substance Abuse exam I took yesterday. I found it helpful, but parts of the book were difficult to read just based on an apparent lack of basic editing. Also, I was going to scream if I read the word "clandestine" once more in that book. It has to be in there 50 times, at least; sometimes 2-3 times in the same sentence. Also, I found that parts of the section about the CSA seemed to be copied and pasted from Wikipedia. It mentioned charts and diagrams in the text that were not there.
That said, I did find the information to be a good start, and it couldn't have hurt to have gone through it. But, there is no way I would have passed at all by using only that material.
The DSST Prometric Facebook page posted about students reporting having failed exams using the Pass your Class material. That post also addresses that iStudySmart is their ONLY approved partner for study material, and they recommended against using any other material. I purchased the iStudySmart Substance Abuse course, and never looked at it after an initial browse through. I found it confusing and diffucult, mostly due to a website design seeming from around 1994.
Ultimately, I found IC to be more than worth the price of admission. I have suggested it to classmates, without hesitation, who are looking to take DSST exams.
I do have the Here's to Your Health book from Pass Your Class, and will read through it once before hitting the IC flashcards.
The question: What have you all used and found useful? IC seems to be plenty, coupled with the specific feedback threads (I found very helpful). However, what about supplimentary material? Have you had experience with iStudySmart or Pass Your Class? What are your thoughts?
That said, I did find the information to be a good start, and it couldn't have hurt to have gone through it. But, there is no way I would have passed at all by using only that material.
The DSST Prometric Facebook page posted about students reporting having failed exams using the Pass your Class material. That post also addresses that iStudySmart is their ONLY approved partner for study material, and they recommended against using any other material. I purchased the iStudySmart Substance Abuse course, and never looked at it after an initial browse through. I found it confusing and diffucult, mostly due to a website design seeming from around 1994.
Ultimately, I found IC to be more than worth the price of admission. I have suggested it to classmates, without hesitation, who are looking to take DSST exams.
I do have the Here's to Your Health book from Pass Your Class, and will read through it once before hitting the IC flashcards.
The question: What have you all used and found useful? IC seems to be plenty, coupled with the specific feedback threads (I found very helpful). However, what about supplimentary material? Have you had experience with iStudySmart or Pass Your Class? What are your thoughts?