help with Western Civ II

[shelbaline4]

I am studying for my 2nd CLEP exam - Western Civ II. I have the REA book as well as a college textbook that's used at TESC. I also just signed up for IC and started to look through the flashcards today and I got signed onto the Peterson's free exams. I took the first Peterson's exam cold and did horribly...got 40 right out of 120. I am looking for advice from people who have taken this exam. I have not taken a history class since Western Civ I back in 1988. What are the best study sources for this test? I am taking the test in two weeks...

[Chebasaz]

In my opinion, you've already got access to the best source.

Go through the flashcards and learn them well. Have you read the specific feedback thread for this one yet? Here's a link if not -

http://www.degreeforum.net/specific-exam...-clep.html

Take the free practice tests once you think you've got everything down and then review the ones you miss. You'll be ready

[CLEP101]

I agree with Justin, Go over the specific exam feedback section. I passed this exam using the REA book, taking both of the practice tests in it, and by watching the videos of "The Western Tradition II" on this site: Annenberg Media: Frequently Asked Questions College Telecourses
That should be all you need. But if you have Instantcert and also the free petersons tests, then you should pass with flying colors.

[shelbaline4]

thank you both for your information and advice. I will definately watch the Western Tradition video thanks to your link. I started going through the IC flashcards and I don't know if the format meshes well with me. I know the test is multiple choice and using the format of filling in the blanks seems to be confusing especially since some of the words that need to be filled in do not seem to be the most important fact or at the very least it may be a word that has other words that would fit just as well. Did you find the flashcards to be cery helpful and pertinent to this specific exam? I am just feeling slightly overwhelmed at this point.

[Elinor]

thank you both for your information and advice. I will definately watch the Western Tradition video thanks to your link. I started going through the IC flashcards and I don't know if the format meshes well with me. I know the test is multiple choice and using the format of filling in the blanks seems to be confusing especially since some of the words that need to be filled in do not seem to be the most important fact or at the very least it may be a word that has other words that would fit just as well. Did you find the flashcards to be cery helpful and pertinent to this specific exam? I am just feeling slightly overwhelmed at this point.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Western Tradition videos for this test when I was studying for it! I used only them, the REA book, and InstantCert, and passed with a 65 after studying for 2 weeks tops.

I think that the point of the blanks is to make you carefully read the entire portion, not so much to put in information that will be answers on the test. Don't give up on IC just yet. I would say that IC was more helpful for me on this test than the REA book.

It is a long period to study, but remember, that means that you'll need to study broad and not so much deep (I always want to go broad AND deep, which wastes a bunch of my time.). The test does not go in depth anywhere, or my version didn't. It was somewhat heavy on the French Revolution, but still, the questions weren't that difficult.

[ZsaZsa]

Don't laugh...I recenly took the Western Civ. ll, and mine was also heavy on the Napoleonic era. Most of what I knew about that came from an old romantic/historical novel that I first read in high school-"Desiree" by AnneMarie Selinko. The fiction based on fact story of Napoleon's first love who went on to marry one of his generals (who turned traitor and helped lead the allies against him), and became the queen of Sweden. When my local library discarded their copy (I think I was the only one who checked it out in 10 years) I bought it. Very mild bodice-ripper romance (much like "Gone With the Wind") but got me hooked on history!
On that subject- read up on the Congress of Vienna.