FY13 - DSST Civilian Pass Rates

[Prloko]

Most of the CLEPS and DSST are lower level classes.

I don't understand why so many people think lower level courses equate to "easy". Many LL courses are foundation courses for future study and can be much harder than the upper level classes. Many of the LL courses are designed to weed out people who couldn't hack the subject. Chemistry 101 does not mean easy and Chemistry 401 does not mean "hard".

(The course numbers are generalizations, and YES, I know many schools don't use above numbering system).

[Prloko]

I'm one of those that encourages all the Airmen in my shop to take the easy ones at least. They mostly come to me for help weeks before their EPR is due, so taking it cold is usually the only option. I always tell them to take A&I Lit and the Computing tests in hopes that maybe they will catch the CLEP bug like I did after taking a couple. I was especially excited for one Airman who spent time in Germany and got all 12 credits on the German CLEP after MONTHS of nagging him. I suppose I am the epitome of FW&A since I've taken 67 tests...

If you take an exam cold with no hope of passing it, YES it is FW&A because these exams are not FREE. If it is a subject you are comfortable with, that's different as these exams are basically designed to test prior knowledge. I too have taken about 21 exams, I studied a little for the ones I knew I could pass, and I studied HARD for the ones I wasn't so sure about, that is what a responsible steward of the taxpayer would do.

I was a Contract Specialist in the AF. It was my job to purchase the needs of the war-fighter. You don't know how many MSgts and Majors I had to deal with, who felt the money was basically "free" and tried to more product than they needed. Or the one's who couldn't understand that a flat screen tv is not a military necessity and did not require a top of the line model delivered with overnight service (these are the same tv's you see in orderly rooms with CNN on).

[OfficerA]

You remind me of my current supervisor, Prloko (and I mean this in an absolutely positive way). I agree with you on the points you made, and in my short time in (3 years this past January) it's become clear that despite how long CLEP/DSST and alternate educational sources have been around very few within the services actually understand or even appreciate what they're for.

As I posted in the Off-Topic forum, we barely got a blurb about what CLEP/DSST was during BMT, other than "it's free credits when you pass". Even my educational counselor couldn't pass the one CLEP he took, so he advised me and anyone who'll listen to at least "warm-up" for class by taking these cold. The PDG has a very weak description of both exams as well, which doesn't spell out just how valuable they can be.

I will say though, for my unit at least, that things are turning around; I've already had multiple NCOs and SNCOs approach me for help on the CCAF, after knocking it out in 9 months, and the newer airmen coming in are fully appreciating what the military can offer them education-wise including testing out, thanks to the precedent I've set. It's really up to us in the service now to turn things around (especially from previous Airmen, such as my former supervisor who failed multiple times for EPR bullet purposes), and all we can really do is try.

For my testing center's part they link to free-clep-prep for advice on how to pass the exams, which is a site I found on my own and which ultimately led me here to InstantCert.

Are you a MSgt by any chance?

[Prloko]

You remind me of my current supervisor, Prloko (and I mean this in an absolutely positive way). I agree with you on the points you made, and in my short time in (3 years this past January) it's become clear that despite how long CLEP/DSST and alternate educational sources have been around very few within the services actually understand or even appreciate what they're for.

As I posted in the Off-Topic forum, we barely got a blurb about what CLEP/DSST was during BMT, other than "it's free credits when you pass". Even my educational counselor couldn't pass the one CLEP he took, so he advised me and anyone who'll listen to at least "warm-up" for class by taking these cold. The PDG has a very weak description of both exams as well, which doesn't spell out just how valuable they can be.

I will say though, for my unit at least, that things are turning around; I've already had multiple NCOs and SNCOs approach me for help on the CCAF, after knocking it out in 9 months, and the newer airmen coming in are fully appreciating what the military can offer them education-wise including testing out, thanks to the precedent I've set. It's really up to us in the service now to turn things around (especially from previous Airmen, such as my former supervisor who failed multiple times for EPR bullet purposes), and all we can really do is try.

For my testing center's part they link to free-clep-prep for advice on how to pass the exams, which is a site I found on my own and which ultimately led me here to InstantCert.

Are you a MSgt by any chance?

I was a 7 year TSgt, but got out before I made MSgt (I declined promotion testing since I had wanted to separate). I like the things you say in here. I notice that the new influx of Airmen are much smarter and dedicated than the old bunch. Many are coming in with BAs and MBAs as Airmen. I had some really awesome airmen that could teach me a thing or two and that is awesome that you are passing it on to others. I tried so hard to sell people in my old career field on CLEP and TESC, but many insisted on going with one of the NA schools or TUI (not that there is anything wrong with them, just I felt TESC was more efficient). Its great you are not wasting your opportunity, remember to add substance and purpose to whatever you are doing and the bullets write themselves.

[gingerbeefE]

I have a question. well more of a comment. I 100% disagree that taking a test cold is FW&A, the average college course cost the government $750. The average DSST/CLEP is 100$. So if 1 in 7.5 people pass the test the government is losing the same amount of money they would be using to send someone to a typical class using TA. ( Which is a high over statement considering the pass rate for all CLEPS combined for DOD is 59%)

Lets take probably the 2 most common cold tests taken for example

College Composition
Pass 1,590
Fail 710

Government money spent on this Exam : ($230,000)
Cost to for 1590 students to take English I and II ($2,385,000)

College Composition Modular
Pass 5,341
Fail 1,255
Government money spent on this Exam : ($659,000)
Cost to for 5341 students to take English I ($4,005,750)

Now not everyone that has taken this class has taken it cold, but you get a rough idea on how much CLEPS/DSST save the government. With over 32,000 CLEPS/DSST passed by military in 2014 it has saved the government millions every year. Not to mention education is a large part as to why so many people have joined the military.

On a side note, an 8 week course on speech does not have much of an impact on public speaking especially if is taken online (like most courses taken by military) Experience is what is needed to be a good public speaker, the average A1C will be nervous when briefing your colonel. Do you think when they take a basic level speech class they arise a 100x better public speaker?