As I arrived home this afternoon I found a FED EX envelope on my doorstep. It was from CLEP reporting an input error on my natural science test I completed two weeks ago. They have reviewed my score due to an irregularity in their programming and have reviewed all other tests I have taken. They have found only the most recent test to have been incorrectly scored and have upped my test result my 3 points and are refunding my testing money. I still failed the test..it is still been reported toTESC..and I still cannot retest for 6 months. Iam hopeful this error may apply to some of you who have tested recently and that the correction may work in your favor if in fact this was a system wide problem, which it appears it may have been. As for those of you you recently passed by the hairs of your chiny chin chin..I hope and pray that there will be no adverse effect forthcoming in an envelope. I wish the test correction was 12 points and not just 3 as that was what I failed by...yuk!!

Stay tuned one an all ..I do believe there is more reports by others to follow.

Regards..the science dummy..Ron!!

Hi all,

I decided to tackle the Marketing CLEP today to get it over with and enjoy my weekend. I passed it with a 55. Although I am very happy to walk away with a 55, I really thought I would get at least in the low 60's. The exam was certainly challenging but nothing I felt I didn't have a decent handle on. Also, for the ones I was uncertain about, process of elimination helped me on those.

As far as study material, I went through IC at least once and twice on some sections but not all. I found it to be very similar to the REA book I was given so decided to mainly study from the book. I also had a intro to marketing textbook for reference and the CLEP study guide which I scored 80% on the other night while preparing.

There were a lot of areas in the REA book that were NOT covered on the actual exam. Nothing about cash cows (and others), macro/micro factors, marketing myopia, low-high involvement, gatekeepers, users (and others), not much on the product adoption process, objective and task, communication channels, and reach/frequency, selling process (not that I remember). While the exam did cover internet marketing, those questions weren't difficult at all. It also had a good amount of international-related marketing questions that the REA book and IC didn't cover enough in detail. The non-profit marketing section in the REA book is very brief as well.

I have two more CLEPs to take and am not sure what study materials I'll use. This is my second CLEP and I'm honestly not sure how some of you guys pass JUST using IC. In either one of the two CLEPs I've taken thus far, I can't say that just using IC would have given me the ability to pass. I'm grateful for my 55 score today but I'm not even sure I'd recommend the REA book entirely.

Are there several CLEP exams for each topic? I'm only asking because if there were things shown in either the REA book or IC, and I didn't see them on the actual exam does that mean it may be on another exam (same subject) if Collegeboard mixes them up for variety? I hope that made sense.

I'm really not sure how to proceed with my next CLEP exam as I feel the REA book and IC didn't cover the bulk of the necessary material in depth. I feel like I studied very hard for this exam and 'only' got a 55. How do some people score in the 60's or higher with minimal study and/or using IC by itself?? I just don't get it.

I'm open for suggestions, comments, etc. Thanks in advance.

My CLEP transcript came through yesterday. Several CLEPs that I thought would only be pass/fail were listed as A's. I'm not complaining, but I was very surprised. Anyone else had this experience? Is it because I took the CLEP's last year? I called and asked Excelsior and the woman I spoke with said it was accurate, but really didn't have much of an explanation for the discrepancy.

Does anyone know if CLEP reports failing grades to ECE? I got a note that ECE received transcripts for me and I don't have any pending. The only thing recent is the Algecra CLEP I failed. Has anyone heard of this before?

I got a letter in the mail today from Excelsior stating that they were moving off Prometric and to Pearson Vue for testing. :eek:

The letter basically said that if I was planning on taking my exam by Aug 30, I can still do it at Prometric. Sept 1 is their cutover date.

I honestly didn't read the letter in depth because I'm taking my test this weekend, but I just wanted y'all to be aware if you have already paid or are planning on paying for ECE's just consider the timing of when you're going to test.

If you've already paid for an ECE, I would assume, you'd your letter pretty soon, if you don't already have it.

One of our members pointed to the possibility of InstantCert developing materials for this exam.

It caught my interest because this is an exam I might be interested in taking myself!

Anyone out there take this exam, and able to give any insight into what the exam is like? Would our study approach be suited to it?

All,

Can you gather up any information you have in on these exams that's in pdf/doc or other form that can easily be printed?
Of course - please do not violate any copyright or other ownership laws.

DSST - Civil War
ECE - Org Behavior
DSST - Drug & Alcohol Abuse
DSST - MIS

One of our fellow testers is 9 UL credits away from being a commissioned officer but has very limited access to the Internet. We all take for granted that the Internet is always on, but that's not always the case on a ship!

He's currently working on Civil War and I don't think he's decided which other 2 he'll take of those listed here. If we can gather paper source on all of them, it would certainly make the decision making and studying much easier for him.

Please PM me if you have stuff and I'll give you my email to send it to. I'll collect everything and forward to him in one big chunk.

Thanks everyone!

I remember Someone said by paying additional $20 to Dantes they will send you the grades faster, but I can't find it. The university of Houston where I am taking the test have no idea about this.

Please can any one who have done it help me?

Thank You

Ray

I hope my confession will serve as a dire warning to anyone who might be considering taking that all-important first CLEP.

Confessions of a Clepaholic: A Slippery Slope Story
By Snazzlefrag

Written by mine own hand on this 15th day of June, in the year of our Lord 2006.

I found out the hard way that exam-taking is extremely addictive! It only takes ONE exam for the uninitiated to become completely dependent. After you take that very first exam, it won't be long before you feel the need to take another exam...and another...and another.

Clepaholism is a beast that must constantly be fed! It grows, and grows, and grows, until eventually it consumes you.

Clepaholism changes 'who you are'. You will find yourself sneaking around the house, surreptitiously preparing for your next exam with every spare moment you have. You will wake up early in the morning with exams on your mind. You will stay up late at night wondering what your next exam will be like. It won't be long after you take your very first exam that you will find yourself turning to the love of your life and saying, "not now honey, I'm studying."...And thus begins the Slippery Slope!

Back in November of 2005, I took my own 'very first exam'. People tried to warn me against it, but I just had to try it. I told myself it was "just one exam! I can stop whenever I want." Before I knew it, it was the end of December and I had earned 43 credits. I knew I had to do something, because it was costing me a fortune to support my addiction.

I tried switching from CLEP to DANTES. That helped a little bit because I no longer got the same "kick" of instant gratification I experienced with CLEP. But I still couldn't break my habit altogether. I tried to quit 'cold turkey' in January, 2006. I actually went three whole months without taking a single exam. I kid you not...for three whole months I was completely and totally clean. Life was looking good again. I had money in my pocket, I had free time, I was able to get to bed early. Things were definitely improving.

But the after-effects of all those earlier exams was still very evident. I had knowledge pulsing through my veins. I found myself able to answer obscure questions on Jeopardy. Every time I watched "Who Wants to be a Millionaire", I was transported back to my exam-taking days. Everywhere I turned I saw reminders of my former life: I turned on the TV, and there it was...an advertisement for this university, or that college; I turned on my computer, and there it was..."Earn your degree in 18 months. Guaranteed!"

I felt as though I was going crazy. The hot sweats and clammy hands were bad enough. But it was the paranoia that got to me the most. It was as if the exams were taunting me, mocking me, constantly calling me by name. I even gained a bunch of weight. I was trying to alleviate the hunger for more exams by replacing them with comfort food. As you can probably guess...It didn't work. I was already on the Slippery Slope. There's no getting off the Slippery Slope. It's an express train, and it doesn't stop for anyone.

Unfortunately, in March of this year, the allure of taking exams became too much for me, and I fell off the wagon again. I told myself that I could control it, that if I could just take one more exam it would satisfy my cravings. That was a big mistake!

So here I am in June 2006, and I find myself with 73 credits in my system. I just can't seem to get it under control. I know it's only a matter of time before the unthinkable happens! I live every day knowing that any one of these exams could be my last. I know it in my heart...but I still can't stop.

As I sit here alone at my computer writing these words, I know that I don't have much time left. I know that my addiction will almost certainly get the best of me in the end. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next week, but one day...and maybe one day soon!

It will start out just like any other day. I'll have been up all night "preparing". I'll kiss my wife goodbye, get in the car, and drive to my usual exam spot. I'll say hello to some of the regulars I recognize from past visits. All will appear normal. After all, it's just another exam, right? I've taken exams before! Why would today's exam be any different. When I get there, I'll make myself comfortable and take a few deep breaths to help me relax. When I'm ready, I'll begin the exam, inhaling deeply to savor the awesome satisfaction that only taking an exam can bring me. Only towards the end of the exam will I begin to sense that something is not quite right. Something is different about this particular exam. Something is wrong. But it's too late! I can't back out now. My pulse is racing, I'm hot and clammy, my face is flushed, and my heart feels ready to jump out of my chest. "Oh! Please God! No! Not like this! It can't end like...like....like THIS! Call 911. Somebody....anybody....call 911."

Within minutes it's all over.

I've reached the end of the Slippery Slope, barely even one year since I took that fateful first exam. There I lie on the floor of the test center, surrounded by score reports, old exam papers, essays, multiple choice. I take my last breath! Not in the presence of my loved ones, but surrounded by chuckling fellow addicts, and a weeping Proctor I barely even knew.

I think it happens to us all in the end...

..It will almost certainly happen to YOU TOO!

Beware the Slippery Slope! You have been warned.

I wish you well,
Snazzlefrag

Starting a new thread so we don't get to off topic in the "How do you know about CLEP?" thread. Though is it even possible to go Off Topic in the Off Topic section of the forums?

.. and now back to the discussion


First off on the matter of US vs AU in regards to degrees the short answer would be that the AU degree should have just as much utility in most settings as a US degree. The only way I can see the AU degree as having less utility is if the person judging your degree is anti distance learning. The same could be said if you're getting a degree from NY and you live in Indiana though (however it would be a bit less noticeable). The funny thing is that the US degree I did mention (Aspen.edu) would probably have less utility than the AU degree. Aspen is accredited by DETC which isn't always accepted by a Regionally Accredited school. If you didn't plan to teach, and didn't mind limiting possible PhD options than being DETC wouldn't matter as it's a legit accreditor recognized by the department of education. If you want to keep reading about RA vs NA accredition and so on I'd recommend some other forums..

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/

http://forums.degreeboard.com/index.php

There are many strong opinions on RA vs NA, but near universal agreement on the acceptance of properly accredited schools from the UK, CA, AU, and South Africa.



The Aussie program is on my short list. I'd have to update my MCSE to 2003 but then I'd only have 6 courses for a graduate degree. It really wouldn't hurt me to update my MCSE, and my employer would reimburse test costs. I must say the formalities of working with a school in another country are the only big things holding me back. A little more work to even get into the program, but it may be worth the extra effort. It does look like the school goes to some great effort to help International students. I have e-mailed Irfan Altas ialtas@csu.edu.au with a few questions and he's been fast and great with the responses.