03-27-2007, 11:31 PM
So after tackling a semester-in-a-day a couple of weeks ago, I dug into the IC archives and noticed that several people strongly encouraged test-takers to study for Psychology, Sociology, Ed Psychology and Human Growth & Development in close proximity since they were all related. I had already passed the first two, so I figured I better get back in there for the last two before all that good knowledge fell out of my brain.
At this point in time, I'm an IC die-hard. No textbooks, no other study this and that--I'm going IC (and Wikipedia and sample exams) all the way till that method fails me. Today was my fourth round of testing and I haven't even come close to failing anything--including the tests I didn't study for! The two greatest benefits of IC (and I mean GREATEST!) are this forum and the flashcards. The flashcards are a wonderful introduction to each subject and the tips on the forum are priceless. For those who never had to sink ungodly amounts of money into textbooks, you may never fully appreciate the magnitude of what IC offers. The fact that they keep the price very affordable, provide their entire catalog for one low monthly fee and offer all this support speaks volumes about their character and business ethic (and I don't even know who they are... except it looks like Steve runs things). In any event, here's what today looked like:
I started with HG&D. I had very little time to study so I basically narrowed down the flashcards to the ones I didn't know and studied them the morning of the exam. I probably put a total of three hours into it. I copied a post that described the exam as pretty hard--and that it was. Questions were deeper than I expected. Since I take my tests two to four at a time, I really have a hard time remembering what was on them, but suffice to say that you should study all of IC and go in depth via Wikipedia where you can. In fact, as a previous poster noted, there is a LOT about infant development. Since IC, does all the work for me, I don't even bother looking at the ratios of areas to study--but based on my test--they should give infant development 30%. The IC folks may event want to beef up the infant info. Usually I do the CLEP practice and all the Petersons, but I didn't have time so I just did the CLEP. I don't really know what I got right or wrong, but when I hit the button I had a 65 and was pretty happy with that.
On to Educational Psych. I had studied more for this and this exam seemed like it was written from a totally different paradigm as compared to HG&D. To predict my final score, I usually keep a tally of the number of questions for which I know the answers, the questions I can narrow down and, finally, those which are a complete guess. On HG&D I knew 46, narrowed down 33 and didn't know 10. (BTW, if these numbers don't add up it just means I missed a few in my tally). On Educational Psych, I knew 69, narrowed down 26 and didn't know 5. By far my best tally so I was expecting a high score--but--I didn't go back and check my answers since it's pass/fail for me and I was quite sure I passed--AND--I wanted to see if the proctor would let me try a third exam and I knew he wanted to leave on time. So--I hit the button. 70. I thought I did a little better, but everything over 50 is gravy anyway, so, off I went to ask if I could try Personal Finance.
He gave me the OK--as long as he could leave on time. That left me an hour and fifteen minutes for a two hour, 98 question exam. I had studied the DSST prep materials and not much more. I knew some of what would be on the test from a previous post--which was dead on. First off, the test is a wild mix of surface questions with ridiculously deep questions every so often. If you're taking this test, you should know how to calculate interest over time (if you have $X and are making 6% interest, how long will it take you to double your money--or how long will it take you to earn $1,500...). I only know one way to do that and it's nothing I can do without a calculator in a 98 question timed exam I've agreed to take in one hour and 15 minutes. You also should know everything about the four different types of life insurance--and I mean everything--as well as stocks, bonds, annuities, and A LOT about taxation, tax brackets, there's a W2, W4 etc. question (if you always mix them up, like me, you probably won't get that one right). So, I guessed on the eight or so questions that required interest computation and did my best on the rest. Working at a brisk pace, I finished just on time. I knew the answers to 47 questions, narrowed down 35 and the rest I didn't know. That got me a 67. Way more than I needed for an "A" and a nice capper for a nine (9) credit day.
For those who have asked if they should try more than one test at a time--you can probably tell what my answer would be. Of course! Particularly if you're in the early going like me and the six month waiting period won't be a problem. I'm steadily preparing less and less until I find the minimum point of preparation (if I ever become an authority on CLEP testing, this will be my MPP theory!) As always, a sincere thank you to those who contribute to this forum as well as the folks who run InstantCert. Also, thank you to all who read to the end of this impossibly long and rambling post.
At this point in time, I'm an IC die-hard. No textbooks, no other study this and that--I'm going IC (and Wikipedia and sample exams) all the way till that method fails me. Today was my fourth round of testing and I haven't even come close to failing anything--including the tests I didn't study for! The two greatest benefits of IC (and I mean GREATEST!) are this forum and the flashcards. The flashcards are a wonderful introduction to each subject and the tips on the forum are priceless. For those who never had to sink ungodly amounts of money into textbooks, you may never fully appreciate the magnitude of what IC offers. The fact that they keep the price very affordable, provide their entire catalog for one low monthly fee and offer all this support speaks volumes about their character and business ethic (and I don't even know who they are... except it looks like Steve runs things). In any event, here's what today looked like:
I started with HG&D. I had very little time to study so I basically narrowed down the flashcards to the ones I didn't know and studied them the morning of the exam. I probably put a total of three hours into it. I copied a post that described the exam as pretty hard--and that it was. Questions were deeper than I expected. Since I take my tests two to four at a time, I really have a hard time remembering what was on them, but suffice to say that you should study all of IC and go in depth via Wikipedia where you can. In fact, as a previous poster noted, there is a LOT about infant development. Since IC, does all the work for me, I don't even bother looking at the ratios of areas to study--but based on my test--they should give infant development 30%. The IC folks may event want to beef up the infant info. Usually I do the CLEP practice and all the Petersons, but I didn't have time so I just did the CLEP. I don't really know what I got right or wrong, but when I hit the button I had a 65 and was pretty happy with that.
On to Educational Psych. I had studied more for this and this exam seemed like it was written from a totally different paradigm as compared to HG&D. To predict my final score, I usually keep a tally of the number of questions for which I know the answers, the questions I can narrow down and, finally, those which are a complete guess. On HG&D I knew 46, narrowed down 33 and didn't know 10. (BTW, if these numbers don't add up it just means I missed a few in my tally). On Educational Psych, I knew 69, narrowed down 26 and didn't know 5. By far my best tally so I was expecting a high score--but--I didn't go back and check my answers since it's pass/fail for me and I was quite sure I passed--AND--I wanted to see if the proctor would let me try a third exam and I knew he wanted to leave on time. So--I hit the button. 70. I thought I did a little better, but everything over 50 is gravy anyway, so, off I went to ask if I could try Personal Finance.
He gave me the OK--as long as he could leave on time. That left me an hour and fifteen minutes for a two hour, 98 question exam. I had studied the DSST prep materials and not much more. I knew some of what would be on the test from a previous post--which was dead on. First off, the test is a wild mix of surface questions with ridiculously deep questions every so often. If you're taking this test, you should know how to calculate interest over time (if you have $X and are making 6% interest, how long will it take you to double your money--or how long will it take you to earn $1,500...). I only know one way to do that and it's nothing I can do without a calculator in a 98 question timed exam I've agreed to take in one hour and 15 minutes. You also should know everything about the four different types of life insurance--and I mean everything--as well as stocks, bonds, annuities, and A LOT about taxation, tax brackets, there's a W2, W4 etc. question (if you always mix them up, like me, you probably won't get that one right). So, I guessed on the eight or so questions that required interest computation and did my best on the rest. Working at a brisk pace, I finished just on time. I knew the answers to 47 questions, narrowed down 35 and the rest I didn't know. That got me a 67. Way more than I needed for an "A" and a nice capper for a nine (9) credit day.
For those who have asked if they should try more than one test at a time--you can probably tell what my answer would be. Of course! Particularly if you're in the early going like me and the six month waiting period won't be a problem. I'm steadily preparing less and less until I find the minimum point of preparation (if I ever become an authority on CLEP testing, this will be my MPP theory!) As always, a sincere thank you to those who contribute to this forum as well as the folks who run InstantCert. Also, thank you to all who read to the end of this impossibly long and rambling post.
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